John O'Brien (hurler)

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = John O'Brien
irish =
fullname = John O'Brien
placeofbirth = Toomevara
countryofbirth = County Tipperary
dob = 1982
height =
nickname =
county = Tipperary
province = Munster
club = Toomevara
clposition = Full-forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Tipperary
icposition = Wing-forward
icyears = 2001-
icapps(points) = 8
icprovince = 1
icallireland = 0
allstars =
clupdate=
icupdate=

John O'Brien (born 1982) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Toomevara and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team. He plays as a forward on both teams.

Club career

John O'Brien was born in the parish of Toomevara, County Tipperary in 1982. He was born into a family that had a strong association with local Gaelic games and he quickly began playing hurling.

Playing career

Club

O'Brien plays his club hurling with Toomevara, along with his brother Paddy. He has enjoyed much success with his club, winning Tipperary SHC titles in 2000 and 2001. On both occasions he was awarded with the 'Man of the Match' award. O'Brien won further back-to-back county titles in 2003 and 2004, as well as winning a second Munster club title in the latter year. In 2006 he won another Tipperary SHC title before subsequently capturing a second Munster club title.

Inter-county

O'Brien started playing for the Tipperary minor hurling team in the late 1990s, winning a Munster medal in 1999. Two years later in 2001 he made his senior debut in a National Hurling League game against Laois before making his championship debut against Limerick in the Munster Championship. He came on as a substitute in the Munster final to win his first, and only, provincial medal to date. O'Brien was also a member of the panel when Tipp later won the All-Ireland title. Two years later he was a member of the Tipperary under-21 team that won the Munster championship. The following few years proved difficult as Tipp failed to win further provincial or All-Ireland honours at senior level.

Just before Christmas in 2006 O'Brien received severe leg injuries as well as a dislocated and fractured hip in a car accident. This will rule him out of the 2007 championship until July. In spite of this he has still been appointed captain of the side for the year. He was named man of the match by RTE in the Munster Hurling Final 2008 victory by Tipperary.

Teams