Michael Breen (hurler)

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Michael Breen
Personal information
Irish name Mícheál Ó Braoin
Sport Hurling
Position Midfield / Defence
Born (1994-07-16) 16 July 1994 (age 29)
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.

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.

Playing career[edit]

Castletroy College[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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]

Tipperary[edit]

Minor and under-21[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

As of match played 31 July 2021.
Team Year National League Munster All-Ireland Total
Division Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score
Tipperary 2014 Division 1A 1 0-00 0 0-00 0 0-00 1 0-00
2015 7 0-04 2 1-01 1 0-00 10 1-05
2016 6 1-11 3 3-02 2 0-03 11 4-16
2017 6 0-09 1 0-06 4 1-01 11 1-16
2018 8 3-16 1 0-00 9 3-16
2019 6 0-09 5 0-08 3 0-02 14 0-19
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 44 4-58 15 5-20 13 1-16 72 10-94

Honours[edit]

Ballina
Tipperary

References[edit]

  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.

External links[edit]