Len Gaynor

Irish hurler

For the English footballer, see Len Gaynor (footballer).

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Len GaynorPersonal information

Irish name|  Lionard Mag Fhionnbhairr
Sport|  Hurling
Position|  Left wing-back
Born|  1944
Kilruane,
County Tipperary, Ireland
Height|  5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Occupation|  Farmer
Club(s)
Years|  Club

1962–1989

|  Kilruane MacDonagh's
Club titles
Tipperary titles|  3
Inter-county(ies)
Years|  County

1964–1974

|  Tipperary
Inter-county titles
Munster titles|  5
All-Irelands|  3
NHL|  2
All Stars|  0

James Leonard Gaynor (born 1944) is an Irish former hurler who played as a left wing-back at senior level for the Tipperary county team.

## Early life[edit]

Born and raised in Kilruane, County Tipperary, Barry first played as a schoolboy in various juvenile competitions at Kilruane National School before later lining out as a student at St Flannan's College in Ennis. He lined out in the Harty Cup but success eluded him in that competition. Gaynor captained St Flannan's to the Dean Ryan Cup title in 1961 after a 6–07 to 1–03 defeat of De La Salle College Waterford in the final.

## Club career[edit]

Gaynor played his first juvenile game for the Kilruane MacDonaghs club as an 11-year-old in 1955. He enjoyed his first major success in 1959 when he captained Kilruane to the Tipperary U15HC title after a defeat of a Babs Keating-inspired Ballybacon-Grange in the final. Gaynor made his first appearance for the Kilruane MacDonaghs senior team in a tournament game against Thurles Sarsfields on Easter Sunday 1962\.

Gaynor claimed his first senior silverware in 1965 when Kilruane beat Lorrha to win the North Tipperary SHC, however, success at county level had eluded the club. By 1977 he had contemplated retirement from the club's senior team, however, he remained on as player-coach. It was a successful decision as Kilruane won three successive Tipperary SHC titles from 1977 to 1979 after defeats of Borris-Ileigh, Roscrea and Thurles Sarsfields.

After stepping away from the Kilruane MacDonaghs senior team, Gaynor continued to line out with the club's junior team. He won a Tipperary JAHC title in 1985 after a 17-point defeat of Cappawhite in the final. Gaynor brought his 34-year playing career to an end when he lined out in goal in a North Tipperary JBHC game against Moneygall in 1989.

## Inter-county[edit]

Performances at colleges and club level earned Gaynor a call-up to the Tipperary minor hurling team in 1962. He won a Munster MHC title that year after lining out at centre-forward in the 10-point defeat of Cork, however, Tipperary were beaten by Kilkenny in the 1962 All-Ireland minor final.[1] After a year out of inter-county activity, Gaynor was selected for the inaugural Tipperary under-21 hurling team in 1964. Tipperary dominated that year's championship, winning all of their matches by an average of 23 points. Gaynor added a Munstr U21HC to his provincial collection after a defeat of Cork before lining out at left wing-back in the 1964 All-Ireland under-21 final defeat of Wexford.[2][3] He claimed a second successive provincial winners' medal the following year, however, Wexford reversed the previous year's result by beating Tipperary by 3–07 to 1–04 in the 1964 All-Ireland under-21 final.[4]

By that stage Gaynor had already joined the senior team. He was an unused substitute throughout the 1964 campaign and, after collecting a Munster SHC medal, ended the season by being listed as one of the substitutes for the 1964 All-Ireland final defeat of Kilkenny.[5] Gaynor later made his debut in the Oireachtas Tournament.

Gaynor was a regular member of the starting fifteen throughout the 1964-65 league and championship campaigns. He won a second successive Munster SHC medal - his first on the field of play - after an 18-point win over Cork in the Munster final. Gaynor collected a second successive All-Ireland winners' medal following the 2–16 to 0–10 defeat of Wexford in the 1965 All-Ireland final. He ended the season by claiming a first National League title after a defeat of New York.[6]

After an unsuccessful season in 1966, Gaynor won a third Munster winners' medal after a defeat of Clare in the 1967 Munster final. He was named in his customary left wing-back position for the 3–08 to 2–07 defeat by Kilkenny in the 1967 All-Ireland final.[7] In spite of this defeat, Gaynor was named Tipperary Hurler of the Year and was also selected on the Gaelic Weekly Team of the Year.

