Jason Forde - the Tipperary hurler with interesting day job and GAA scandal
The Silvermines native and double All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship victor is a formidable presence on the field, with his impressive list of honours to prove it.
Let's delve into his eventful life both on and off the GAA pitch. Tipperary Career
Jason was just 16 years of age when he was first called up to the Tipperary minor panel. He played in the 2010 and 2011 seasons before moving to the U/21 set up in 2012.
He enjoyed three years at the grade, including captaining the side in 2014, but he never won any silverware. The Silvermines man got immediate success at senior level after inter-county debut in the semi-final of the 2013 Waterford Crystal Cup, winning Munster Senior Hurling Championship medals in 2015 and 2016.
He added two All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals to his collection in 2016 and 2019. He was nominated for an All-Star Award for his solo efforts on the pitch in 2019.
"The big aim was to get back to Croke Park this year," he told RTÉ recently.
"These younger players need to get there and experience that. A lot of that team have never played in Croke Park before with the under 20 matches being in Nowlan Park and different places.
"We'll be relishing it, another two weeks, back to training on Tuesday and go as it as hard as we can." Suspension Following Davy Fitzgerald Controversy
Jason missed the opening round of the Munster hurling championship back in 2017 after he was hit with a one-match ban following an on field scuffle with the then Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald. The Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) charged Forde with an alleged "assault on an opposing team official" after Davy stormed on to the pitch after a decision from the referee.
"The whole thing with social media, it kind of steamrolled from there," he said afterwards.
"The cameras picked it up and there was more made out of it than probably needed to be.
"The CCCC have their job to do, they have to pick up on incidents that happen. They just ran with it from there then."
Jason originally thought that Tipperary boss Michael Ryan was joking when he told him he faced a ban from playing the game.
He said: "When he was telling me down the phone I thought to myself, 'Is he actually being serious here, or what's the story?'
"Unfortunately it was serious and we ended up having to go up to Croke Park a couple of times as well. It definitely wasn't ideal.
"Looking back, the way it panned out, you wish you didn't get into that altercation.
"These things happen. Davy Fitzgerald, in fairness to him, he came out and said there wasn't much in it.
"I think most people would be in agreement that there wasn't much in it but I suppose the GAA have a job to do as well and they made a decision. That was kind of hard to take at the time.
"To be dealing with all that stuff, the possibility of being suspended... I didn't know whether I was or I wasn't and I ended up playing in the League final but then you find out that you do (have to serve a suspension) and you miss the first round of the Championship." Relationship and Girlfriend
Jason was photographed with Claire Collins when they stepped out together for PwC All Stars awards at the Convention Centre in Dublin in 2018 and 2019. They also previously shared pictures together on social media.
It is unknown if he is currently in a relationship. Day Job
Away from his busy hurling schedule, Jason runs a very successful personal training business. He focuses on structured programming and training and nutrition both online and in person.
He began this business after taking a break from his day job as a secondary school teacher in Nenagh College.
"It's a large scope of people. I have GAA athletes who are looking to work on certain performance markers. Increasing speed and acceleration is a big one I've had over the last number of months," he told Balls.ie
"Especially now that you're in the off-season, people try to work on different things. We have various ways of testing those and putting parameters on their sporting goals.
"You have people looking to lose a bit of weight, get back into the shape that they were in previously, just improve their overall health." Age, Height and Where He's From
Jason was born on December 1993, making him 31 years of age. He is 6 ft 1 in height.
The two time All-Ireland winner plays for his local GAA club, Silvermines.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
6 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Joe Brolly & Pat Spillane share contrasting predictions for All-Ireland final between Kerry & Donegal
JOE Brolly reckons Donegal are a near certainty to lift Sam Maguire - while Pat Spillane is backing his fellow Kerrymen. The Derry native has already been on the record about how 2 Kerry icon Spillane is giving the slight edge to the Kingdom 2 Brolly was far more definitive in his view He'd made that initial prediction about "not seeing any flaws" in Jim McGuinness' side on his But he expanded on why he's so gung-ho in that belief while appearing alongside Spillane and hurling greats Eddie Brennan and John Mullane on the The 56-year-old set out: "I think Donegal will win because they're multi-purpose. They're not relying on one individual. "They've worked with a basketball coach. McGuinness actually said it the week that the new rules were unveiled. Read More On GAA "He said 'We're going back to the old game, this is all about scoring rate.' They're scoring 1-27, 1-28, 3-25. "Paddy McBrearty was asked after the All-Ireland semi-final about how he'd be pushing for a place in starting fifteen and he said he'd be pushing for a place in the matchday 26! "There's massive competition there because Jim has this messianic quality." A few minutes later Spillane then gave his view that he'd marginally give the edge to the Kingdom. When he mentioned that Donegal had a few weaknesses, Brolly called on him to be more specific. Most read in GAA Football To which the eight-time All-Ireland winner replied: "Their running game is a hard game to sustain for 70 minutes. "Zonal defence is a weakness. There's space to be exploited there by a kicking team. Sharlene Mawdsley takes part in hilarious road race as part of Tipperary's All-Ireland celebration "The first half against Monaghan showed that as Monaghan switched the play from one side to the other. They'd an overload and took them on one-on-one and were very impressive. "So zonal marking, running in transition and Michael Murphy - no different from David Clifford - if he's contained (Kerry can win). "The new rules suit Kerry, Croke Park suits them as a heads up kicking team." He also added that his "hesitant vote for Kerry" was partly down to the weather forecast being good for Sunday with dry conditions further helping their prospects. The two counties did of course contest the 2014 decider with McGuinness saying this week that One instant improvement this time around will be that The Kerry county board have confirmed that Jack O'Connor's charges will line out in their alternative dark blue kit. Following on from the
