Con Cottrell
Encyclopedia
Fr. Con Cottrell was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Ballinhassig
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1941 until 1947.
, however, he enjoyed little success. He also played Gaelic football
with the Cooley Kickhams club with whom he won a Louth county title.
and Leinster
. As a result of this Tipperary
and Kilkenny
, the two counties that were affected the most, were not allowed to participate. Because of this it was decided that Cork would represent Munster in the All-Ireland final. The game against Dublin turned into a rout thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke
and Ted O'Sullivan. At the full-time whistle Cork had won by 5-11 to 0-6. It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time, however, it did give Ring his first All-Ireland
medal at senior level. In the delayed Munster final played in October Tipperary gained their revenge by defeating the All-Ireland champions.
In 1942 Cork were still on form and Cottrell won his first senior Munster
title following a defeat of Tipperary. He later missed the All-Ireland final which Cork won by defeating Dublin
.
In 1943 Cottrell captured a second provincial title as Cork recorded a Munster final victory over Waterford
. He later lined out for the county in his second senior All-Ireland final. Antrim
, having already pulled off two of the biggest shocks in the history of the championship by defeating Galway and Kilkenny
, were ‘the Rebels'’ opponents. The game, however, turned into an absolute rout. At half-time Cork led by 3-11 to 0-2, howvever, by full-time they had forged ahead to capture a 5-16 to 0-4 victory. It was Cottrell's second All-Ireland winners' medal.
In 1944 Cork faced Limerick
in the Munster final. The game ended in a 4-13 to 6-7 draw and had to be replayed; however, as full-time approached in that game the possibility of another draw seemed likely. With just minutes remaining Christy Ring
caught the sliotar in his own half-back line, made a solo run past a succession of challenges and, from forty yards out, hammered a shot into the Limerick net. Cork went on to win the game giving Cottrell a third Munster winners' title on the field of play. Once again Cork went on to face Dublin in the All-Ireland final and, like the previous two years, the Munstermen had an easy win. Dublin could only manage to score 1-2 compared to Cork's 2-13, resulting in Cork taking the title. It was Cottrell's third All-Ireland winners' medal.
Cork lost their provincial crown to Tipperary in 1945, however, the team returned in 1946 with Cottrell picking up a fourth Munster winners' medal after another defeat of Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against old rivals Kilkenny
for the first time since 1939. Two quick goals just before half-time, one from the stick of Christy Ring, put Cork in the driving seat. Five more goals followed in the second period as Cork were the 7-5 to 3-8 winners. It was a fourth All-Ireland title in six years for Cottrell.
Cottrell won a fifth and final Munster title following a second consecutive defeat of Limerick in 1947. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year as Cork and Kilkenny did battle again. In what has been described by many as the greatest hurling decider of all-time Mossy O'Riordan
and Joe Kelly
scored two goals that almost won the game for Cork. Kilkenny, however, fought back with Terry Leahy
and Jim Langton
leading the charge and eventually won the game by 'the usual point' on a score line of 0-14 to 2-7. That defeat saw the break-up of the great four-in-a-row team of the 1940s and brought Cottrell's inter-county career to an end.
in the inter-provincial hurling championship. He helped his province to a 4-10 to 4-4 victory over Connacht
in 1944 to give him a coveted Railway Cup winners' medal. The following year Munster trounced Ulster
to give Cottrell a second Railway Cup title.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Ballinhassig
Ballinhassig GAA
Ballinhassig is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Ballinhassig in County Cork, Republic of Ireland. The club was founded in 1886, and now plays Hurling at Premier Intermediate level, having won the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship in 2005, and the Cork Junior Hurling...
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1941 until 1947.
Club
Cottrell played his club hurling with his local club in BallinhassigBallinhassig GAA
Ballinhassig is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Ballinhassig in County Cork, Republic of Ireland. The club was founded in 1886, and now plays Hurling at Premier Intermediate level, having won the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship in 2005, and the Cork Junior Hurling...
