John Maher (Gaelic footballer)
{{Short description|Galway Gaelic footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox Gaelic games player
| image =
| name = John Maher
| irish = Seán Ó Meachair
| nickname =
| occupation = Engineer
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| height =
| sport = Gaelic football
| code = Football
| county = Galway
| province = Connacht
| club = Salthill–Knocknacarra
| clyears = 2006–
| clposition = Midfield
| clapps(points) =
| clcounty = 1
| clprovince = 1
| clallireland =
| counties = Galway
| icyears = 2018–
| icposition = Forward
| icapps(points) =
| icprovince =
| icallireland =
| nfl =
| allstars = 1
| clupdate =
| icupdate = match played 28 July 2024
}}
John Maher is a Gaelic footballer who plays as a forward for the Galway county team, and club football for Salthill–Knocknacarra.
Playing career
Maher made his inter-county debut during the 2018 FBD League,{{cite web |author1=Eoghan Cormican |title=John Maher on form for Galway after rocky start to career |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41434978.html |website=Irish Examiner |access-date=4 March 2025 |quote=Made his senior debut against Sligo in the 2018 FBD League.}} but didn't feature in any subsequest National League or Championship campaign until the COVID-hit 2020 National League season against Mayo. He was substituted at half time and would not appear for the county team again until the 2023 FBD League.{{cite web |title=John Maher's rehabilitation from a nightmare debut as he hits All Star form for Galway |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/gaelic-football/gaelic-football-news/john-mahers-rehabilitation-nightmare-debut-33225069 |website=Irish Mirror |access-date=4 March 2025}}
His championship debut came against Roscommon in the 2023 Connacht SFC on 23 April, where he scored two points.{{cite web |title=Galway respond to Roscommon surge to seal their place in the Connacht final |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2023/04/23/galway-respond-to-roscommon-surge-to-seal-their-place-in-the-connacht-final/ |website=The Irish Times |access-date=4 March 2025}}
Maher missed the first two games of Galway's 2024 Connacht SFC campaign due to injury but he returned for the Connacht SFC final win against Mayo, replacing Kieran Molloy.{{cite web |title=Connacht SFC Final: Galway finish with a flourish |url=https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/connacht-sfc-final-galway-finish-with-a-flourish |website=GAA.ie}}
The 2024 All-Ireland SFC final was Maher's first appearance in the decider, with Galway losing that game to Armagh.
Maher was nominated{{cite web |title=2024 PwC GAA/GPA Gaelic Football All-Star nominations announced |url=https://www.gaa.ie/article/2024-pwc-gaa-gpa-gaelic-football-all-star-nominations-announced |website=GAA.ie |access-date=4 March 2024}} for the 2024 PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year, but lost to fellow Galway player Paul Conroy.{{cite web |title=Conroy and O'Donnell scoop Player of the Year awards |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/1101/1478693-conroy-and-odonnell-scoop-player-of-the-year-awards |website=RTÉ.ie |access-date=4 March 2025}} He was named at centre half-forward in the 2024 All-Star team.
References
{{reflist}}
{{2024 All Stars}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maher, John}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Engineers from County Galway
Category:Galway inter-county Gaelic footballers
Category:Salthill-Knocknacarra Gaelic footballers