Mark Foley (Cork hurler)
Encyclopedia
Mark Foley is an Irish
retired sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Argideen Rangers, and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.
with his local Argideen Rangers, Timoleague club and enjoyed some success but not at senior level.
He had the honour of winning a West Cork
B Divisional medal in 1985, with both his father Michael and his younger brother Seán on the same team.
, the All-Ireland for colleges hurling. Earlier in the season, Mark's jaw was broken by his opposite number in the Dr. Harty Cup
final which was the Munster final for colleges. Mark played the Dr. Croke Cup
final while his jaw was still broken and indeed was the first player to ever wear a face guard in hurling (a piece of equipment that is now compulsory). That final was televised live by RTÉ as 1984 was the centenary year of the GAA.
following a victory over Wexford
. Three years later in 1988 Foley won a Munster title with the under-21 team. Once again he later collected an All-Ireland
title following a defeat of Kilkenny
.
Foley later joined the Cork senior team and won his first Munster
title in 1990. In that game he scored a remarkable 2-7 from play and was the key factor in the defeat of Tipperary
on that occasion. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final where Galway
provided the opposition. Like in previous meetings between the two sides Cork were rated as the complete underdogs, however, in a thrilling and high-scoring game the Leesiders defeated the men from the West, giving Foley his first All-Ireland
medal. Foley scored a goal and a point for Cork that day and was instrumental in 2 of John Fitzgibbon's goals. All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1990
Two years later in 1992 he won a second Munster title. Cork later faced Kilkenny
in the championship decider, however, victory went to ‘the Cats’ on that occasion. The following year Foley added a National Hurling League
medal to his collection. His inter-county hurling career ended shortly afterwards.
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...
retired 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 Argideen Rangers, and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.
Club
Foley 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 his local Argideen Rangers, Timoleague club and enjoyed some success but not at senior level.
He had the honour of winning a West Cork
Carbery GAA
Carbery GAA are a divisional team from the south-west division of County Cork, Ireland, in ancient Carbery. They compete in the Cork Senior Football Championship. They competed in the Cork Senior Hurling Championship up to and including 2010. They did not enter a hurling team in 2011...
B Divisional medal in 1985, with both his father Michael and his younger brother Seán on the same team.
School
Foley first hit the headlines in 1984 when he helped his school St. Finbarr's College, Farranferris to win the Dr. Croke CupDr. Croke Cup
The Dr. Croke Cup is an inter-county GAA competition in hurling. The first Croke Cups took place between 1896 and 1915. Clare was the first winner of the Dr Croke Cup for Hurling in 1896. In 1909 Ulster were expelled from the Dr...
, the All-Ireland for colleges hurling. Earlier in the season, Mark's jaw was broken by his opposite number in the Dr. Harty Cup
Dr. Harty Cup
The Dr. Harty Cup is a hurling competition for schools in the province of Munster in Ireland. The cup is presented to the winners of the Munster Colleges Senior "A" Hurling Championship. Players have to be under the age of 19 to compete. The winning team represents Munster in the Dr. Croke Cup...
final which was the Munster final for colleges. Mark played the Dr. Croke Cup
Dr. Croke Cup
The Dr. Croke Cup is an inter-county GAA competition in hurling. The first Croke Cups took place between 1896 and 1915. Clare was the first winner of the Dr Croke Cup for Hurling in 1896. In 1909 Ulster were expelled from the Dr...
final while his jaw was still broken and indeed was the first player to ever wear a face guard in hurling (a piece of equipment that is now compulsory). That final was televised live by RTÉ as 1984 was the centenary year of the GAA.
Inter-county
Foley first came to prominence as a member of the Cork minor hurling team in the early 1980s. He won a Munster medal at this level in 1985, before later collecting an All-IrelandAll-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
following a victory over Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
. Three years later in 1988 Foley won a Munster title with the under-21 team. Once again he later collected an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
title following a defeat of 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...
.
Foley later joined the Cork senior team and won 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 in 1990. In that game he scored a remarkable 2-7 from play and was the key factor in the defeat of 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...
on that occasion. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final where 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,...
provided the opposition. Like in previous meetings between the two sides Cork were rated as the complete underdogs, however, in a thrilling and high-scoring game the Leesiders defeated the men from the West, giving Foley 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. Foley scored a goal and a point for Cork that day and was instrumental in 2 of John Fitzgibbon's goals. All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1990
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1990
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1990 was the 104th staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Cork won the championship, beating Galway 5-15 to 2-21 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.-Teams:...
Two years later in 1992 he won a second Munster title. Cork later faced 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...
in the championship decider, however, victory went to ‘the Cats’ on that occasion. The following year Foley added a National Hurling League
National 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...
medal to his collection. His inter-county hurling career ended shortly afterwards.