Michael O'Brien (hurling manager)

Michael G. O'Brien (1933 – 14 November 2014) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest who was also a noted hurling coach and manager.

This article is about the manager and priest from County Cork. For the hurler from County Limerick, see Mike O'Brien (hurler).

Michael O'Brien

Personal information
Irish name	Mícheál Ó Briain
Sport	Hurling
Born	1931 Innishannon, County Cork, Ireland
Died	14 November 2014 (aged 81) Dromahane, County Cork, Ireland
Nickname	The Canon
Occupation	Roman Catholic priest
Club management
Years Club Valley Rovers Ballinhassig Tracton Argideen Rangers Newcestown Blackrock
Inter-county management
Years County 1983-1985 1989-1993 Cork Cork
Inter-county titles
County League Province All-Ireland Cork 1 4 2

Born in Innishannon, County Cork, O'Brien was ordained into the priesthood in 1958. Over the next forty-five years he ministered in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, while also serving as a teacher at St. Finbarr's College and chaplain to the Irish Navy. O'Brien retired from active ministry in 2003.

Concurrently with his duties as a priest, O'Brien was heavily involved as a hurling coach at colleges, university, club and inter-county levels. His biggest success came with Cork, whom he steered to two All-Ireland titles, four Munster titles and one National Hurling League title.

Biography

O'Brien was born in the parish of Innishannon/Knockavilla, County Cork. He entered St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and was ordained for the Diocese of Cork and Ross in the seminary chapel on 22 June 1958. He then ministered in the Irish-emigrant areas of London until 1961, when he returned to his home diocese and a curacy in the parish of Blackrock, Cork, where he helped to rebuild St. Michael's Church which had burnt to the ground. For 12 years, from 1964 to 1976, O'Brien taught at St. Finbarr's Seminary, Farranferris, where he was also the hurling trainer for the school team. He was "at the helm as Farranferris won Dr Harty Cups in 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974, adding All-Irelands in 1972 and 1974".[1] A 12-year stint as chaplain at the Naval Base of Haulbowline followed before O'Brien returned to parish ministry, again in Blackrock. In 1985 he started a lengthy stay in Carrigaline where he served as curate, administrator and finally parish priest of Carrigaline, before retiring from active ministry in 2003.[2]

O'Brien was later resident in Nazareth Home in Dromahane.[2] He died on 14 November 2014 after a long illness.[3][4]

O'Brien served as the coach of the Cork senior hurling team on several occasions, guiding the team to All-Ireland titles in 1984 and 1990.[5] Before the 1990 Munster final, Tipperary manager Babs Keating remarked "donkeys don't win derbies", which O'Brien exploited to motivate his players to victory.[6] At club level he also managed UCC to Fitzgibbon Cup titles,[7] and later managed Blackrock GAA.[7] He also helped coaching Coláiste Chríost Rí.[8]

He is not to be confused with Canon Michael O'Brien of the neighbouring Roman Catholic Diocese of Cloyne.

Honours

Team

St. Finbarr's College

• Dr. Croke Cup (3): 1969, 1972, 1974
• Dr. Harty Cup (5): 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974

University College Cork

• Fitzgibbon Cup (10): 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991

Argideen Rangers

• Cork Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1996

Ballinhassig

• Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship (2): 1975, 1977

Blackrock

• Cork Senior Hurling Championship (2): 1985, 1999

Tracton

• Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 1991
• Cork Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1979

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2): 1984, 1990
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (5): 1984, 1985, 1990, 1992
• National Hurling League (1): 1992-93
• All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1983
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (6): 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1978, 1979
• Philips Sports Manager of the Year (1): 1990

References

1. Hurley, Denis (January 17, 2013). "Students honour Canon O'Brien". Irish Examiner.
2. "Priests: Archdeacon Michael J. O'Brien PE". Diocese of Cork & Ross. Archived from the original on 2012-05-06.
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2016-02-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. "Tomás Mulcahy, Frank Murphy and Gerald McCarthy pay tribute to the late Canon O'Brien". The Score. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
5. "McCarthy still favourite to land Cork post". Irish Examiner. 3 November 2003. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
6. "Mission Possible for Brave Tipp". The Killinan End. premierview. 23 June 2005. Archived from the original on 2 August 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
7. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (11 January 1999). "Cashman continues to hold limelight with regal display". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
8. Larkin, Brendan (3 February 1998). "Críost Rí out to end barren Harty Cup spell". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.

Sporting positions
Preceded by Johnny Clifford	Cork Senior Hurling Manager (jointly with Justin McCarthy) 1983–1985	Succeeded by Johnny Clifford
Preceded by Con Roche	Cork Senior Hurling Manager 1989–1993	Succeeded by Johnny Clifford
Achievements
Preceded by Pat Henderson (Kilkenny)	All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final winning manager 1984	Succeeded by Dermot Healy (Offaly)
Preceded by Michael "Babs" Keating (Tipperary)	All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final winning manager 1990	Succeeded by Michael "Babs" Keating (Tipperary)