Liam Devaney

Liam Devaney

Personal information
Irish name	Liam Ó Dubháin
Sport	Hurling
Position	Forward
Born	Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Borrisoleigh
Club titles
Tipperary titles	1
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
1950s-1960s	Tipperary
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	6
All-Irelands	5
NHL	6

Liam Devaney (born 1935 in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary) is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Borrisoleigh and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.

Playing career

Club

Devaney played his club hurling with his local Borrisoleigh clun and enjoyed some success. He was just out of the minor grade in 1953 when he captured a senior county title. It was the club’s last county victory for almost thirty years.

Inter-county

Devaney first came to prominence in the inter-county scene in the early 1950s as a member of the Tipperary minor hurling team. He first tasted success in 1952 when Tipp captured the Munster minor title. Devaney later added an All-Ireland minor title as Tipp defeated Dublin. Devaney added a second set of Munster and All-Ireland minor titles to his collection in 1953.

Devaney made his debut on the Tipperary senior hurling team in the 1954-55 National Hurling League. Tipp defeated Wexford in the league final giving Devaney his first major success at senior level. Two years later in 1957 he added a second National League medal to his collection, however, championship success still eluded him. 1958 saw Tipperary claim the Munster title; however, Devaney missed the provincial final. In spite of this he later collected his first senior All-Ireland medal after scoring a goal in the final against Galway. In 1959 Devaney began the year by winning another National League title, however, Tipp made an early exit from the 1959 championship. The team began 1960 by winning another National League before later annexing another Munster title. Devaney later lined out in his second All-Ireland final where Wexford provided the opposition, however, it was the Wexford men who emerged victorious on that occasion. The game ended in a farce as the crowd invaded the pitch thinking that the game was over. As a result, Tipp finished the game with only twelve men on the field. In 1961 Devaney captured his fifth National League medal. He later added a third Munster title as Tipp trounced Cork in the provincial final giving Devaney a third Munster championship victory. A Dublin team made up entirely of Dublin natives for the first time ever provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireand final. The game was a close affair; however, Tipp emerged as the winners by a single point giving Devaney a second All-Ireland title. In 1962 he won a fourth Munster championship medal as Waterford fell heavily in the final. Once again Tipp faced Wexford in the All-Ireland final. Things looked good for the Munster champions as they scored two goals inside the first minute, however, Wexford came storming back. Tipp, however, went on to win the game by two points giving Devaney a third All-Ireland medal. Three-in-a-row proved beyond even this great team as Tipp were beaten in the 1963 Munster final by Waterford.

In 1964 Tipp won the National League final, however, Devaney missed the final. He also missed out on the county’s Munster final victory, however, he came on as a substitute to claim a fourth All-Ireland medal as Tipp trounced Kilkenny by 5-13 to 2-8. In 1965 he added a sixth National League medal to his collection before winning his fourth provincial medal. Wexford subsequently lined out against Tipp in the All-Ireland final, however, victory went to the Munster men as Devaney won a fifth All-Ireland title. Two years later in 1967 Devaney won his fifth Munster medal as Clare fell heavily in the final. The All-Ireland final saw Tipp take on Kilkenny. History was on Tipp's side as the county hadn't been beaten by 'the Cats' since 1922. After 45 years Kilkenny broke the hoodoo and scored three goals at vital times to capture an historic win. Tipp bounced back in 1968 with Devaney winning a sixth Munster medal. For the fourth time that decade Tipp faced Wexford in the championship decider. Things looked to be going well for Tipp as they were eight points ahead at half-time, however, Wexford came storming back to win the game by just two points. It was to be Devaney’s last major game on the big stage. He retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.

Provincial

Devaney also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured Railway Cup titles in 1961 and 1963.

References

Awards
Preceded by Nick O'Donnell (Wexford)	Texaco Hurler of the Year 1961	Succeeded by Donie Nealon (Tipperary)