Michael Breen (hurler)

Michael Breen (born 16 July 1994) is an Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary Senior Championship club Ballina and at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team. He usually lines out at midfield.

Michael Breen
Personal information
Irish name Mícheál Ó Braoin
Sport Hurling
Position Midfield / Defence
Born (1994-07-16) 16 July 1994
Ballina, County Tipperary, Ireland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Occupation Secondary school teacher[1]
Club(s)
Years Club
2011–present
 Ballina
Club titles
Tipperary titles 0
Colleges(s)
Years College
2013-2018
 University College Cork
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles 0
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
2014–present
 Tipperary 28 (6-36)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 2
All-Irelands 2
NHL 0
All Stars 0
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 15:40, 31 July 2021.

Playing career

Castletroy College

Breen first came to prominence as a hurler with Castletroy College in Limerick. He played in every grade of hurling before eventually joining the college's senior hurling team and lined out in several Harty Cup campaigns.[2]

University College Cork

As a student at University College Cork, Breen immediately became involved in hurling as a member of the university's freshers' team. He joined the senior team in his second year and lined out in several Fitzgibbon Cup campaigns over a four-year period.[3]

Ballina

Breen joined the Ballina club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels before eventually joining the club's top adult team in the Tipperary Intermediate Championship.[4]

On 14 October 2012, Breen lined out at full-forward when Ballina faced Silvermines in the Tipperary Intermediate Championship final. He top scored for the team with five points but ended on the losing side following a 2-21 to 0-10 victory.[5]

Ballina qualified for a second successive final on 13 October 2013. Breen top scored with six points from centre-forward in the 3-12 to 0-20 defeat of Moyne-Templetuohy.[6] He was again at centre-forward when Ballina faced Youghal in the Munster final on 17 November 2013. Breen scored four points all from placed balls in the 2-13 to 2-10 defeat.[7]

Minor and under-21

Breen first played for Tipperary as a member of the minor team during the 2011 Munster Championship. He was an unused substitute throughout the year.

On 2 May 2012, Breen made his first appearance for the team when he lined out at full-back in a 6-21 to 0-11 defeat of Kerry.[8] He was again selected at full-back when Tipperary faced Clare in the Munster final on 15 July 2012. Breen ended the game with a winners' medal after a 1-16 to 1-12 victory.[9] He again lined out at full-back when Tipperary drew 2-13 to 1-16 with Dublin in the All-Ireland final on 9 September 2012.[10] Breen retained his position for the replay on 30 September 2012 and ended the game with an All-Ireland medal following the 2-18 to 1-11 victory.[11]

Breen was drafted onto the Tipperary under-21 team in advance of the 2013 Munster Championship. He made his debut in that grade on 17 July 2013 when he lined out at left corner-back in a 5-19 to 2-13 defeat of Cork.[12] On 7 August 2013, Breen lined out at right corner-back when Tipperary suffered a 1-17 to 2-10 defeat by Clare in the Munster final.[13]

After three seasons with the under-21 team, Breen played his last game in the grade on 16 July 2015 in a 3-16 to 3-14 defeat by Limerick.[14] On 3 October 2015, he was named in the left corner-back position on the Under-21 Team of the Year.[15]

Senior

Breen was added to the Tipperary senior team in advance of the 2014 National League. He made his first appearance on 20 April 2014 when he came on as a 68th-minute substitute for James Woodlock in a 2-24 to 2-17 defeat of Clare.[16] On 4 May 2014, Breen was an unused substitute when Tipperary suffered a 2-25 to 1-27 defeat by Kilkenny in the National League final.[17]

On 12 July 2015, Breen was selected at left corner-back when Tipperary qualified to play Waterford in the Munster final. He scored a point from play and claimed his first Munster Championship medal following the 0-21 to 0-16 victory.[18]

Maher became a midfielder during the 2016 season and lined out in that position in a second successive Munster final on 10 July 2016. He scored 1-01 from play and collected a second winners' medal after a 5-19 to 0-13 defeat of Waterford.[19] On 5 September 2016, Breen was again selected at midfield when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. He ended the game with an All-Ireland medal following a 2-29 to 2-20 victory.[20]

