Aaron Gillane
Personal information
Irish name Aron Ó Giolláin
Sport Hurling
Position Right corner-forward
Born 1996
Patrickswell, County Limerick, Ireland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Occupation Secondary school teacher
Club(s)
Years Club
2013-present
 Patrickswell
Club titles
Limerick titles 2
Colleges(s)
Years College Apps (scores)
2017-present
 Mary Immaculate College 9 (7-80)
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles 1
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
2017-present
 Limerick 36 (14-242)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 5
All-Irelands 5
NHL 3
All Stars 4
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 19:44, 23 July 2023.

Aaron Gillane (born 1996) is an Irish hurler who plays as a right corner-forward for club side Patrickswell and at inter-county level with the Limerick senior hurling team.

Early career

Ardscoil Rís

Gillane first came to prominence in Ardscoil Rís in Limerick. On 22 February 2014, he was introduced as asubstitute when Arscoil Rís defeated Scoil na Trionóide from Doon by 2-13 to 0-04 in the final of the Harty Cup.[1]

Mary Immaculate College

During his studies at Mary Immaculate College, Gillane was selected as a forward for the college's senior hurling team. On 25 February 2017, he won a Fitzgibbon Cup medal as Mary I retained the title after a 3-24 to 1-19 defeat of Carlow Institute of Technology in the final.[2]

Club career

Gillane joined the Patrickswell club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. After an unremarkable period in these grades, he was 17-years-old when he joined the club's junior team after failing to make the cut with the senior panel. A combination of not being "good enough" and the prospect of soccer success could have resulted in Gillane walking away from the game but for the intervention of club legend Ciarán Carey who coaxed him onto the senior team.[3][4] Gillane was in the early stages of his senior club career when Patrickswell suffered a one-point defeat by Na Piarsaigh in the 2015 county final.[5]

Throughout the 2016 Limerick County Championship, Gillane further established himself as a key member of the starting fifteen by sharing the free-taking duties with Diarmaid Byrnes. On 23 October 2016, he scored seven points, including five frees, from right corner-forward when Patrickswell claimed their first championship in 13 years after a 19-point win over Ballybrown.[6]

Gillane lined out in a second county final on 6 October 2019. Playing at right corner-forward he scored six points and collected a second winners' medal following the 1-17 to 0-15 defeat of Na Piarsaigh.[7]

Inter-county career

Minor and under-21

Gillane first played for Limerick when he was added to the minor panel shortly before the start of the 2014 Munster Minor Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 26 June 2014 when he was a late substitute for Séamus Flanagan in a two-point win over Cork in the Munster semi-final. Gillane was again confined to the substitutes' bench for the subsequent Munster final replay defeat by Waterford.[8] By the time Limerick qualified for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny, Gillane was overlooked by the management and did not make the 24-man match-day panel.[9]

After a season of no underage inter-county activity, Gillane made his debut with the Limerick under-21 team on 28 June 2016 when he lined out at right corner-forward in a Munster quarter-final win over Cork.[10] He was dropped from the starting fifteen for the semi-final defeat by Tipperary.[11] In his second and final season with the under-21 team, Gillane secured a starting fifteen berth as well as taking over the free-taking duties. He ended the 2017 Munster Under-21 Championship as top scorer with 0-29, while he also claimed a winners' medal after Limerick's defeat of Cork in the final.[12] On 9 September 2017, Gillane top scored with seven points in Limerick's 0-17 to 0-11 defeat of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.[13] As well as ending the campaign as the championship's overall top scorer with 0-44, he was later named on the Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year.[14]

Senior

2017 season

Gillane was in his final season with the Limerick under-21 team when he was drafted onto the senior panel by new manager John Kiely in advance of the 2017 Munster League. He made his only appearance of the pre-season competition on 8 January 2017 when he came on as a 54th-minute substitute for full-forward Seán Tobin in a first-round defeat of Waterford.[15] Gillane was cut from the panel for the 2017 National League campaign, however, his impressive form for Mary Immaculate College in the Fitzgibbon Cup saw him earn a recall to the panel in advance of the 2017 Munster Championship.[16] On 4 June 2017, he made his championship debut when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute for Shane Dowling in a 3-17 to 2-16 defeat by Clare in the Munster semi-final.[17]