Gaynor won a second National League title after a defeat of New York at the end of the 1967-68 league season. He later won a fourth Munster title in five years after a 2–13 to 1–07 win over Cork in the 1968 Munster final. The 1968 All-Ireland final was the fourth Tipperary-Wexford final of the decade and, in spite of his side holding an eight-point half-time lead, Gaynor ended up on the losing side for the second successive year.[8]

After two seasons without success, Gaynor won his fifth and final provincial winners' medal in 1971 after a one-point defeat of Limerick in the final.[9] The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Tipperary win with a goal to spare over Kilkenny, with Gaynor quoted in the Irish Press as saying: "It was the best match in which I have played and I am tremendously proud to win my third All-Ireland medal."[10]

## Managerial career[edit]

Len GaynorInter-county management

| Years  | Team

|

1990 – 1994
1996 – 1998  | Clare
Tipperary

In the early 1990s Gaynor served as manager of the Clare senior hurling team. He had some success by steering the county to two consecutive Munster final appearances in 1993 and 1994, however, these games ended in huge defeats for Clare. He was replaced in 1995 by Ger Loughnane. In 1997 Gaynor became manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team. Once again his tenure in charge was mixed, as Tipp were defeated in both the Munster and All-Ireland finals in the first year of the "back-door" system.

## Honours[edit]

### Player[edit]

St Flannan's College

* Dean Ryan Cup: 1961 (c)

Kilruane MacDonaghs

* Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 1977, 1978, 1979
* North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 1965, 1977, 1978, 1979
* Tipperary Junior A Hurling Championship: 1985
* North Tipperary Junior A Hurling Championship: 1985

Tipperary

* All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: 1964, 1965, 1971
* Munster Senior Hurling Championship: 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1971
* National Hurling League: 1964–65, 1967–68
* All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship: 1964
* Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship: 1964, 1965
* Munster Minor Hurling Championship: 1962

Munster

* Railway Cup: 1968, 1969, 1970

### Management[edit]

Kilruane MacDonaghs

* All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1986
* Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1985
* Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1985
* North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1985, 1986, 1987
* Tipperary Under-21 A Hurling Championship: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976
* North Tipperary Under-21 A Hurling Championship: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978
* Tipperary Minor A Hurling Championship: 1972
* North Tipperary Minor A Hurling Championship: 1971, 1972

Moycarkey-Borris

* Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 1982
* Mid Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 1982

Shannon Rovers

* Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship: 1986
* North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship: 1985, 1986

Newport

* Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship: 1989
* North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship: 1989

Clonoulty-Rossmore

* Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 1989
* West Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 1989

Tipperary

* Ford Cup: 1985
* Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship: 2006

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Minor hurling". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
2. ^ "Under 21 hurling". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
3. ^ "'The Magic 10' – The story of Tipp's All Ireland U21 hurling titles". Tipp FM website. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
4. ^ "Memories return of sole U-21 win". The Wexford People. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
5. ^ "Tipp's old dogs teach Cats lesson". Irish Examiner. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
6. ^ "Tipperary profile". Hogan Stand website. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
7. ^ "Cats' final triumph tinged with tragedy". Irish Examiner. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
8. ^ "The day Wexford dreams came true". New Ross Standard. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
9. ^ "Tipp's dishonorable win". Irish Central. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
10. ^ "Len Gaynor". Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA website. Retrieved 15 April 2021.

Len Gaynor navigation boxes

| Sporting positions

Preceded by

Séamus Durack

|  Clare Senior Hurling Manager
1990–1994  | Succeeded by

Ger Loughnane

Preceded by

Tom Fogarty

|  Tipperary Senior Hurling Manager
1996–1998  | Succeeded by

Nicky English

Preceded by

Éamonn Kelly

|  Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Manager
2004–2006  | Succeeded by

Connie Maher

Preceded by

Michael Ryan

|  Munster Hurling Manager
2008–2009  | Succeeded by

Liam Sheedy

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary - 1962 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship runners-up

* 1 P. Fleming
* 2 W. Smith
* 3 P. O'Rourke
* 4 M. O'Meara
* 5 O. Killoran
* 6 L. Gaynor
* 7 E. Loughnane
* 8 P. Delaney
* 9 M. O'Brien
* 10 B. Nolan
* 11 M. Keating (c)
* 12 F. Loughnane
* 13 D. Moloney
* 14 R. Buckley
* 15 T. Brennan

Subs used
18 P. Hayes for D. Moloney
19 J. Dermody for E. Loughnane
16 S. Nash for T. Brennan

Subs not used
17 T. Gould
20 P. J. Ryan

Selectors
W. O'Dwyer
T. Barrett
S. O'Dwyer
B. Hall
J. J. Maher

Reference: Tipperary GAA Archives Database searchable by team, year and/or player name.

