Pádraig Horan

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Pádraig Horan
irish =
fullname = Pádraig Horan
placeofbirth = Banagher
countryofbirth = County Offaly
dob= 1950
height =
nickname =
county = Offaly
province = Leinster
club = St. Rynagh’s
clposition = Forward
clubs=
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Offaly
icposition = Half-back
icyears = 1970-1986
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 4
icallireland = 2
allstars = 1
clupdate =
icupdate =

Pádraig Horan (born 1950) is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1970 until 1986

Early life

Pádraig Horan was born just outside Banagher, County Offaly in 1950. He was born into a family that had a huge interest in the game of hurling and, from a young age, Horan .also showed a great interest in the game.

Playing career

Club

Horan played his club hurling with the famous St. Rynagh’s club in Offaly. The club was formed in the early 1960s and success came shortly afterwards. Horan first tasted success when he claimed a three in-a-row of county titles in 1968, 1969 and 1970. In the final year this county title was later converted into a Leinster club title. St. Rynagh’s continued there dominance of the Offaly hurling scene throughout the 1970s, winning five county championships in-a-row in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976. Horan played a key role in all of these wins and added a second Leinster club title to his collection in 1972. He captured his ninth and tenth county medals in 1981 and 1982, before also claiming a third Leinster title. Horan captured his final county title in 1987.

Playing career

In the late 1960s Horan played both hurling and Football for the Offaly minor and under-21 teams. He had little success at either level in either code, and in 1971 he decided to end being a dual player and concentrate solely on hurling. It was a decision that he lived to regret as Offaly went on to win back-to-back All-Ireland football titles in 1971 and 1972. On the other hand, the 1970s proved to be a bleak time for Offaly’s hurlers. All this changed in 1980 when they came from nowhere to win their first-ever Leinster title. Unfortunately, Horan’s side were later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.

In 1981 was captain of the Offaly hurling team. That year he guided his native-county to a second Leinster title, before defeating Galway to win the All-Ireland title. Three years later in 1984 Horan won his third provincial medal in the centenary year of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The All-Ireland final was played at Semple Stadium in Thurles that year, however, Offaly were defeated by Cork who were playing in their third final in-a-row. In 1985 Offaly bounced back and reclaimed their Leinster title. In the All-Ireland final Horan’s side played old rivals Galway and defeated them once again. Horan finished the year by winning his only All-Star award.

Horan retired from inter-county hurling following Offaly’s exit from the Leinster Championship in 1986.

Mangerial career

In the early 1990s Horan served as manager of the Offaly senior hurling team. He had some success as manager, including guiding Offaly to their first-ever National Hurling League title in 1991. Horan subsequently took up the position as manager of the Birr Senior Hurling Team, guiding them to their first ever All Ireland Club Senior Hurling title in 1995. He later returned to inter county management with Laois, before returning to his native St. Rynagh's as manager from 2000-2003 and again from 2006-2007.

Teams