2018 season

In November 2017, Gillane was again named on the 38-man Limerick panel for the upcoming 2018 season.[18] He claimed his first silverware at senior level on 14 January 2018 when Limerick beat Clare by 0-16 to 0-10 to claim the 2018 Munster League title.[19] Gillane started all of Limerick's games and ended the provincial league as top scorer with 1-21. The subsequent National League saw him start in all seven of Limerick's games, ending the campaign as the team's top scorers with 5-57. On 2 June 2018, Gillane was red carded and received a one-match suspension for digging twice at Cork's Seán O'Donoghue in their Munster Championship Round 3 game.[20] The decision was described as a "joke" by team manager John Kiely.[21] On 19 August 2018, Gillane was named at right corner-forward when Limerick faced Galway in the All-Ireland final.[22] He scored three points in total, including one from a free, as Limerick won their first All-Ireland Championship title in 45 years after a 3-16 to 2-18 win.[23] Gillane was later named the GAA/GPA Player of the Month for August, before ending the season by being nominated for an All-Star Award.[24][25]

2019 season

Gillane was again a regular for Limerick during the 2019 National League, starting in six of their eight games. He top scored with 1-09 from right corner-forward when Limerick claimed their first Division 1 title since 1997 after a 1-24 to 0-19 win over Waterford in the final[26] His man of the match performance in the final also earned him a second GAA/GPA Player of the Month award.[27] Gillane ended the 2019 Munster Championship as top scorer with 2-41, while he also claimed his first provincial winners' medal after the 2-26 to 2-14 win over Tipperary in the Munster final.[28] He ended the year by receiving his second All-Star nomination and his first win.[29]

2020 season

Gillane wasn't included on the Limerick team for the two group stage games of the 2020 Munster League, with David Reidy taking over the free-taking duties. He was back on the team at right corner-forward for the final against Cork on 11 January 2020, and scored 1-01 from play in the 1-32 to 0-20 win.[30] The subsequent National League campaign saw Gillane score 1-28 after lining out in four of Limerick's five Division 1A games. On 25 October 2020, he top-scored with 0-12 in a 0-36 to 1-23 defeat of Clare in the delayed league final.[31] Gillane ended the 2020 Munster Championship as top scorer with 2-28, while he also claimed a second successive winners' medal after scoring ten points in the Munster final defeat of Waterford.[32] On 29 November 2020, Gillane was hospitalised overnight following a heavy collision with Galway centre-back Gearóid McInerney in the All-Ireland semi-final.[33] Limerick selector Donal O'Grady later cast doubt on his ability to recover in time for the All-Ireland final: "Aaron didn't train on Tuesday, obviously he took a heavy hit there at the weekend. We are hoping to possibly get him reassessed on Friday night, to see how he is. At the moment, 50-50 is my understanding as of today."[34][35] Gillane made sufficient progress in his recovery and was named at right corner-forward for the All-Ireland final against Waterford on 13 December 2020.[36] He top-scored for Limerick with ten points, including six frees, in the 0-30 to 0-19 win.[37]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 September 2020.
Team Season Limerick Munster All-Ireland Total
AppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Patrickswell 2017 83-56——83-56
2018 73-43——73-43
2019 60-3910-05—70-44
2020 33-18——33-18

Inter-county

As of 23 July 2023.
Team Year National League Munster All-Ireland Total
DivisionAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Limerick 2017 Division 1B 00-0010-0000-0010-00
2018 75-5730-1041-27146-94
2019 Division 1A 62-4552-4111-09125-95
2020 51-4032-2820-16103-84
2021 40-3420-1122-1182-56
2022 51-3043-3220-15114-77
2023 42-2051-3122-11115-68
Total 3111-225238-153136-896725-467

