John O'Keeffe (Tipperary hurler)

John O'Keeffe (born 17 November 1988) is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a right wing-back for the Tipperary senior team.[1]

John O'Keeffe
Personal information
Irish name Seán Ó Caoimh
Sport Hurling
Position Right wing-back
Born (1988-11-17) 17 November 1988
Clonoulty, County Tipperary, Ireland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Occupation Student
Club(s)
Years Club
2004-present
 Clonoulty–Rossmore
Club titles
Tipperary titles 1
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
2011–2017
 Tipperary 5 (0-00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 3
All-Irelands 1
NHL 0
All Stars 0
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 15:02, 31 October 2012.

O'Keeffe made his first appearance for the team during the 2011 National League and has become a regular player over the last few seasons. Since then he has won one Munster winners' medal. He has ended up as an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At club level O'Keeffe plays with the Clonoulty–Rossmore club.

Playing career

Club

O'Keeffe made his senior championship debut for Clonoulty–Rossmore in 2004.

He has enjoyed little success with the senior team, losing back-to-back championship deciders in 2010 and 2011.[2][3]

Inter-county

O'Keeffe first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary minor hurling team. He enjoyed much success in this grade as Tipperary reached the All-Ireland decider via the "back-door" in 2006. Three-in-a-row hopefuls Galway provided the opposition, however, Tipp powered to 2–18 to 2–7 victory.[4] It was O'Keeffe's sole All-Ireland medal in that grade.

O'Keeffe subsequently joined the Tipperary under-21 team. He won a Munster medal in this grade in his debut season following a controversial one-point defeat of Clare. Tipp later reached the All-Ireland, however, O'Keeffe's side were defeated by Kilkenny.[5]

In 2011 O'Keeffe made his senior debut for Tipp in a National Hurling League game against Waterford. His first championship start came later that year against Cork.[6] A 7-19 to 0-19 trouncing of Waterford in the subsequent provincial decider gave O'Keeffe his first Munster medal.[7] For the third successive year, Tipperary faced off against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, however, on this occasion Kilkenny were slight underdogs going up against the new champions. Kilkenny started quickly and never surrendered the lead in the 2-17 to 1-16 victory.[8]

O'Keeffe was dropped from Tipperary's starting fifteen in 2012 but remained on the extended panel of players. He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling in October 2017.[9]

References
  1. "Senior Hurling Panel". Tipperary GAA website. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  2. "Imperious Maher hits top gear in Sars romp". Irish Independent. 31 October 2010. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
  3. "Drom beat finds right rhythm". Irish Independent. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  4. "Tipp break Galway hearts in MHC final". RTÉ Sport. 3 September 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  5. "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 2-13 Tipperary 0-15". RTÉ Sport. 15 September 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  6. "O'Keeffe debuts for Tipp". Hogan Sand website. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  7. "Tipp show appetite for destruction". Irish Times. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 1-16". RTÉ Sport. 4 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  9. "John O Keeffe Retirement announcement". Tipperary GAA. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
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