Martin Coleman, Jnr
Encyclopedia
Martin Coleman, Jnr is an Irish
sportsperson. He plays hurling
with his local club Ballinhassig
and made his debut with the Cork senior inter-county team in 2008. He is the son of Martin Coleman, Snr
, an All-Ireland-winning goalkeeper with Cork.
and has enjoyed much success. He won a county junior championship
winners' medal in 2002 following a victory over Fr. O'Neill's
. Ballinhassig later represented Cork in the provincial series of games. A 6-7 to 2-8 defeat of Tipp's Ballinahinch
gave Coleman a coveted Munster
club winners' medal at junior level. The club later qualified for the All-Ireland final. Ballinhassig won that game and Coleman picked up a coveted All-Ireland
title.
Ballinhassig later joined the ranks of the county premier intermediate championship
. The club defeated Aghada
in the final of that grade in 2005, giving Coleman another county winners' medal. Once again the club later represneted Cork in the provincial series. Ballinhassig reached the final of that competition also. A 1-12 to 0-13 defeat of Ballyduff Upper
gave Coleman a Munster
, however, there would be no All-Ireland title.
Coleman and Ballinhassig currently play hurling in the county senior championship
.
winners' medal following a 2-12 to 0-11 defeat of Waterford
. He later lined out in the All-Ireland final with Kilkenny
providing the opposition. In a classic game of hurling both sides were still level at the full-time whistle. There was little to separate the sides in a period of extra-time, however, Cork narrowly emerged victorious by 1-21 to 0-23.
Around this time Coleman also became a member of the Cork senior hurling panel. Since 2003 he has won three Munster
and two All-Ireland
winners' medals, however, they have all been claimed as a non-playing substitute.
In 2008 Coleman made an unexpected debut for the senior team. In an All-Ireland qualifier against Galway
, regular goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack
was red-carded just before half-time. Coleman was quickly deployed into the goalkeeping position and had to immediately save a penalty. Joe Canning
coverted that penalty and Cork faced an uphill battle. 'The Rebels' fought back accordinglyand won the game by 0-23 to 2-15. Cusack returned as the goalkeeper for all subsequent championship games, however, Coleman was lauded for a fine performance in difficult circumstances.
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 plays 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 made his debut with the Cork senior inter-county team in 2008. He is the son of Martin Coleman, Snr
Martin Coleman
Martin Coleman is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Ballinhassig and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1970 until 1979.-Club:...
, an All-Ireland-winning goalkeeper with Cork.
Club
Coleman plays 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...
and has enjoyed much success. He won a county junior championship
Cork Junior Hurling Championship
The Cork Junior Hurling Championship is the third tier championship for hurling clubs in Cork. The winners of this championship compete in the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship in the following year. This championship is often considered the most difficult championship to win, since more teams...
winners' medal in 2002 following a victory over Fr. O'Neill's
Fr. O'Neill's GAA
Fr. O'Neill's GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the parish of Ballymacoda and Ladysbridge in Cork, Ireland. The club fields hurling and Gaelic football teams in competitions organized by the Cork county board and Imokilly division....
. Ballinhassig later represented Cork in the provincial series of games. A 6-7 to 2-8 defeat of Tipp's Ballinahinch
Ballinahinch GAA
Ballinahinch GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club which represents the village of Ballinahinch in North County Tipperary, Ireland. The club plays both Gaelic Football and Hurling.-History:...
gave Coleman a coveted Munster
Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship
The Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition played between the six best junior hurling clubs in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the winter months...
club winners' medal at junior level. The club later qualified for the All-Ireland final. Ballinhassig won that game and Coleman picked up a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Championship is a hurling competition between the winners of the junior hurling competitions in the various counties of Ireland...
title.
Ballinhassig later joined the ranks of the county premier intermediate championship
Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship
Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship is the second-tier hurling competition organized by the Cork Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The winners usually will play in the senior grade the following year for the Cork Senior Hurling Championship. This championship has been played for since 1909...
. The club defeated Aghada
Aghada GAA
Aghada GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Aghada, Cork, Ireland. The club fields both Gaelic football and hurling teams in competitions organized by Cork County Board. The club is part of the Imokilly division of Cork...
in the final of that grade in 2005, giving Coleman another county winners' medal. Once again the club later represneted Cork in the provincial series. Ballinhassig reached the final of that competition also. A 1-12 to 0-13 defeat of Ballyduff Upper
Ballyduff Upper GAA
Ballyduff Upper GAA Club is a GAA club based in the west County Waterford village of Ballyduff, Republic of Ireland. The club has won the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship three times, in 1982, 1987 and most recently in 2007...
gave Coleman a Munster
Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship
The Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between the hundreds of Intermediate hurling clubs in Munster. Teams qualify for this tournament by winning the Intermediate Hurling championship in their county. In 2008, the winners of the Kerry Senior...
, however, there would be no All-Ireland title.
Coleman and Ballinhassig currently play hurling in the county senior championship
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....
.
Inter-county
Coleman first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork intermediate hurling team in 2003. That year he won a MunsterMunster Intermediate Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Intermediate Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1961 for the strong hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland...
winners' medal following a 2-12 to 0-11 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...
. He later lined out in the All-Ireland final with 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...
providing the opposition. In a classic game of hurling both sides were still level at the full-time whistle. There was little to separate the sides in a period of extra-time, however, Cork narrowly emerged victorious by 1-21 to 0-23.
Around this time Coleman also became a member of the Cork senior hurling panel. Since 2003 he has won three 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....
and two 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....
winners' medals, however, they have all been claimed as a non-playing substitute.
In 2008 Coleman made an unexpected debut for the senior team. In an All-Ireland qualifier 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,...
, regular goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack
Dónal Óg Cusack
Donal Óg Cusack is a well-known Irish hurler and Ireland's first openly gay elite sportsman. He plays hurling at club level with Cloyne and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 1999....
was red-carded just before half-time. Coleman was quickly deployed into the goalkeeping position and had to immediately save a penalty. Joe Canning
Joe Canning
Joe Canning is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Portumna and has been a member of the Galway senior inter-county team since 2008....
coverted that penalty and Cork faced an uphill battle. 'The Rebels' fought back accordinglyand won the game by 0-23 to 2-15. Cusack returned as the goalkeeper for all subsequent championship games, however, Coleman was lauded for a fine performance in difficult circumstances.