Latest news with #WillieConnors
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Inside Tipperary hurler Willie Connors' life off the pitch after family death
Willie Connors has been a key player in the Tipperary team since their last All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship victory in 2019. The Kiladangan native also had a successful stint in Gaelic football before deciding to concentrate on his hurling career. Let's delve into his life both on and off the pitch. Tipperary Career Willie enjoyed underage success with the Tipperary footballers before making it big with the senior hurlers. He won a Munster U/21 football title in 2015 before going on to line out with the county in the National Football League and Munster and All-Ireland Senior Football Championships. He made his debut for the Tipperary senior hurlers in 2018, during a league clash with neighbours Limerick. He won his first and only All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medal the following year as the Premier county beat Kilkenny in the Croke Park final decider. Age, Height and Where He's From Willie was born in August 1996, making him 29 years of age. He is from the village of Puckane and he plays his club hurling with his local team, Kiladangan. He helped to guided his club to a first County Tipperary senior hurling title in 2020. They later added another county title in 2023. Day Job Away from his busy sporting career the GAA star works as an Area Sales Manager at Tippo International Ltd. Death of his Uncle Willie Willie Connors' uncle, also called Willie Connors, sadly passed away suddenly at home earlier this month. His untimely passing comes just days before the Premier County's All-Ireland Hurling semi-final clash with Kilkenny in Croke Park. Willie was predeceased by his parents Tom and Annie, brothers Bernard, John and Michael, sisters Kathleen and Ann, and his brother-in-law Patrick Seymour. He is mourned by his sister and brothers, Breda, Paddy, Tommy, Ollie, Tony, and his twin Ger, extended family, neighbours, and many friends. Injuries Willie suffered a serious ankle injury as Tipperary lost to Kerry in the Superstores Munster Hurling Cup quarter-final. The game was halted for 11 minutes in the second half as an ambulance removed him from Austin Stack Park in Tralee after he had scored a point. Tipperary confirmed that he had sustained a "double ankle fracture in today's game against Kerry. We wish Willie well in his recovery."
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
One change to Tipperary panel for All-Ireland hurling final
Tipperary have announced the same side that began last Sunday week's win over Kilkenny for their All-Ireland final clash with Cork. The only alteration in the squad is U20 star Paddy McCormack coming in for Seán Kenneally, who is believed to have picked up an injury. Kenneally came off the bench for Andrew Ormond in additional time of the All-Ireland semi-final. Should the Tipperary midfield pairing of Willie Connors and Conor Stakelum remain intact, it will be the first time in this championship that Liam Cahill has gone with the same duo for the second consecutive game. There was little doubt Darragh McCarthy would retain his place despite a second sending off in this championship when he picked up a second yellow card in the second half against Kilkenny. Whether he remains on frees is the question after Jason Forde performed impressively when he took over the last day. Four of the starters were also in the team at the outset of the 2019 All-Ireland final – Michael Breen, captain Ronan Maher, John McGrath and Jason Forde. Jake Morris and Willie Connors came off the bench in that win over Kilkenny while Noel McGrath and Seamus Kennedy, on the bench this time, were also starters six years ago. TIPPERARY (SHC v Cork): Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey-Borris); Robert Doyle (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Michael Breen (Ballina); Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Ronan Maher (c, Thurles Sarsfields), Bryan O'Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill); Willie Connors (Kiladangan), Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields); Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg), Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens), Sam O'Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Jason Forde (Silvermines). Subs: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan), Joe Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill), Seamus Kennedy (St Mary's), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Peter McGarry (St Mary's), Oisín O'Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Alan Tynan (Roscrea). CORK: Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); Niall O'Leary (Castlelyons), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Seán O'Donoghue (Inniscarra); Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers, captain), Mark Coleman (Blarney); Tim O'Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville); Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Declan Dalton (Fr O'Neills); Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr's). Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr's), Ger Millerick (Fr O'Neills), Cormac O'Brien (Newtownshandrum), Tommy O'Connell (Midleton), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Séamus Harnedy (St Ita's), Robbie O'Flynn (Erin's Own), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Shane Kingston (Douglas). Dalo's Hurling Show Live from Sarsfields
