Ollie Baker
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Olibhéar Báicéir | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Midfield | ||
| Born |
14 July 1974 Doora, County Clare,Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Occupation | Garda Síochána | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| St Joseph's Doora-Barefield | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Clare titles | 3 | ||
| Munster titles | 2 | ||
| All-Ireland Titles | 1 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1995–2004 | Clare | 33 (1–18) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 3 | ||
| All-Irelands | 2 | ||
| NHL | 0 | ||
| All Stars | 2 | ||
Oliver Baker(born 14 July 1974) is an Irish formerhurlerwho played as a midfielder for theClaresenior hurling team.
Baker made his first appearance for the team during the1994–95 National Leagueand became a regular member of the starting fifteen over the next decade. During that time he won twoAll-Irelandwinners' medals, three Munster Senior Hurling Championship winner's medals and threeAll-Starawards. He ended up as an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.
At club level Baker is anAll-Irelandmedalist withSt Joseph's Doora-Barefield.He also won twoMunsterwinners' medals and threecounty club championshipwinners' medals.
In retirement from playing Baker became involved in team management. He served as a selector withClare,WestmeathandAntrim,before taking over as manager of theOffalysenior hurling team for two seasons.[1]He is the current manager of theKilmacud Crokesclub.
Playing career
[edit]Club
[edit]Baker played his club hurling with theSt Joseph's Doora-Barefieldand had much success during a golden age for the club.[2]
At underage levels he won a county minor championship medal in 1990, adding back-to-back county under-21 championship medals in 1993 and 1994. By this stage Baker had also joined the club's top team. He won a county intermediate championship medal in 1993, propelling St Joseph's Doora-Barefield into the senior ranks and towards future success.
After losing two championship deciders toClarecastleat senior level, Baker won his firstcounty senior championshipmedal in 1998 following a defeat ofKilmaley.He later added aMunstermedal to his collection following a 0–12 to 0–8 defeat ofToomevara.[3]St Joseph's later completed their landmark season with a 2–14 to 0–8 trouncing ofRathnurein the All-Ireland decider, giving Baker anAll-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championshipmedal.[4]
St Joseph's continued their remarkable run of success in 1999 with Baker winning a second successive county club championship medal. He later won a second Munster winners' medal following 4–9 to 3–8 defeat ofBallygunner.[5]St Joseph's subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland final and the chance to become the second team in history to retain their title.Athenryprovided the opposition and defeated Baker's side by 0–16 to 0–12.[6]
After being defeated in their bid for a third consecutive county championship, St Joseph's returned in 2001. A 1–15 to 1–12 defeat ofSixmilebridgegave Baker his third and final county club championship medal.[7]
Inter-county
[edit]Baker first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Clare senior team. He made his debut as a substitute in late 1994 in aNational Hurling Leaguegame againstGalway.He subsequently made his championship debut as a substitute before later becoming a regular midfielder for Clare. In his debut season Baker won his firstMunstermedal following a surprise 1–17 to 0–11 defeat of local rivalsLimerick.It was Clare's first provincial success in sixty-three years. Baker's side later qualified for the All-Ireland final and were the underdogs against reigning championsOffaly.Although trailing at half-time, substituteÉamonn Taaffescored a crucial goal to propel Clare to a 1–13 to 2–8 victory. It was their first championship title in 81 years. As well as collecting anAll-Irelandmedal, Baker was later honoured with his firstAll-Staraward.
After surrendering their provincial and All-Ireland crowns in 1996, Clare bounced back the following year. A 1–18 to 0–18 defeat ofTipperarygave Baker a second Munster medal in three years.[8]Clare subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland decider. Due to the introduction of the "back-door" system Tipperary provided the opposition in the first all-Munster All-Ireland final. The game itself was one of the best of the decade. Clare were well on top for much of the game, butLiam CahillandEugene O'Neillscored twice for Tipp in the last ten minutes.John Leahymissed a goal chance in the last minute while another Tipp point was controversially ruled wide. At the full-time whistle Clare won by a single point – 0–20 to 2–13. It was a second All-Ireland medal for Baker.
