Bonner Maher is comfortable with decision to call time

By Stephen Barry

Patrick Maher has kept himself busy since announcing his retirement from Tipperary duty last October.

‘Bonner’ was always a livewire in a blue and gold jersey, and he isn’t putting the feet up since stepping away from the panel.

He’s well occupied between training with Lorrha and coaching across the county bounds with Carrig & Riverstown. That’s not to mention his work for an EV charging company, EasyGo, the month spent travelling Australia and New Zealand, or efforts to lower his golf handicap.

Maher pocketed three senior All-Ireland medals in his tenure so while 2024 was a disappointing curtain call, he wasn’t tempted to stay on another year.

“I had my mind made up, no matter what happened in 2024,” said Maher at the launch of the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Championships, a competition he won a medal in way back in 2007.

“Early last year, I had a conversation with my family and my girlfriend to see would I go back last year. I had a good conversation with Liam Cahill as well. The fire was still there, and the body was good, but I had it in my head that that was going to be my last year.

“There was probably no way that I was going to come on again another year because it's been a 16-year span.

“Unfortunately, I picked up one or two injuries near the end of my career. I was happy to walk away at that stage with the body in semi-good nick and being able to walk away with a bit of pride in myself.

“Coming to the end of '24, I knew that the campaign didn't go well, but I could see the green shoots that were in there around the group. I knew Tipperary would do well moving forward.

“Another thing I said to myself was maybe the time for me to step away is now and give some younger player, one of them under-20s, an opportunity to come into the panel, take a place, and drive it on from there.”

Seeing the talent within the squad made last year even more difficult for the Lorrha man.

“I knew the potential that was in the group so, for me, it was very hard to take because I know the younger boys that are there and the senior boys that are there,” Maher added.

“It's just one of those things when you train so hard to peak at a certain time, and it just doesn't happen for whatever reason, it's a tough place to be.”

Sticking to a routine has been key to Maher coping with the transition. That schedule hasn’t stretched to attending an inter-county game in person just yet.

“I've been living in and out of the pockets of the boys that are still playing for the last number of years. You'd still be attached to it.

“I've been watching the games closely. I haven't travelled to any game as of yet because I just think, would it be emotion or fire or whatever, I could try and jump in from the stands or something like that! I could get a bit worked up.

“The best place for me is to be at home roaring at the telly rather than being pulled back into a chair inside in a stadium somewhere! It's going to take a while before I can go to a game.”

However, what Maher has seen from his recent teammates has left him impressed.

“Definitely, there's great potential in Tipperary at the moment,” he feels.

“They put their heads down early this year, got through the league, put in some good performances. They did what they needed to do in Munster, and they got through.

“Now, they’ve had a few weeks to lead into the All-Ireland Series. Tipp is in a good place.

“When you get to the latter end of the championship, any given Sunday, anything can happen. I'd feel like Tipperary would give any team a rattle once you get to the latter stages.”

As for the approach to Saturday’s Laois trip, Maher added: “It's a game and it's a competitive game. When you're getting ready for the All-Ireland Series, all you want is competitive games.”