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary - 1964 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Champions (1st title)

* 1 P. O'Sullivan
* 2 W. Smith
* 3 N. O'Gorman
* 4 M. O'Meara
* 5 O. Killoran
* 6 C. Dwyer
* 7 L. Gaynor
* 8 M. Roche
* 9 J. Fogarty
* 10 N. Lane
* 11 M. Keating
* 12 F. Loughnane (c)
* 13 J. Dillon
* 14 T. J. Butler
* 15 T. Brennan

Subs used
20 P. J. Ryan for M. O'Meara

Subs not used
16 J. Ryan
17 R. Buckley
18 S. Shinnors
19 B. Hogan

Reference: Tipperary GAA Archives Database searchable by team, year and/or player name.

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary - 1965 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship runners-up

* 1 S. Shinnors
* 2 M. Flanagan
* 3 J. Costigan
* 4 D. Burke
* 5 O. Killoran (c)
* 6 N. O'Gorman
* 7 L. Gaynor
* 8 P. J. Ryan
* 9 G. Quinlan
* 10 F. Loughnane
* 11 M. Keating
* 12 P. Ryan
* 13 T. Brennan
* 14 T. J. Butler
* 15 J. Ryan

Sub used
M. O'Meara for J. Flanagan

Subs not used
W. Smith
N. Seymour
S. Carroll
J. Dermody

Selectors
M. Hassett
P. Ryan
W. O'Dwyer
S. O'Dwyer
P. Kenny
D. O'Meara

Reference: Tipperary GAA Archives Database searchable by team, year and/or player name.

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary - 1964 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions (20th title)

* 1 J. O'Donoghue
* 2 John Doyle
* 3 M. Maher
* 4 K. Carey
* 5 M. Burns
* 6 T. Wall
* 7 M. Murphy (c)
* 8 T. English
* 9 M. Roche
* 10 Jimmy Doyle
* 11 L. Kiely
* 12 B. Keating
* 13 D. Nealon
* 14 J. McKenna
* 15 S. McLoughlin

Subs used
16 L. Devaney for L. Kiely
18 M. Lonergan for M. Maher

Subs not used
17 P. O'Sullivan
19 L. Gaynor
20 P. Ryan

Chairman of selectors
P. Leahy

Selectors
M. Kennedy
P. J. Kenny
J. Stapleton
P. O'Dwyer
P. Ryan

Reference: Tipperary GAA Archives Database searchable by team, year and/or player name.

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary - 1965 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions (21st title)

* 1 J. O'Donoghue
* 2 John Doyle
* 3 M. Maher
* 4 K. Carey
* 5 M. Burns
* 6 T. Wall
* 7 L. Gaynor
* 8 T. English
* 9 M. Roche
* 10 Jimmy Doyle (c)
* 11 L. Kiely
* 12 L. Devaney
* 13 D. Nealon
* 14 J. McKenna
* 15 S. McLoughlin

Subs not used:
16 P. O'Sullivan
17 P. Doyle
18 T. Ryan
19 N. O'Gorman
20 M. Keating
21 J. Dillon
22 S. Mackey

Chairman of selectors
P. Leahy
Selectors
M. Kennedy
P. J. Kenny
J. Stapleton
P. O'Dwyer
P. Ryan

Reference: Tipperary GAA Archives Database searchable by team, year and/or player name.

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary - 1967 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship runners-up

* 1 J. O'Donoghue
* 2 John Doyle
* 3 K. Carey
* 4 N. O'Gorman
* 5 M. Burns
* 6 T. Wall
* 7 L. Gaynor
* 8 T. English
* 9 M. Roche (c)
* 10 D. Nealon
* 11 J. Flanagan
* 12 L. Devaney
* 13 Jimmy Doyle
* 14 B. Keating
* 15 S. McLoughlin

Subs used
17 L. Kiely for S. McLoughlin
19 M. Lonergan for M. Burns
18 P. J. Ryan for T. English

Subs not used
16 J. McKenna
20 P. Arrigan

Selectors
P. Ryan
M. Kennedy
J. Stapleton
P. Kenny
P. O'Dwyer

Trainer
O. Bennett

Reference: Tipperary GAA Archives Database searchable by team, year and/or player name.

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary - 1968 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship runners-up

* 1 J. O'Donoghue
* 2 J. Costigan
* 3 N. O'Gorman
* 4 J. Gleeson
* 5 M. Burns
* 6 M. Roche (c)
* 7 L. Gaynor
* 8 P. J. Ryan
* 9 D. Nealon
* 10 B. Keating
* 11 J. Ryan
* 12 J. Doyle
* 13 L. Devaney
* 14 J. McKenna
* 15 S. McLoughlin

Sub used
17 F. Loughnane for J. Doyle

Subs not used
16 M. Stapleton
18 S. Shinnors
19 P. Rowland
20 B. Kenny

Selectors
J. Hennessy
P. J. Kenny
M. Kennedy
P. Ryan
P. O'Dwyer

Reference: Tipperary GAA Archives Database searchable by team, year and/or player name.