Baker won his third and final Munster medal in 1998 following a tense draw and a replay withWaterford.While Clare were installed as the favourites to retain their All-Ireland crown, a series of bizarre events led to one of the most controversial championship summers ever. Clare drew with Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final, but in the replay Clare were winning by two points when the referee,Jimmy Cooney,blew the whistle with two minutes of normal time left to be played. The Offaly fans were outraged and staged a sit-down protest on theCroke Parkpitch. The result was not allowed to stand and Clare were forced to meet Offaly for a third time that year. They lost the second replay. Baker later won a second All-Star award.
After a number of disappointing championship seasons, Clare surprised the hurling world by qualifying for the All-Ireland final again in 2002. Baker's side put up a good fight against Kilkenny, but a combined tally of 2–13 for bothHenry ShefflinandD. J. Careygave 'the Cats' a seven-point victory.[9]
Baker continued to line out with Clare for the next two seasons but called time on his inter-county career following the team's exit from the 2004 championship.
Inter-provincial
[edit]Baker also lined out withMunsterin the inter-provincial series of games. He won his soleRailway Cupmedal in 1996 when the southerners trouncedLeinsterby 2–20 to 0–10.[10]
Managerial career
[edit]Selector
[edit]In late 2005 Baker was appointed as a selector to theWestmeathsenior hurling team.[11]The appointment was short-lived as work commitments resulted in him having to step down.
Baker joinedAnthony Daly's management team as a selector with Clare in early 2006.[12]The subsequent league and championship campaigns saw cause for optimism among Clare supporters. After topping Division 1A of the league, Clare were later defeated by eventual runners-up Clare in the semi-final. After an opening round defeat byCorkin the subsequent championship, Clare qualified for the All-Ireland semi-final. An eight-point win by Kilkenny was the result on that occasion. The Clare management team resigned following this defeat.
In 2007Mike McNamarawas appointed Clare manager and Baker returned as a selector.[13]In spite of a Munster final appearance in 2008, the management team came under pressure the following year with McNamara eventually resigning.
Baker joined up with theAntrimsenior hurling team as a selector in 2011.[14]The championship campaign saw Antrim secure their first-ever Leinster championship victory.
Offaly manager
[edit]On 10 October 2011 it was announced that Baker was to succeedJoe Dooleyas manager of theOffalysenior hurling team.[15]His first season in charge saw the Faithful county make little progress in Division 1B of the National League. In the subsequent championship Baker's side beat old rivalsWexfordbefore being defeated by Galway and Cork. On 30 August 2013, it was confirmed that Baker had resigned as Offaly manager after two years in charge and would not be seeking a third year.[16][17]
Club manager
[edit]On 3 December 2013 Baker was appointed manager of theKilmacud Crokessenior hurling team.[18]
He was managingThe Harpsin Laois in 2022.[19]
References
[edit]- ^"Baker named as new Offaly hurling boss".Irish Times.10 October 2011.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^"Club history".St Joseph's Doora-Barefield website.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^Horan, Liam (7 December 1998)."Banner's best keep grip on Munster".Irish Independent.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^Horan, Liam (18 March 1999)."Clare stars take final hurdle in their stride".Irish Independent.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^Horan, Liam (29 November 1999)."O'Neill leads rout as Saints stun 'Gunner".Irish Independent.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^"Athenry's hungry heroes hit back to claim crown".Irish Independent.18 March 2000.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^"Joseph's cross over the 'Bridge".Irish Independent.8 October 2001.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^"Head to head: Clare v Tipp".Irish Independent.13 July 2008.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^Moran, Seán (9 September 2002)."Kilkenny a different class".Irish Times.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^"Railway Cup hurling".Munster GAA website.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^"Baker appointed Westmeath selector".Hogan Stand website.22 November 2005.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^"Baker delighted to return".Hogan Stand website.13 February 2006.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^"McNamara completes backroom team".Hogan Stand website.17 October 2007.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^"Baker takes up Antrim role".Hogan Stand website.2 December 2010.Retrieved6 October2012.
- ^"Baker to take over Offaly".RTÉ Sport.Retrieved11 October2011.
- ^"Faithful rocked as Baker walks away from hot seat".Irish Independent.30 August 2013.Retrieved30 August2013.
- ^"Baker resigns from Offaly role".Irish Examiner.30 August 2013.Retrieved30 August2013.
- ^"Baker to manage Kilmacud Crokes".Hogan Stand website.4 December 2013.Retrieved4 December2013.
- ^Hartnett, Alan (9 February 2022)."All-Ireland winner appointed manager of Laois hurling club for 2022 season".Retrieved12 November2022.