Edward O'Connell
Encyclopedia
Edward 'Marie' O'Connell (1897–1971) was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Blackrock
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1920s and 1930s.
with the famous Blackrock
club and enjoyed much success. O'Connell won his first senior county titles
in 1924 and 1925, however, St. Finbarr’s
caught Blackrock in the final of 1926. The following year Coughlan won his third county medal. Blackrock failed to reach the final in 1928, however, in 1929 he won his fourth county title. It was the first of three-in-a-row for O'Connell , bringing his county medal tally to six . The 1931 final victory was O'Connell's last big occasion with Blackrock. The club would not win another county title until 1956.
was played. Cork reached the final of that competition and defeated Dublin
, giving O'Connell his first major victory. Cork later proved themselves by reaching the Munster final. Tipperary
were the opponents on that occasion and took a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. At that point the game was abandoned and a replay was ordered. The second game was a much tighter affair with both sides finishing level on a score line of 4-1 to 3-4. The third game was also a close affair, however, Cork pulled through to win by 3-6 to 2-4, giving O'Connell his first Munster
title. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Kilkenny
at a snow-covered Croke Park
in October of that year. Cork took the lead at half-time and held on to win by 4-6 to 2-0. It was the county's first championship title since 1919 and O'Connell's first All-Ireland
medal.
Cork retained their Munster title in 1927 with a 5-3 to 3-4 victory over Clare
. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Dublin once again. Cork fell behind by 2-3 to 0-1 at half-time; however, they fought back in the second-half. In a team made up of nine members of An Garda Síochána ‘the Dubs’ claimed the victory by 4-8 to 1-3.
In 1928 Cork faced Clare in the Munster final for the second year in-a-row. That game ended in a draw, however, in the replay Cork triumphed with O'Connell collecting his third consecutive Munster title. Cork later defeated Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final before lining out against Galway
in the championship decider. Galway got a bye into the final without picking up a hurley, however, the game turned into a rout. A score line of 6-12 to 1-0 gave Cork the victory and gave O'Connell a second All-Ireland medal.
In 1929 Cork retained their provincial dominance for a fourth consecutive year. A 4-6 to 2-3 defeat of Waterford
gave O'Connell his fourth Munster title in four years. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a replay of the previous year’s game as Cork played Galway once again. Mick Ahern
scored a goal for Cork after just 25 seconds to start another rout. Cork won the day by 4-9 to 1-3 giving O'Connell his third All-Ireland title.
In 1930 O'Connell collected a second National League title, however, Cork surrendered their provincial crown later that summer. The team bounced back in 1931 with O'Connell collecting a fifth Munster winners’ medal. Once again it took a replay for Cork and Waterford to be separated. The All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny for the first time since 1926. After a close game both sides finished level – 1-6 apiece. Eudie Coughlan
played a captain’s role in that game as he scored a point from his knees to level the scores. The replay of the final took place four weeks later and is regarded as a classic. Cork took the lead at half-time, however, Kilkenny fought back. Once again both sides finished level – 2-5 apiece. After this game officials pressed for extra time, however, this was rejected. It was also suggested at a meeting of the GAA
’s Central Council that both counties be declared joint champions and that half an All-Ireland medal by given to each player. This motion was later defeated. The first week of November saw the second replay of the All-Ireland final take place. At the third attempt Cork triumphed by 5-8 to 3-4 giving O'Connell his fourth All-Ireland medal.
At the beginning of 1932 O'Connell was appointed captain of the Cork team. Eudie Coughlan was in line to retain the captaincy, however, he took umbrage at the actions of the Cork County Board in taking from his club, Blackrock, the selection of the Cork senior hurling team for the upcoming year. The glory days were now gone for Cork and retired from inter-county hurling shortly after.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He first played for his province in the inaugural year of the Railway Cup competition in 1927, however, Leinster
were the victors on that occasion. O'Connell later collected two Railway Cup winners' medals in 1928 and 1929.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
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 Blackrock
Blackrock GAA
Blackrock National Hurling Club is a G.A.A. club located on the southside of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-History:...
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1920s and 1930s.