Honours

Ardscoil Rís
Mary Immaculate College
Patrickswell
Limerick

Individual

Awards

References

  1. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (24 February 2014). "Ardscoil Rís a class apart in derby duel". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  2. ↑ Fallon, John (27 February 2017). "DJ Carey hails inspirational coach Jamie Wall as Mary I retain Fitzgibbon title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "Patrickswell and Mary I: Aaron Gillane doesn't forget where he's come from". Sports Joe. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "Aaron Gillane: How a junior player became a hurler of the year". Sports Joe. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  5. ↑ Boyle, Donnchadh (12 October 2015). "Downes restores Na Piarsaigh as Limerick leaders". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "Patrickswell dominate Ballybrown to capture 19th Limerick SHC title". Irish Examiner. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  7. ↑ Keys, Colm (6 October 2019). "Cian Lynch comes to the fore as Patrickswell hold off Na Piarsaigh in Limerick county final". Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  8. ↑ "Limerick blitz shakes off Déise". Irish Examiner. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  9. ↑ O'Riordan, Ian (7 September 2014). "Kilkenny minors savour All-Ireland success against spirited Limerick". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "All-Ireland holders Limerick overrun Cork U21s". Irish Examiner. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Tipperary's great hurling week continues as they defeat Limerick in Munster U21 semi-final". The 42. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  12. ↑ "Limerick beat Cork to earn second Munster U21 hurling title in three years". Irish Examiner. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  13. ↑ Cormican, Eoghan (11 September 2017). "Limerick savour that September excitement in U21 hurling final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  14. ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (2 October 2017). "Gillane the star man as Limerick, Kilkenny, Galway and Cork players make U21 team of the year". The 42. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  15. ↑ Keane, Thomas (8 January 2017). "Fitzgibbon and Dempsey key in helping new Limerick boss claim win over Waterford". The 42. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  16. ↑ Keane, Thomas (25 April 2017). "Limerick cut 7 players from panel ahead of hurling championship campaign". The 42. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  17. ↑ "Clare keep Limerick at arm's length to book Munster final spot". Irish Times. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  18. ↑ O'Connell, Jerome (16 November 2017). "10 additions to 2018 Limerick hurling panel". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  19. ↑ "Limerick make bold statement of intent". Irish Independent. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  20. ↑ Fogarty, John (2 June 2018). "14-man Limerick hold Cork to a draw in Páirc Uí Chaoimh cracker". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  21. ↑ "'It was a joke' - Limerick boss John Kiely slams Gillane sending-off". RTÉ Sport. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  22. ↑ Duffy, Emma (17 August 2018). "Limerick name unchanged side for All-Ireland final showdown against Galway". The 42. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  23. ↑ McGoldrick, Seán (19 August 2018). "Limerick are All Ireland hurling champions for the first time in 45 years following epic victory over Galway". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  24. ↑ "Aaron Gillane and Colm Cavanagh pick up August awards". Irish Examiner. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  25. ↑ "All Star hurling nominees: 15 Limerick players in contention". Hogan Stand. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  26. ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (31 March 2019). "Limerick end 22-year with for league honours in style with final win over Waterford". The 42. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  27. ↑ "O'Shea and Gillane take Player of the Month gongs". Hogan Stand. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  28. ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (30 June 2019). "More glory for Limerick as they lift Munster crown with 12-point win over Tipperary". The 42. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  29. ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (26 September 2019). "11 players from Tipperary as 8 counties feature in 2019 All-Star hurling nominations". The 42. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  30. ↑ Hurley, Denis (11 January 2020). "Stylish Limerick cruise past Cork to win Munster league". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  31. ↑ Fogarty, John (25 October 2020). "Lethal Limerick storm to victory despite Tony Kelly brilliance". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  32. ↑ Fogarty, John (15 November 2020). "Limerick made to work by Waterford for historic Munster SHC crown". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  33. ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (30 November 2020). "Aaron Gillane recovering at home following night in hospital". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  34. ↑ Fallon, John (3 December 2020). "Limerick star Aaron Gillane '50/50' to play in All-Ireland final". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  35. ↑ Fogarty, John (3 December 2020). "Aaron Gillane has '50-50' chance of playing All-Ireland final, Limerick say". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  36. ↑ McKeon, Conor (11 December 2020). "Aaron Gillane to start as Limerick and Waterford teams named for All-Ireland final". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  37. ↑ Fogarty, John (13 December 2020). "Limerick show consistency in a world gone mad to claim All-Ireland honours". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
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