Paul Morris (hurler)

Morris first came to prominence as a hurler with FCJ Bunclody in Bunclody. He played in every grade of hurling before eventually joining the college's senior hurling team. On 22 April 2007, Morris was at midfield when FCJ Bunclody faced Cross & Passion College from Ballycastle in the All-Ireland Colleges B Championship final. He top scored with 0-08 and ended the game with a winners' medal following the 1-11 to 0-08 victory.[1]

As a student at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Morris immediately became involved in hurling. He lined out with the senior hurling team in several Fitzgibbon Cup campaigns.

Morris joined the Ferns St Aidan's club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. He joined the club's top adult team when he was still eligible for the minor grade.

On 4 November 2007, Morris lined out for Ferns St Aidan's when they faced Rathnure in the Wexford Intermediate Championship final. He ended the game with a winners' medal following the victory. On 18 November 2007, Morris lined out when Ferns St Aidan's suffered a 1-15 to 3-07 defeat by Clonkill in the Leinster final.[2]

On 20 October 2013, Morris lined out at centre-forward when Ferns St Aidan's faced Oulart-the Ballagh in the Wexford Senior Championship final. He scored three points from play in the 3-12 to 1-16 defeat.[3]

Morris first played for Wexford as a member of the minor team during the 2007 Leinster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 24 April 2007 when he lined out at midfield in a 1-12 to 2-04 defeat of Carlow.[4]

On 6 July 2008, Morris lined out at centre-forward when Wexford faced Kilkenny in the Leinster final. He top scored with 0-06 in the 1-19 to 0-13 defeat.

Morris was drafted onto the Wexford under-21 team for the 2009 Leinster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 10 June 2009 when he came on as a substitute in Wexford's 1-24 to 0-08 defeat by Dublin.

On 14 July 2010, Morris was selected on the bench when Wexford faced Dublin in the Leinster final. He came on as a substitute in the 2-15 to 0-15 defeat.

Morris lined out in a second successive Leinster final with the Wexford under-21 team on 13 July 2011. He scored four points overall, including two from frees, in the 1-18 to 0-11 defeat by Dublin.

Morris was added to the Wexford senior team in advance of the 2010 National League. He made his first appearance for the team on 21 March 2010 when he came on as a late substitute for Harry Kehoe in a 0-16 to 0-13 defeat by Carlow.[5] On 2 May 2010, Morris was an unused substitute when Wexford defeated Clare by 1-16 to 2-09 to win the National League Division 2 title.[6] Morris made his Leinster Championship debut on 29 May 2010 when he came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Michael Jacob in a 2-22 to 1-14 defeat by Galway.[7]

On 2 July 2017, Morris lined out in his first Leinster final. He was selected at right corner-forward but spent much of the game against Galway at right wing-forward. Morris scored two points from play in the 0-29 to 1-17 defeat.[8]

On 20 January 2018, Morris lined out at full-forward when Wexford faced Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup final. He top scored with 0-09, including seven frees, in the 1-24 apiece draw. Wexford won the subsequent free-taking shoot-out, with Morris missing his attempt from a placed ball.[9]

Wexford reached a second Leinster final in three years on 30 June 2019. Morris lined out at left corner-forward as part of a two-man full-forward line and collected a winners' medal after scoring a point from play in the 1-23 to 0-23 defeat of Kilkenny.[10]

He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling at the end of 2022.[11][12]

Morris was added to the Leinster inter-provincial team in advance of the 2012 Interprovincial Championship. He made his only appearance for the team on 17 February 2012 when he came on as a 69th-minute substitute for Danny Sutcliffe in a 3-13 to 1-16 defeat by Connacht at the semi-final stage.[13]