Liam Devaney
Encyclopedia
Liam Devaney 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.
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.
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.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured Railway Cup titles in 1961 and 1963.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Borrisoleigh and with the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.
Club
Devaney played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
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
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
. 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 TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
minor hurling team. He first tasted success in 1952 when Tipp captured the Munster
Munster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
minor title. Devaney later added an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
minor title as Tipp defeated Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. 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
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
. Tipp defeated Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
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
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
title; however, Devaney missed the provincial final. In spite of this he later collected his first senior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal after scoring a goal in the final against Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
. 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
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
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
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
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
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
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
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
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
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
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 MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured Railway Cup titles in 1961 and 1963.