Career

Born in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Roche first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Tipperary minor team before later joining the under-21 and intermediate sides. He joined the senior panel during the 1963 championship.

He was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.

Throughout his career Roche made 27 championship appearances. His retirement came following the conclusion of the 1974 championship.

Roche is widely regarded as one of Tipperary"s all-time greatest players. Club

Roche played his club hurling with the Carrick Davins club in Tipperary.

He enjoyed some success with the club in the mid-1960s, winning back-to-back senior county championship titles in 1966 and 1967.

These were the club’s first and, to date, only county titles. Played for The Glendine Inn Kilkenny (2001-2005). Inter-county

Two years later in 1967 Roche was captain of the Tipp senior team

That year he guided his native-county to another provincial title, however, his side were defeated by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.

In 1971 he added a fifth provincial medal to his collection before winning his third All-Ireland medal following a classic game against Kilkenny.

Achievements

• Roche went on to play a key part for Tipperary during a hugely successful era for the team, and won three All-Ireland medals, five Munster medals and three National Hurling League medals. As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team Roche won three Railway Cup medals. At club level he won two championship medals with Carrick Davins. During his playing days he won one All-Star award, while he was later chosen as one of the 125 greatest hurlers of all-time in a 2009 poll. In 1961 Roche tasted his first major success when he won Munster and All-Ireland titles with the Tipperary minor team Three years later he won Munster and All-Ireland medals in the inaugural year of the under-21 series of games. That year he won his first senior Munster title following a huge win over Cork. Roche later captured his first senior All-Ireland medal following a win over the red-hot favourites Kilkenny. In 1965 he won a second Munster medal before subsequently capturing his second All-Ireland title following a comfortable win over Wexford. Roche was captain again in 1968 when he won his fourth Munster title, however, Tipp were beaten in the All-Ireland final for a second year in-a-row. Roche’s other honours include two National Hurling League medals in 1965 and 1968, as well as three Railway Cup medals with Munster.

Membership

By 1964 Roche was also a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team