Niall O'Meara

Niall O'Meara

Personal information
Irish name	Níall Ó Meadhra
Sport	Hurling
Position	Left wing-forward
Born	(1992-12-16) 16 December 1992 (age 30) Kilruane, County Tipperary, Ireland
Height	1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
Occupation	Primary school teacher
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Kilruane MacDonagh's Thomas MacDonagh's
Club titles
	Football	Hurling
Tipperary titles	1	1
Colleges(s)
Years	College
2012-2016	Mary Immaculate College
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles	1
Inter-county(ies)*
Years	County	Apps (scores)
2014–2023	Tipperary	18 (1-09)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	2
All-Irelands	2
NHL	0
All Stars	0
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 22:14, 18 November 2019.

Niall O'Meara (born 16 December 1992) is an Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary Senior Championship club Kilruane MacDonagh's and formerly at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team. ^{[1] [2]} He usually lines out as a left wing-forward.

Playing career

Mary Immaculate College

During his studies at Mary Immaculate College, O'Meara was selected for the college's senior hurling team during his second year. On 27 February 2016, he was selected at right wing-forward but spent much of the game at left corner-forward when Mary Immaculate College faced the University of Limerick in the Fitzgibbon Cup final. O'Meara ended the game with a winners' medal following the 1-30 to 3-22 victory. ^[3]

Kilruane MacDonagh's

O'Meara joined the Kilruane MacDonagh's club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. He enjoyed championship success in the under-21 grade before joining the club's senior.^{[ citation needed ]}

On 16 September 2018, O'Meara lined out at centre-back when Kilruane MacDonagh's qualified for the North Tipperary Championship final. He scored a point from play and claimed a winners' medal after the 0-19 to 0-12 defeat of Kiladangan. ^[4]

On 30 October 2022, O'Meara started as Kilruane MacDonaghs defeated Kiladangan 2–20 to 1–16 in the 2022 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship final after a replay, it was their first title since 1985. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Thomas MacDonagh's

O'Meara was just 18-years-old when he was selected for the Thomas MacDonagh's amalgamated team in the 2011 Tipperary Football Championship. On 6 November 2011, he lined out at centre-back when the team qualified for a meeting with Moyle Rovers in the final. O'Meara ended the game with a winners' medal after a 0-09 to 0-07 victory. ^[8]

On 4 November 2012, O'Meara again lined out at centre-back when Thomas MacDonagh's qualified for a second successive final. He ended the game on the losing side after a 1-09 to 0-05 defeat by Clonmel Commercials. ^[9]

Tipperary

Minor and under-21

O'Meara first played for Tipperary as a member of the minor team during the 2010 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 5 May 2010 when he lined out at centre-forward in a 0-17 to 1-13 defeat by Clare. ^[10]

O'Meara was drafted onto the Tipperary under-21 team in advance of the 2012 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 6 June 2012 when he lined out at right wing-forward in an 0-18 to 0-17 defeat of Cork. ^[11] On 8 August 2012, O'Meara was switched to midfield when Tipperary suffered a 1-16 to 1-14 defeat by Clare in the Munster final. ^[12]

O'Meara was appointed captain of the Tipperary under-21 team for the 2013 Munster Championship. On 7 August 2013, he captained the team to a 1-17 to 2-10 defeat by Clare in a second successive Munster final. ^[13]

Intermediate

On 31 August 2013, O'Meara was selected at left wing-forward when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. He scored four points from play and ended the game with a winners' medal following the 2-14 to 2-11 victory. ^[14]

Senior

O'Meara was added to the Tipperary senior team prior to the start of the 2014 National League. He made his first appearance for the team on 30 March 2014 when he scored a goal from left corner-forward in a 3-25 to 4-19 defeat of Cork. ^[15] On 4 May 2014, O'Meara again lined out at left corner-forward when Tipperary suffered a 2-25 to 1-27 defeat by Kilkenny in the National League final. ^[16] On 7 September 2014, he was selected amongst the substitutes when Tipperary drew 1-28 to 3-22 with Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. ^[17] He was again named on the bench for the replay on 27 September 2014 and ended the game on the losing side after a 2-17 to 2-14 defeat. ^[18]

On 12 July 2015, O'Meara was selected at left corner-forward when Tipperary faced Waterford in the Munster final. He scored three points from play and claimed his first Munster Championship medal following the 0-21 to 0-16 victory. ^[19]

