Tipperary boss Colm Bonnar has described Padraic Maher’s injury-enforced retirement as “heartbreaking” for the player.
The shock news emerged this morning with Maher, who turns 33 this month, taking medical advice to cease contact sport as a result of a neck injury, meaning that he has also played his last game for Thurles Sarsfields.
The three-time All-Ireland winner had been due to return to training very shortly as he rehabilitated an ankle problem.
“In the mean time he received medical advice regarding a neck injury and he was advised to stop any type of contact,” Bonnar explained.
“Obviously he can do his training and work away there, but in terms of sport he had to step away from it and it was a complete shock to him and to us. We only found out lately over the weekend that this could be something happening and he had to retire on health issues.
“It's heartbreaking for him, he had more to offer. We had seen him in the club championships and he was still a towering strength in terms of the backline for Thurles Sarsfields. A lot of players he put in his pocket throughout that campaign and he still had so much to offer and knew that himself and that's why it's so heartbreaking to him he has to step away at this stage.
“If you look back over 13 years, it's just been so unbelievable for him. He's had a great hurling life that he'll be so proud of. I just wish him all the best in his retirement.”
With the new Tipp manager having also having to do without the services of the long-serving Brendan Maher, who retired after last year’s Championship, his back line has shed a huge amount of experience as they open their Allianz Hurling League campaign against Laois on Saturday.
“You talk about those two players especially, you talk about leaders and warriors, you talk about inspirational play.
“Both of those players were hugely consistent in their performances and in the heat of battle were never found wanting. Yeah, they're big, big shoes to fill for any player coming through.
“That's where the challenge is for the younger players coming in, we have a young, dynamic group of players that would have won All-Irelands in '18 and '19 (under-21 and under-20) and they're biting at the bit to get a chance to get in there.
“Yeah, it would have been great to have the likes of Brendan and Pádraic in there and educating these players and bringing them on, but they'll have to find their feet quickly because this League is starting next Saturday and obviously it's an opportunity for the players to step up and get the experience that's needed to play at this level.”
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