Club
O'Connell played his club hurlingHurling
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 the famous Blackrock
Blackrock GAA
Blackrock National Hurling Club is a G.A.A. club located on the southside of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-History:...
club and enjoyed much success. O'Connell won his first senior county titles
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
in 1924 and 1925, however, St. Finbarr’s
St. Finbarr's GAA
St. Finbarr's National Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Togher area of Cork city, County Cork, Ireland....
caught Blackrock in the final of 1926. The following year Coughlan won his third county medal. Blackrock failed to reach the final in 1928, however, in 1929 he won his fourth county title. It was the first of three-in-a-row for O'Connell , bringing his county medal tally to six . The 1931 final victory was O'Connell's last big occasion with Blackrock. The club would not win another county title until 1956.
Inter-county
O'Connell first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with Cork in the mid-1920s. In the winter and spring of 1925-1926 the inaugural National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
was played. Cork reached the final of that competition and defeated 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...
, giving O'Connell his first major victory. Cork later proved themselves by reaching the Munster final. 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...
were the opponents on that occasion and took a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. At that point the game was abandoned and a replay was ordered. The second game was a much tighter affair with both sides finishing level on a score line of 4-1 to 3-4. The third game was also a close affair, however, Cork pulled through to win by 3-6 to 2-4, giving O'Connell his first 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. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against 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...
at a snow-covered Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
in October of that year. Cork took the lead at half-time and held on to win by 4-6 to 2-0. It was the county's first championship title since 1919 and O'Connell's 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.
Cork retained their Munster title in 1927 with a 5-3 to 3-4 victory over Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Dublin once again. Cork fell behind by 2-3 to 0-1 at half-time; however, they fought back in the second-half. In a team made up of nine members of An Garda Síochána ‘the Dubs’ claimed the victory by 4-8 to 1-3.
In 1928 Cork faced Clare in the Munster final for the second year in-a-row. That game ended in a draw, however, in the replay Cork triumphed with O'Connell collecting his third consecutive Munster title. Cork later defeated Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final before lining out against Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in the championship decider. Galway got a bye into the final without picking up a hurley, however, the game turned into a rout. A score line of 6-12 to 1-0 gave Cork the victory and gave O'Connell a second All-Ireland medal.
In 1929 Cork retained their provincial dominance for a fourth consecutive year. A 4-6 to 2-3 defeat of 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...
gave O'Connell his fourth Munster title in four years. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a replay of the previous year’s game as Cork played Galway once again. Mick Ahern
Mick Ahern
Mick ‘Gah’ Ahern was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1925 until 1932.-Early life:...
scored a goal for Cork after just 25 seconds to start another rout. Cork won the day by 4-9 to 1-3 giving O'Connell his third All-Ireland title.
In 1930 O'Connell collected a second National League title, however, Cork surrendered their provincial crown later that summer. The team bounced back in 1931 with O'Connell collecting a fifth Munster winners’ medal. Once again it took a replay for Cork and Waterford to be separated. The All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny for the first time since 1926. After a close game both sides finished level – 1-6 apiece. Eudie Coughlan
Eudie Coughlan
Eugene 'Eudie' Coughlan was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1919 until 1931. Coughlan captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 1931...
played a captain’s role in that game as he scored a point from his knees to level the scores. The replay of the final took place four weeks later and is regarded as a classic. Cork took the lead at half-time, however, Kilkenny fought back. Once again both sides finished level – 2-5 apiece. After this game officials pressed for extra time, however, this was rejected. It was also suggested at a meeting of the GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
’s Central Council that both counties be declared joint champions and that half an All-Ireland medal by given to each player. This motion was later defeated. The first week of November saw the second replay of the All-Ireland final take place. At the third attempt Cork triumphed by 5-8 to 3-4 giving O'Connell his fourth All-Ireland medal.
At the beginning of 1932 O'Connell was appointed captain of the Cork team. Eudie Coughlan was in line to retain the captaincy, however, he took umbrage at the actions of the Cork County Board in taking from his club, Blackrock, the selection of the Cork senior hurling team for the upcoming year. The glory days were now gone for Cork and retired from inter-county hurling shortly after.
Provincial
O'Connell 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 competition. He first played for his province in the inaugural year of the Railway Cup competition in 1927, however, Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
were the victors on that occasion. O'Connell later collected two Railway Cup winners' medals in 1928 and 1929.