O'Meara won a second Munster Championship medal on 10 July 2016 after lining out at left corner-forward in a 5-19 to 0-13 defeat of Waterford in the final. ^[20] On 5 September 2016, he was named amongst the substitutes for Tipperary's All-Ireland final meeting with Kilkenny. O'Meara was introduced as a substitute for Dan McCormack at right wing-forward and claimed an All-Ireland medal following a 2-29 to 2-20 victory. ^[21]

On 23 April 2017, O'Meara was named on the bench when Tipperary faced Galway in the National League final. He was introduced as a substitute for Seán O'Brien at left wing-forward but ended the game on the losing side following a 3-21 to 0-14 defeat. ^[22]

O'Meara missed most of the 2018 National League due to injury but returned to the panel in April. ^[23]

On 30 June 2019, O'Meara was named on the bench when Tipperary faced Limerick in the Munster final. He was introduced as a substitute for Michael Breen at midfield but ended the game on the losing side following a 2-26 to 2-14 defeat. ^[24] On 18 August 2019, O'Meara lined out at centre-forward when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. He scored his first championship goal during the game and collected a second All-Ireland winners' medal following the 3-25 to 0-20 victory. ^[25]

On 3 November 2023, O'Meara announced his retirement from inter-county hurling. ^{[26] [27]}

Career statistics

As of match played 18 August 2019.

Team	Year	National League			Munster		All-Ireland		Total
		Division	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
Tipperary	2014	Division 1A	3	1-05	1	0-01	0	0-00	4	1-06
	2015		5	1-08	2	0-04	1	0-00	8	1-12
	2016		5	2-01	3	0-00	2	0-00	10	2-01
	2017		8	1-09	1	0-01	3	0-02	12	1-12
	2018		0	0-00	0	0-00	—		0	0-00
	2019		6	0-07	2	0-01	3	1-00	11	1-08
Career total			27	5-30	9	0-07	9	1-02	45	6-39

Honours

Mary Immaculate College

• Fitzgibbon Cup (1): 2016

Thomas MacDonagh's

• Tipperary Senior Football Championship (1): 2011

Kilruane MacDonagh's

• North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2018
• Tipperary Under-21 A Hurling Championship (1): 2010
• Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2022

Tipperary

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2016, 2019
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2015, 2016
• All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 2013
• Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 2013

References

1. "O'Meara a Premier concern for final". Irish Independent. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
2. "Treaty's late surge finally sees off Tipp". Irish Examiner. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
3. Cormican, Eoghan (29 February 2016). "Eamonn Cregan hails heroic Mary I". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
4. "Kilruane victorious in North Tipp Final". Tipp FM website. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
5. "Darcy's double makes Kilruane kings again". Irish Examiner. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
6. "Darcy on the double to end Kilruane MacDonaghs' 37-year wait for Tipp title". The 42. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
7. "Cian Darcy seals fine performance with late goal as Kilruane McDonaghs end long wait for Tipp title". Irish Independent. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
8. "Austin turns tide as MacDonagh's make history". Irish Independent. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
9. Dundon, Michael (5 November 2012). "Clonmel: We'll rattle Kerry kingpins". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
10. Cahill, Jackie (25 June 2011). "Kelly ups tempo to lift Clare". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
11. O'Toole, Fintan (7 June 2012). "Rebels rocked as Tipp finish with a flourish". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
12. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 August 2012). "Bannermen celebrate redemption". 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. Knox, John (2 September 2013). "Tipp shake off plucky Cats". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
15. Cahill, Jackie (30 March 2014). "Bubbles the scoring star as Tipperary win seven-goal thriller against Cork". The 42. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
16. 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.
17. Fogarty, John (8 September 2014). "Game of inches adds up to a thriller". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
18. "Kilkenny too strong for Tipperary in All-Ireland final replay". RTÉ Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
19. McGoldrick, Seán (12 July 2015). "Tipperary claim Munster hurling title with tight win over Waterford". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
20. Breheny, Martin (11 July 2016). "Tipp torrents wash Deise hopes away". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
21. McGoldrick, Seán (4 September 2016). "Majestic Tipperary are All Ireland champions after victory over Kilkenny in Croke Park". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
22. Small, Darragh (23 April 2017). "Clinical Galway leave Tipp reeling in league final". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
23. "Niall O'Meara rearing for action following injury". Tipp FM website. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. "Niall O'Meara Retirement Announcement". Tipperary GAA. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
27. "Tipperary's Niall O'Meara retires from inter-county game". RTE Sport. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.

External links

• Niall O'Meara profile at the Tipperary GAA website