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary - 1971 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions (22nd title)

* 1 P. O'Sullivan
* 2 L. King
* 3 J. Kelly
* 4 J. Gleeson
* 5 T. O'Connor (c)
* 6 M. Roche
* 7 L. Gaynor
* 8 P.J. Ryan
* 9 S. Hogan
* 10 F. Loughnane
* 11 N. O'Dwyer
* 12 D. Ryan
* 13 J. Flanagan
* 14 R. Ryan
* 15 B. Keating

Subs used
18 J. Doyle for S. Hogan
20 P. Byrne for J. Flanagan

Subs not used
16 J. O'Donoghue
17 N. Lane
19 J. Ryan
21 J. Fogarty
22 M. Jones

Coach
D. Nealon
Selectors
T. English
K. Carey
S. Ryan
J. Hennessy
J. Lanigan

Reference: Tipperary GAA Archives Database searchable by team, year and/or player name.

* v
* t
* e

Kilruane MacDonaghs – 1986 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Champions (1st title)

* 1 T. Sheppard (c)
* 2 J. Cahill
* 3 D. O'Meara
* 4 S. Gibson
* 5 J. Banaghan
* 6 J. O'Meara
* 7 Gilbert Williams
* 8 E. Hogan
* 9 D. Cahll
* 10 Ger Williams
* 11 J. Williams
* 12 E. O'Shea
* 13 Pat Quinlan
* 14 Paddy Williams
* 15 Philip Quinlan

Subs used
16 S. Hennessy for E. Hogan

Subs not used
17 M. Hogan
18 N. Darcy
19 P. Mulcahy
20 J. Darcy
21 S. Williams
22 J. Burns
23 J. Quinlan
24 T. Killacky
25 D. Quinlan
26 E. Kirby

Coach
L. Gaynor

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary - 1997 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship runners-up

* 1 B. Cummins
* 2 P. Shelly
* 3 N. Sheehy
* 4 M. Ryan
* 5 L. Sheedy
* 6 Colm Bonnar
* 7 Conal Bonnar
* 8 T. Dunne
* 9 C. Gleeson (c)
* 10 L. McGrath
* 11 D. Ryan
* 12 J. Leahy
* 13 M. Cleary
* 14 E. O'Neill
* 15 B. O'Meara

Subs used
21 A. Ryan for L. McGrath
22 L. Cahill for M. Cleary

Subs not used
16 J. Cottrell
17 G. Frend
18 R. Ryan
19 P. Delaney
20 A. Butler
23 K. Tucker
24 A. Flanagan

Manager
L. Gaynor
Selectors
M. Doyle
M. Duggan

Reference: Tipperary GAA Archives Database searchable by team, year and/or player name.

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary - 2006 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship runners-up

* 1 G. Kennedy
* 2 P. Stapleton
* 3 A. Byrne
* 4 C. O'Brien
* 5 D. Young (c)
* 6 J. B. McCarthy
* 7 S. Horan
* 8 J. Woodlock
* 9 S. Lillis
* 10 R. O'Dwyer
* 11 N. Teehan
* 12 D. Sheppard
* 13 R. Ruth
* 14 D. O'Hanlon
* 15 D. Egan

Subs used in replay
K. Lanigan for S. Horan
K. Quinlan for S. Lillis
D. Hickey for N. Teehan
P. Austin for D. Sheppard

Subs not used
R. Moloughney
M. Ryan
S. Murphy
J. Dixon
I. Murphy
S. Scully
M. Coleman
I. Delaney
R. McGrath

Manager
T. Fogarty
Selectors
L. Gaynor
T. Grogan
H. Browne

* v
* t
* e

Clare hurling team – managers

* É. Cregan (1984-85)
* S. Durack (1985-90)
* L. Gaynor (1990-94)
* G. Loughnane (1994-2000)
* C. Lyons (2000-03)
* A. Daly (2003-06)
* T. Considine (2006-08)
* M. McNamara (2007-09)
* G. O'Loughlin (2009-11)
* D. Fitzgerald (2011-16)
* D. Moloney & G. O'Connor (2016-19)
* B. Lohan (2019-)

* v
* t
* e

Tipperary hurling team – managers

* D. Nealon (?-78)
* L. Gaynor (1978-86)
* T. Wall (1986)
* B. Keating (1986-94)
* Fr. T. Fogarty (1994-96)
* L. Gaynor (1996-98)
* N. English (1998-2002)
* M. Doyle (2002-03)
* K. Hogan (2003-05)
* B. Keating (2005-07)
* L. Sheedy (2007-10)
* D. Ryan (2010-12)
* E. O'Shea (2012-15)
* M. Ryan (2015-18)
* L. Sheedy (2018-21)
* C. Bonnar (2021-22)
* L. Cahill (2022-)

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