Sheedy backs warrior ‘Bonner’ to come back from latest injury blow

By Shane Brophy

There isn’t a more popular player among the Tipperary hurling supporters than Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher, such is the outpouring of support he has received after it was announced he had sustained another season-ending injury.

Just twenty-four months after suffered a cruciate knee injury in June 2019, just a few yards away at Dr Morris Park at training last Thursday night, the Lorrha clubman sustained an Achilles tendon injury which will require surgery which mean he will miss his second championship in three seasons.

“It’s tough,” admitted manager Liam Sheedy after the win over Galway last Saturday when he confirmed the severity of the injury to Maher whom he described as the spiritual leader of the group.

“He brings the energy to the field. He has dictated how we want the Tipperary attitude and Tipperary spirit to be for the last thirteen years,” Sheedy added.

“He’s just a warrior. What he’s gone through, the way he brought himself back. He’s the fittest man on my panel. The way he applied himself since last January is just incredible.

“It’s tough on me, it’s tough on the lads. Just seeing the way he reacted and how unselfish he just said, ‘there are people in worse situations than I’m in’. To see the way he was on that table the other night, my heart went out to him.”

Maher (31) will undergo surgery today (Wednesday) in the injury which will rule him out for the next three to four months and depending on his recovery, could feature for his club towards the end of the campaign.

“I hope he can get back to a Lorrha jersey later in the year but if there’s one man who can come back it’s Bonner Maher, he’s incredible,” Liam Sheedy added.