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Pádraig Horan - First Ever Offaly Hurler To Lift Liam McCarthy Cup In

Triumph In 1981

Pádraig Horan was at the peak of his powers when Offaly hurling could be deemed to be outside the top table of the premier counties and it was more probable than possible, that Pádraig would be fondly remembered for his great natural skills, rather than an All Ireland champion hurler.

His ability shone like a beacon in an Offaly squad which always performed with great determination and the Banagher hurler kept the Offaly flag flying and inspiring young hurlers to emulate his star rating as a hurler. He could have prominently featured in any of the traditionally strong hurling counties.

Full back and centre back were positions occupied by Pádraig in the early 1970’s and with Leinster in the Railway Cup teams, he performed with distinction in defence. He spent most of the 70’s decade at centre back with the Faithful county, yet when Offaly made history in 1981, it was at full forward that he became a household name.

When the parishes of Banagher and Cloghan came together and played as St. Rynaghs in 1961, Pádraig was only an eleven years old garsuin with a grá for hurling.The new club quickly found success in domestic competitions and 1965 is recorded as a historic year in the barony of St. Rynaghs. It marked the clubs first ever winning of the Offaly senior hurling championship. The dashing young Banagher hurler was just out of minor ranks and was part of the 1968 team that won the clubs third senior hurling title.

As proud as Pádraig may have been in 1968, he could hardly envisage that his native county would be celebrating lifting the Liam McCarthy Cup on the Hogan Stand at Croke Park on Sunday 6th Sepember 1981 and that as a St. Rynaghs player, the honour of lifting the famed trophy aloft would be his personal privilege. He was aged a mere thirty five years young and he would again walk up the famed steps in 1985 to claim his own second All Ireland medal. He played at No. 14 in 1981 and 1985.

In a club career that spanned over three decades 1960’s; 70’s’ 80’s at club and county levels and from making his senior debut v Kilkenny in 1969 and up to his 1986 retirement, Pádraig was thirty six when father time came knocking. He had spells as coach with Offaly (1990 – ’92) and Laois (1997 – 2000) senior hurlers and claimed a National League with his own county in 1991 as coach. Birr also came calling on his services in 1994 as coach and the club won its own county and provincial titles and followed up with a glorious All Ireland club title.

St. Rynaghs took Pádraig back to where it all began and in 2000 he took over as senior coach until 2003 and returned again in 2006. He took on the management of the Offaly U21 team in 2007 and 2008 and further coaching assignments will no doubt come his way. 

Pádraig Horan left an immense hurling legacy for current and future generations of Offaly hurlers and his brief and concise profile in our Hall Of Fame Gallery, will enlighten gaels all around the globe of the great success story of a true Offaly giant of hurling.

Inter County Roll Of Honour:

All Ireland Senior Hurling X 2: 1981; 1985

Leinster Senior Hurling X 4: 1980; 1981; 1984; 1985

Railway Cup X 3 1973; 1974; 1975

National Hurling League X 1  1990/91 (as Offaly coach)

All Star Award X 1   1985

Club Roll Of Honour:

County Senior Hurling X 11  1968/69/70/72/73/74/75/76/81/82/87

Leinster Club Senior Club Hurling X 3: 1970/73/82 

Derry JF Doody