Joe Hayes

Joe Hayes (born 9 January 1963) had a very successful championship career with the Tipperary senior team spanning eight seasons from 1986 to 1994.

Joe first appeared for the Clonoulty–Rossmore club at juvenile and underage levels, before eventually joining the club’s senior team. In 1989, he won a county championship medal following an epic struggle over neighbours Holycross Ballycahill in front of over 20,000 spectators. Joe lined out at centre forward.

Joe made his debut on the inter-county scene when he was selected for the Tipperary minor team. He enjoyed two championship seasons with the minor team, winning an All-Ireland medal in his debut season in 1980. Hayes later joined the Tipperary under-21 team and was a back-to-back All-Ireland runner-up in 1983 and 1984.

He made his senior debut during the 1986-87 league. Over the course of the following eight seasons under Michael ‘Babs’ Keating, Joe had a number of successes, including winning All-Ireland medals in 1989 and 1991. Joe’s industry and ball striking meant he was a favourite of ‘Babs’ around the middle of the field.

He also won five Munster medals and two National League medals. Joe later won an All-Ireland medal in the junior grade as player-manager with Monaghan and last appeared for his club Clonoulty Rossmore in the County Senior Final defeat to Toomevara in 1998.