Oliver McGrath
Encyclopedia
Oliver 'Hopper' McGarth (born 1938 in Wexford
, Ireland
) is a former Irish
sportsman. He played hurling
with his local club Faythe Harriers
and with the Wexford
senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.
with the famous Faythe Harriers
club in Wexford
. He enjoyed much success, beginning with the capturing of three minor county titles in a row from 1954 to 1956. He was a key part of the team when the club collected their first senior county title in 1960. McGrath added two further county medals to his collection in 1962 and 1965. During this time Faythe Harriers were also regarded as the unofficial Leinster
club champions.
minor hurling team in the mid-1950s. He played in two consecutive Leinster finals in this grade in 1955 and 1956, however, Kilkenny
denied Wexford on both occasions. McGrath made his senior debut in the National Hurling League
in the autumn of 1956 and he quickly became a regular on the team. Two years later in 1958 he captured his first major success in the form of a National League title. Two years after in 1960 he won his first senior Leinster
title as Wexford got the better of Kilkenny in the provincial decider. McGrath later lined out in his first All-Ireland final against Tipperary
. It was only the third ever meeting between these two sides in the championship. Tipp were the red-hot favourites and a certain over-confidence seemed to creep in. The game ended in remarkable circumstances as the crowd invaded the pitch with a minute to go, mistaking the referee’s whistle for the end of the game. When the crowd were finally moved off the pitch Tipperary continued playing with only twelve men, however, Wexford won the game on a score line of 2-15 to 0-11 giving McGrath his first All-Ireland
medal. Wexford surrendered their provincial crown to Dublin
in 1961, however, the team bounced back in 1962 with McGrath collecting his second provincial title. The team later squared up to Tipperary in the All-Ireland final, however, Wexford were not the force of old and the side got off to possibly the worst start ever by a team in a championship decider. After just ninety seconds the Leinster champions were down by 2 goals, however, the game turned out to be much closer than people expected. Tipp eventually secured the win on a score line of 3-10 to 2-11. In 1965 Wexford were back and McGrath collected a third Leinster title. Once again, the All-Ireland final saw Wexford taking on old foes Tipperary. The Munster men won comfortably by twelve points. McGrath retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterward.
in the inter-provincial hurling championship. He won one Railway Cup medal in 1962.
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
, Ireland
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,...
) is a former Irish
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,...
sportsman. 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 Faythe Harriers
Faythe Harriers
Faythe Harriers is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Wexford town, Ireland.-History:The history of the Faythe Harriers stretches back to the early 1940s, although the hurling club wasn't formed until 1949. In the late 1930s, the Mulgannon Harriers were the G.A.A...
and with the 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...
senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.
Club
McGrath 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 the famous Faythe Harriers
Faythe Harriers
Faythe Harriers is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Wexford town, Ireland.-History:The history of the Faythe Harriers stretches back to the early 1940s, although the hurling club wasn't formed until 1949. In the late 1930s, the Mulgannon Harriers were the G.A.A...
club in Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
. He enjoyed much success, beginning with the capturing of three minor county titles in a row from 1954 to 1956. He was a key part of the team when the club collected their first senior county title in 1960. McGrath added two further county medals to his collection in 1962 and 1965. During this time Faythe Harriers were also regarded as the unofficial Leinster
Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between the winners of the senior club hurling championships of the counties in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Ballyhale Shamrocks from Kilkenny. The first Leinster senior club hurling...
club champions.
Inter-county
McGrath first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the WexfordWexford 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...
minor hurling team in the mid-1950s. He played in two consecutive Leinster finals in this grade in 1955 and 1956, however, 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...
denied Wexford on both occasions. McGrath made his senior debut in the 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...
in the autumn of 1956 and he quickly became a regular on the team. Two years later in 1958 he captured his first major success in the form of a National League title. Two years after in 1960 he won his first senior Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster 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 Leinster in Ireland....
title as Wexford got the better of Kilkenny in the provincial decider. McGrath later lined out in his first All-Ireland final against 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...
. It was only the third ever meeting between these two sides in the championship. Tipp were the red-hot favourites and a certain over-confidence seemed to creep in. The game ended in remarkable circumstances as the crowd invaded the pitch with a minute to go, mistaking the referee’s whistle for the end of the game. When the crowd were finally moved off the pitch Tipperary continued playing with only twelve men, however, Wexford won the game on a score line of 2-15 to 0-11 giving McGrath his first 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. Wexford surrendered their provincial crown to 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...
in 1961, however, the team bounced back in 1962 with McGrath collecting his second provincial title. The team later squared up to Tipperary in the All-Ireland final, however, Wexford were not the force of old and the side got off to possibly the worst start ever by a team in a championship decider. After just ninety seconds the Leinster champions were down by 2 goals, however, the game turned out to be much closer than people expected. Tipp eventually secured the win on a score line of 3-10 to 2-11. In 1965 Wexford were back and McGrath collected a third Leinster title. Once again, the All-Ireland final saw Wexford taking on old foes Tipperary. The Munster men won comfortably by twelve points. McGrath retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterward.
Province
McGrath also lined out with LeinsterLeinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
in the inter-provincial hurling championship. He won one Railway Cup medal in 1962.