, however, he enjoyed little success. He also played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with the Cooley Kickhams club with whom he won a Louth county title.
Inter-county
Cottrell first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork senior team in the early 1940s. He made his debut in 1941, however, that year's hurling championship was severely hampered due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in parts of MunsterMunster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
and Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. As a result of this Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
and Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
, the two counties that were affected the most, were not allowed to participate. Because of this it was decided that Cork would represent Munster in the All-Ireland final. The game against Dublin turned into a rout thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke
Johnny Quirke
Johnny Quirke was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1932 until 1946...
and Ted O'Sullivan. At the full-time whistle Cork had won by 5-11 to 0-6. It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time, however, it did give Ring his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal at senior level. In the delayed Munster final played in October Tipperary gained their revenge by defeating the All-Ireland champions.
In 1942 Cork were still on form and Cottrell won his first senior Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
title following a defeat of Tipperary. He later missed the All-Ireland final which Cork won by defeating Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
.
In 1943 Cottrell captured a second provincial title as Cork recorded a Munster final victory over Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
. He later lined out for the county in his second senior All-Ireland final. Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
, having already pulled off two of the biggest shocks in the history of the championship by defeating Galway and Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
, were ‘the Rebels'’ opponents. The game, however, turned into an absolute rout. At half-time Cork led by 3-11 to 0-2, howvever, by full-time they had forged ahead to capture a 5-16 to 0-4 victory. It was Cottrell's second All-Ireland winners' medal.
In 1944 Cork faced Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
in the Munster final. The game ended in a 4-13 to 6-7 draw and had to be replayed; however, as full-time approached in that game the possibility of another draw seemed likely. With just minutes remaining Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
caught the sliotar in his own half-back line, made a solo run past a succession of challenges and, from forty yards out, hammered a shot into the Limerick net. Cork went on to win the game giving Cottrell a third Munster winners' title on the field of play. Once again Cork went on to face Dublin in the All-Ireland final and, like the previous two years, the Munstermen had an easy win. Dublin could only manage to score 1-2 compared to Cork's 2-13, resulting in Cork taking the title. It was Cottrell's third All-Ireland winners' medal.
Cork lost their provincial crown to Tipperary in 1945, however, the team returned in 1946 with Cottrell picking up a fourth Munster winners' medal after another defeat of Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against old rivals Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
for the first time since 1939. Two quick goals just before half-time, one from the stick of Christy Ring, put Cork in the driving seat. Five more goals followed in the second period as Cork were the 7-5 to 3-8 winners. It was a fourth All-Ireland title in six years for Cottrell.
Cottrell won a fifth and final Munster title following a second consecutive defeat of Limerick in 1947. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year as Cork and Kilkenny did battle again. In what has been described by many as the greatest hurling decider of all-time Mossy O'Riordan
Mossy O'Riordan
Maurice Francis "Mossy" O'Riordan was an Irish sportsperson who played hurling with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s....
and Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly (hurler)
Fr. Joe Kelly is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1944 until 1947.-Club:...
scored two goals that almost won the game for Cork. Kilkenny, however, fought back with Terry Leahy
Terry Leahy (hurler)
Terry Leahy was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Emeralds in Kilkenny and Faughs in Dublin...
and Jim Langton
Jim Langton
Jim Langton was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Éire Óg and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1954. Langton's inclusion on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium mark him out as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:Langton played his...
leading the charge and eventually won the game by 'the usual point' on a score line of 0-14 to 2-7. That defeat saw the break-up of the great four-in-a-row team of the 1940s and brought Cottrell's inter-county career to an end.
Inter-provincial
Cottrell also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the inter-provincial hurling championship. He helped his province to a 4-10 to 4-4 victory over Connacht
Connacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
in 1944 to give him a coveted Railway Cup winners' medal. The following year Munster trounced Ulster
Ulster GAA
The Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
to give Cottrell a second Railway Cup title.