RTÉ News
22 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
'If there is any chance for us, we have to curb his influence' - Donegal captain McBrearty wary of Kerry star David Clifford
When Donegal last took home Sam Maguire in 2012, Jim McGuinness' side had seven games to navigate their way to All-Ireland glory, including an Ulster preliminary quarter-final against Cavan. Should the Tír Chonaill men claim a third ever Sam Maguire win on Sunday, they will do so after a gruelling 11-game schedule (it could even reach a dozen if the sides remain deadlocked after extra-time). McGuinness has been vocal in his criticism of the demands being put on his players, yet his 2025 crop are potentially just 70 minutes away from the Holy Grail. Captain Paddy McBrearty and talisman Michael Murphy are the only players in the panel that were involved in the 2-11 to 0-13 victory over Mayo 13 years ago. McBrearty started every time during the victorious Ulster campaign but, in the subsequent half a dozen games, has only been selected from the off against Cavan. Replaced at half-time in the comfortable win over the Breffni men, the Kilcar man has impressed in cameo roles when sprung from the bench. He picked off two points in the comeback victory over Monaghan in the All-Ireland quarter-final, while last time out he terrorised the Meath defence with three points in an all-action display after replacing Murphy in the 45th minute. It seems likely that he will again be held in reserve for the Sunday's showdown with the Kingdom, but the 31-year-old cannot wait for the game to come around. "It's back to where every team wants to be, back in an All-Ireland final," he tells RTÉ Sport. "For some of us in the group, it has taken a long time to get back there. "It's pure relief to get back there. A lot of hard work and bad days as well along the way." One defeat in 10 isn't a bad return for a side that only two years ago were in disarray. That sole reversal came at home to Tyrone, yet the rare taste of defeat in Ballybofey has stood to the team, with McBrearty highlighting the nature of the wins over Mayo and Monaghan as proof of the resilience within the group. "The Tyrone loss was a disappointment, but we got back on the horse well," he says. "The team has shown great character, particularly in the Mayo game. Likewise, the Monaghan game when we were eight points down." With the likes of Finnbarr Roarty, Caolan McColgan and Ciarán Moore starring in their run to the final, some of the more established players have been forced to showcase their talents off the bench. In the semi-final demolition of the Royals, McGuinness was able to introduce McBrearty, Jason McGee, Caolan McGonagle, Daire Ó Baoill and Odhrán McFadden Ferry to proceedings in a show of arms. "There are a lot of very good footballers that can't get into the 26 at the minute," McBrearty says. "Every night at training, everyone is putting their best foot forward." Kerry are the final hurdle they must overcome in a demanding season. In 2012, McGuinness got the better of Jack O'Connor at the quarter-final stage – McBrearty kicked a score in a two-point win – and the two men will be plotting each other's downfall once again on Sunday. Central to McGuinness' plans will be how to curtail David Clifford, with the Kerry forward back in Player of the Year form. Pivotal in the quarter-final win over Armagh, he torched the Tyrone defence with 1-05 from play last time out. "He's obviously one of the all-time greats," McBrearty says. "Anyone within the GAA is a fan of his. He's different to anyone else. "If there is any chance for us to win the game, we have to curb his influence, which is a very, very hard task to do. "Every team says that before they go out onto the field. There are a lot of battles all over the field, and whoever is on him has a massive job to do." The fact they playing the most decorated county in the game adds another layer for a team targeting just a third title. "Kerry has a massive history within the game. They nearly expect to win it," he adds. "A lot of players in their group have won All-Irelands, but there are a few that haven't also. "There are a lot of boys in our group around the block a long time that haven't won an All-Ireland, so it's two teams mad to win."
Extra.ie
36 minutes ago
- Extra.ie
Hurler jury: 'What's the next step if we're not unanimous?'
The jury in the assault trial of former Clare hurler Niall Gilligan, an All-Star and All-Ireland winner, is to continue their deliberations today. At Ennis Circuit Court, just before 5pm yesterday, Judge Francis Comerford sent the jury home to come back today and 'make a fresh start of it'. The jury deliberated for two hours and 47 minutes before returning with a question for the judge yesterday at 4.51 pm. Hurler Niall Gilligan. Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan The jury foreman asked: 'What is the next step if we are not unanimous?', to which the judge replied: 'There are various procedures which can kick in if juries are not unanimous, but they can only be taken at various points. 'It is always preferable that you try to reach a unanimous verdict – that is the idea, and it is better than any alternative. At 4.50 pm, I think it is appropriate that you break for the day and come back tomorrow [today] and make a fresh start of it.' He said if the jury is still not unanimous in its verdict after a while today, the position can be reviewed. Mr Gilligan, 48, of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, denies assault causing harm with a stick to a then 12-year-old boy at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge, on October 5, 2023. Hurler Niall Gilligan. Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan In his charge to the jury, Judge Comerford directed that if they are satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that the first encounter between Mr Gilligan and the boy that led to the force being applied commenced and started outside the Jamaica Inn rather than in the corridor of the building, then they can't consider the lawful use of force as a defence. He also said that in the defence of self-defence, they should consider if the accused honestly believed he had to use force for the purpose of protecting himself from an assault or damage to his property. He said if the answer is 'no', the self-defence defence is no longer available. He said that if the answer is yes, then was the force used by the accused reasonable and necessary in the circumstances as he saw them? If the answer is 'yes' to that question, he said, 'then you must acquit'. 'If no, it wasn't reasonably necessary, well then he is guilty of the offence,' he added.