On 23 April 2017, Breen lined out at centre-forward when Tipperary faced Galway in the National League final. He scored two points from play but ended the game on the losing side following a 3-21 to 0-14 defeat.[21]

Breen played in a second successive National League final on 8 April 2018. Lining out at left corner-forward, he was held scoreless and ended the game on the losing side following a 2-23 to 2-17 defeat by Kilkenny.[22]

On 30 June 2019, Breen lined out at midfield when Tipperary suffered a 2-26 to 2-14 defeat by Limerick in the Munster final.[23] On 18 August 2019, he was selected at midfield when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Breen scored a point from play and ended the game with a second All-Ireland winners' medal following the 3-25 to 0-20 victory.[24]

Career statistics
As of match played 31 July 2021.
Team Year National League Munster All-Ireland Total
DivisionAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Tipperary 2014 Division 1A 10-0000-0000-0010-00
2015 70-0421-0110-00101-05
2016 61-1133-0220-03114-16
2017 60-0910-0641-01111-16
2018 83-1610-00—93-16
2019 60-0950-0830-02140-19
2020 5 0-03 1 0-01 2 0-07 8 0-11
2021 5 0-06 2 1-02 1 0-03 8 1-11
Career total 444-58155-20131-167210-94

Honours
Ballina
Tipperary

References
  1. "'It's never nice being told you're a sub' - Tipp star on challenges, Limerick ties and his best position". The 42. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  2. "Thurles dance to the tune of Lanigan's ball-striking to make last four". Irish Independent. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  3. Cormican, Eoghan (18 January 2018). "UCC carry star power in Cork Fitzgibbon derby". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  4. "Michael Breen". Tipperary GAA. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  5. McDonnell, Brian (16 October 2012). "Seventeen-Point Win Sees Silvermines Return To The Senior Hurling Ranks". Tipperary Live. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  6. "Agony for Moyne Templetuohy as upright helps Ballina to first ever title". Tipperary Live. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  7. "Ring points the way for youghal in thriller". Irish Independent. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  8. "McCarthy stars for Tipp". Irish Independent. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  9. Hurley, Denis (16 July 2012). "Double delight for Tipp young guns". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  10. "Winters rescues draw for Dublin Minors". Breaking News. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  11. "McGrath leads red-hot Tipp to promised land". Irish Independent. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  12. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (18 July 2013). "Clinical Premier tear Rebels apart". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  13. Cahill, Jackie (8 August 2013). "Clinical Banner claim back-to-back crowns". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  14. O'Connell, Cian (17 July 2015). "Ryan seals deal for Limerick after Tipperary rally". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  15. Hannon, Shane (23 September 2015). "The names are in - here are the Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year nominees". The 42. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  16. Cummiskey, Gavin (21 April 2014). "Tipperary roll Clare over and set sights on Kilkenny". Irish Times. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  17. O'Rourke, Steve (4 May 2014). "Kilkenny win third Allianz Hurling League in a row with last-gasp win over Tipperary". The 42. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  18. McGoldrick, Seán (12 July 2015). "Tipperary claim Munster hurling title with tight win over Waterford". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  19. Breheny, Martin (11 July 2016). "Tipp torrents wash Deise hopes away". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  20. McGoldrick, Seán (4 September 2016). "Majestic Tipperary are All Ireland champions after victory over Kilkenny in Croke Park". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  21. Small, Darragh (23 April 2017). "Clinical Galway leave Tipp reeling in league final". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  22. McGoldrick, Seán (8 April 2018). "Kilkenny whirlwind blows Tipperary away as Brian Cody claims ninth league title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  23. O'Toole, Fintan (30 June 2019). "More glory for Limerick as they lift Munster crown with 12-point win over Tipperary". The 42. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  24. McGoldrick, Seán (18 August 2019). "Tipperary are All-Ireland champions as Liam Sheedy's men see off 14-man Kilkenny in Croke Park". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
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