TIPPERARY GAA IS mourning the death of Mick Roche, who has passed away at 73.
Widely regarded as one of Tipp’s greatest ever hurlers, Roche was a native of Carrick-on-Suir and played his club hurling for Carrick Davins, with whom he won a pair of Tipperary senior hurling titles.
Roche, who lined out at centre-back, played at minor, U21 and intermediate level for Tipperary before making his senior debut in 1963. He went on to play inter-county hurling for 12 seasons, retiring in 1974 after making 27 championship appearances.
He won his first of three All-Ireland medals in ’64 when Tipp defeated Kilkenny. Roche picked up his second the following year when the Premier County retained the Liam MacCarthy Cup at the expense of Wexford.
Roche was captain in 1967 and ’68 as Tipp were beaten in both All-Ireland deciders by Kilkenny and Wexford respectively, but he won another medal in ’71 thanks to a 5-17 to 5-14 victory over the Cats.
He ended his career with three All-Ireland medals, five Munsters, three National Leagues and three Railway Cups.
