Who is Nicky Quaid? Nicky Quaid Bio, Playing Career, Statistics, Honours
by J Nandhini | Updated Jul 13, 2023
Who is Nicholas Quaid?
Nicholas Quaid, born on 12th June 1989, is an Irish hurler who currently serves as a goalkeeper for both the Effin club side and the Limerick senior hurling team at the inter-county level.
Sport
Hurling
Position
Goalkeeper
Born
12 June 1989 (age 34)Effin, County Limerick, Ireland
Height
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Occupation
Primary school teacher
Club
Effin
Country
Limerick
Nicholas Quaid Early Life
Quaid hails from Effin, County Limerick, and is the second of three sons born to Tommy Quaid and Breda Grace. His father, a goalkeeper, was a runner-up in the All-Ireland competition with Limerick in 1980. Furthermore, his grandfather, Jack Quaid, secured a Munster Championship medal in 1955, while his cousin, Joe Quaid, was a goalkeeper who reached the All-Ireland finals in 1994 and 1996.
Nicholas Quaid's Playing Career
University
During his time studying at the Institute of Technology in Tralee, Quaid actively participated in the institute's senior hurling team. On 26th February 2011, he played as a midfielder when Tralee IT emerged victorious in the Ryan Cup final, defeating Institute of Technology Carlow by a score of 1-17 to 1-15.
Club
Quaid began his journey with the Effin club at a young age and progressed through various levels, competing in juvenile and underage divisions before eventually joining the club's junior team. On 31st October 2010, Quaid achieved success by securing a Limerick Junior Championship medal after Effin triumphed over St. Kieran's with a scoreline of 1-16 to 1-10.
As a member of the Emmets divisional team, Quaid played as a midfielder in the Limerick Senior Championship final on 3rd October 2010, where unfortunately, they were defeated by Kilmallock.
Quaid's performance as a center-back for Effin on 25th September 2011, during the final of the Limerick Intermediate Championship against Ballybrown, was noteworthy. He received significant recognition in the media for his outstanding display in the subsequent 0-14 to 0-11 victory over Ballyduff in the Munster final.
Inter-county
Minor and under-21
Quaid initially represented Limerick in minor hurling in 2006. However, his two-year stint in this category concluded with consecutive Munster Championship losses to Tipperary.
On 5th June 2008, Quaid marked his debut for the Limerick under-21 hurling team as the goalkeeper, contributing to their 2-17 to 1-07 victory over Waterford. Regrettably, his three seasons in the under-21 level concluded with premature exits from the championship.
Senior
Quaid was among several new players recruited for the Limerick senior hurling team in 2010, taking the places of many players from the 2009 panel who had refused to play under manager Justin McCarthy. He made his senior debut on 21st February 2010, playing as a midfielder in a National League match against Galway at FitzGerald Park, which ended in a defeat. Quaid's first championship appearance came on 20th June 2010, when he substituted Andrew Brennan in the 44th minute during a Munster Championship match against Cork, resulting in another loss.
With the return of numerous regular players to the Limerick panel in 2011, Quaid was one of the few individuals retained but transitioned from an outfield player to a goalkeeper. He achieved a National League Division 2 medal on 30th April 2011 after Limerick's victory over Clare in the final with a scoreline of 4-12 to 2-13.
Quaid's performances during the 2012 season earned him a nomination for the All-Star award. In the Munster final on 14th July 2013, Quaid served as the goalkeeper in Limerick's triumph over Cork with a score of 0-24 to 0-15.
On 9th December 2015, Quaid was appointed as the captain of the Limerick senior hurling team. His remarkable injury-time save from a Séamus Harnedy shot at goal during the All-Ireland semi-final on 30th July 2018 was recognized by Sports Illustrated as the "sports highlight of the weekend." Quaid's exceptional effort prevented a potential game-winning goal and was praised as a jaw-dropping play. On 19th August 2018, he was the goalkeeper when Limerick secured their first All-Ireland title in 45 years by defeating Galway with a score of 3-16 to 2-18 in the final. Quaid's outstanding performance throughout the season earned him a second All-Star Award nomination.
Quaid was selected as the goalkeeper for Limerick's National League final against Waterford at Croke Park on 31st March 2019. He received a winners' medal after Limerick's victory with a score of 1-24 to 0-19. On 30th June 2019, Quaid won his first Munster Championship medal in six years as Limerick defeated Tipperary in the final with a score of 2-26 to 2-14.
On 25th October 2020, Quaid secured his second consecutive National League medal following Limerick's triumph over Clare with a score of 0-36 to 1-23 in the delayed final. In the same season, he claimed his second successive Munster Championship medal, marking the third of his career, after keeping a clean sheet in the 0-25 to 0-21 victory over Waterford in the Munster final. Quaid earned his second All-Ireland Championship medal on 13th December 2020, as he kept a clean sheet in Limerick's 0-30 to 0-19 win over Waterford.
Inter-provincial
In the Munster's Railway Cup semi-final match against Leinster on 19th February 2012, Quaid served as the substitute goalkeeper to Donal Óg Cusack during the team's 3-14 to 1-16 defeat.
Nicholas Quaid Career Statistics
National League
Team
Year
National League
Division
Apps
Score
Limerick
2010
Division 1
7
0-02
2011
Division 2
6
0-00
2012
Division 1B
6
0-00
2013
3
0-00
2014
5
0-00
2015
5
0-00
2016
6
0-00
2017
5
0-00
2018
6
0-00
2019
Division 1A
7
0-00
2020
4
0-00
2021
4
0-00
2022
2
0-00
2023
5
0-00
Total
72
0-02
Munster
Team
Year
Munster
Apps
Score
Limerick
2010
1
0-00
2011
1
0-00
2012
1
0-00
2013
2
0-00
2014
2
0-00
2015
2
0-00
2016
1
0-00
2017
1
0-00
2018
4
0-00
2019
5
0-00
2020
3
0-00
2021
2
0-00
2022
5
0-00
2023
5
0-00
Total
35
0-00
All-Ireland
Team
Year
All-Ireland
Apps
Score
Limerick
2010
1
0-01
2011
3
0-00
2012
4
0-00
2013
1
0-00
2014
2
0-00
2015
2
0-00
2016
2
0-00
2017
1
0-00
2018
4
0-00
2019
1
0-00
2020
2
0-00
2021
2
0-00
2022
2
0-00
2023
1
0-00
Nicholas Quaid Honours
Institute of Technology, Tralee:
Effin:
Limerick:
Awards:
