Tom O'Donoghue
Thomas O'Donoghue (1940 – 15 May 2020) was an Irish hurler. His career included stints with club sides Mayfield and Sarsfields, while he was also an All-Ireland Championship winner with the Cork senior hurling team in 1966.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Tomás Ó Donnchú | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Full-back | ||
| Born |
1940 Mayfield, Cork, Ireland | ||
| Died |
15 May 2020 (aged 79) Wilton, Cork, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
|
Mayfield Sarsfields | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Cork titles | 0 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1964–1969 | Cork | 17 (0–00) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 2 | ||
| All-Irelands | 1 | ||
| NHL | 1 | ||
After impressing at club level, O'Donoghue was drafted onto the Cork senior team in 1964. From his debut, he quickly became the team's first-choice full-back and made 17 championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in 1969. During that time O'Donoghue was part of Cork's 1966 All-Ireland Championship-winning team. He also secured two Munster Championship medals and a National League title.
Playing career
Sarsfields
O'Donoghue began hurling as a pupil at Mayfield National School before later lining out with Sullivan's Quay CBS in a number of underage and juvenile competitions. He joined the Mayfield club and competed in the City Junior Championship before transferring to the Sarsfields club after being courted by a number of city clubs.
Cork
O'Donoghue first played for Cork as a member of the minor team during the 1958 Munster Minor Championship. He lined out at left wing-back in the 2-15 to 3-07 defeat by Clare in what was Cork's only game of the championship.
After having no involvement with Cork at any grade after his sole year as a minor, O'Donoghue was drafted onto the senior team during the 1964 Oireachtas Cup. He made his debut for the team on 4 October 1964 when he was selected at full-back for the 3-11 to 1-02 defeat by Kilkenny. O'Donoghue was later included on Cork's panel for the 1964-65 National League before making his Munster Championship debut on 4 July 1965 in a 2-06 apiece draw with Waterford. He later lined out in his first Munster final, however, Cork were beaten by Tipperary by 4-11 to 0-05. O'Donoghue's arrival on the team was seen as solving Cork's problem position of full-back and he was described as being the best occupant of the number three jersey since John Lyons.
O'Donoghue lined out in a second successive provincial decider when Cork faced Waterford in the 1966 Munster final. He ended the game with his first winners' medal after the 4-09 to 2-09 victory.[1] On 4 September 1966, O'Donoghue lined out in his first All-Ireland final when he was selected at full-back against Kilkenny. His display was described in the Cork Examiner as being "stolid" and he claimed an All-Ireland medal after the 3-09 to 1-10 victory.[2][3]
After surrendering their titles the following season, O'Donoghue lined out in a third Munster final of his career in 1968. He ended the game on the losing side after a 2-13 to 1-07 defeat by Tipperary.
O'Donoghue claimed a National League winners' medal following Cork's 3-12 to 1-14 defeat of Wexford to secure the 1968-69 title. Later that season he won a second Munster Championship medal after a 4-06 to 0-09 defeat of Tipperary in the 1969 Munster final. O'Donoghue made his second appearance in an All-Ireland final on 7 September 1969, however, he ended the game on the losing side after the 2-15 to 2-09 defeat by Kilkenny.[4] His inter-county career ended shortly after this defeat when he failed to be included on the panel for the 1969-70 National League.
Munster
O'Donoghue was honoured with selection at full-back on the Munster inter-provincial team for the 1968 Railway Cup. He claimed his first Railway Cup medal that season when Munster defeated Leinster by 0-14 to 0-10 in the final. O'Donoghue was again called up for selection with the Munster team in 1969 and ended the campaign with a second successive Railway Cup medal after a 3-13 to 4-04 replay defeat of Connacht.
Death
O'Donoghue died aged 79 on 15 May 2020.[5]
References
- "'70s and '80s should not be brushed over in Waterford's hurling history". Waterford News and Star. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- Crowe, Dermot (4 January 2014). "Kings for a day find it hard to repeat trick". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- Moynihan, Michael (3 September 2016). "The mission accomplished to end Cork famine in 1966". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- "Cork v Kilkenny Classics: 1969 SHC final". RTÉ Sport. 26 August 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- "Cork 1966 All-Ireland winner passes away". Hogan Stand. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.