Steady Stakelum has become a true leader for Sarsfields
By Shane Brophy
For both club and county, Conor Stakelum has become an integral part of Tipperary and Thurles Sarsfields to such an extent that when he is missing, his loss is keenly felt.
With talisman Ronan Maher forced to miss much of the club championship campaign so far through injury, it thrust more leadership responsibility on the Thurles Sarsfields captain which he has comfortably taken in his stride.
Impressive at centre back, the position wasn’t new to him as he played there for much of the 2025 campaign, but the manner of his performances have suggested he might well be the man to wear the number 6 jersey for Tipperary come 2027.
“It’s different but to be fair,” he said speaking ahead of the county final.
“Ronan, Padraic and Denis (Maher) are great to lean on and watch what they have done over the last few years and pick up a few bits along the way.
“You are in just doing your job and hurl the next ball that is in front of you.To be fair, when you are out around the middle, they are all similar enough positions as you see midfielders going into the half-back line, such as Willie Connors and you pick up a few bits from them.”
The 29-year-olds experience will be invaluable in a side where as many as seven of the likely starting fifteen will be playing in their first county senior hurling final despite Sarsfields playing in the decider as recently as 2023 when they were defeated by Kiladangan in a replay.
The following year saw Loughmore/Castleiney end their hopes at the semi-final stage while last year they failed to make the knockout stages which led to manager Padraic Maher changing tact and going with more youth.
“We are all pushing on a little bit so it is great to see the youth coming into the group and all teams need that freshness which has been brilliant,” Stakelum said who has just one county senior championship medal to his name, starting as a 20-year-old in their most recent success in 2017 when they completed the four-in-a-row.
“Those (young) lads have been around the club and know what it takes and it has clicked with them this year and have brought it on a few levels as well.
“We just stayed plugging away, that’s just it. We got a bit of momentum, kept the head down, kept working away, kept improving little by little and we are just thrilled to be back in the county final.
“Any team that has been in a county final will tell you how hard it is to get there so it is going to be one hell of a battle to get over Moycarkey who have huge momentum coming into the final after coming from behind in the last two games so it is going to be a dogfight.”