Mick Ahern
Encyclopedia
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.
in 1905. He was educated at Crab Lane National School where his hurling
skills were developed. On the school team he played with his brother, Paddy 'Balty' Ahern, and their reputations as fine hurlers were seen once again in the School Shield competitions. Balty was always physically dominant and from an early age was able to impose himself on a game by his presence alone. But the crowds flocked to see Gah who was a veritable wizard with the stick and from an early age Gah became the Boy Wonder of the school-shield leagues. Ahern later played club hurling and had much success with his local team Blackrock
. He also had great success with the great Cork senior hurling team of the 1920s.
team of the 1920s. His brother, Paddy, had already had much success with the club before Mick started playing. He played in the forward line and was joined by other greats of the game such as his Seán Óg Murphy
, Eudie Coughlan
and many more. Ahern won five Cork County Championship
titles in all. His first win came in 1925. Another championship title was captured in 1927 before completing a hat-trick of county titles in 1929, 1930 and 1931.
In the early 1920s Ahern played junior hurling with Cork at inter-county level. This culminated in the winning of Munster and All-Ireland titles in 1925. He quickly joined his brother on the senior team and in 1926 captured his first National Hurling League
, Munster
and All-Ireland
honours. Ahern was instrumental in attack in the final against Kilkenny
. It was the beginning of a glorious era for Cork hurling. Ahern captured his second Munster medal in 1927, however, Dublin accounted for Cork in the All-Ireland final. Ahern had earlier won a Railway Cup medal with Munster
.
He added a second Railway Cup title at the start of 1928 before later winning his third Munster title. In the All-Ireland final against Galway
Ahern scored 5 goals and 4 points to clinch victory and claim his second All-Ireland medal. His total in this final remains to date the highest individual score in a McCarthy Cup final. His astonishing achievement betters by one point Nicholas English's 2-12 in the 1989 final between Tipp and Antrim and Eddie Keher's 2-11 in the 1971 final between Tipp and Kilkenny.In 1929 he captured his fourth Munster medal in-a-row before later playing in his fourth All-Ireland final in-a-row. Cork’s opponents in the final were Galway once again and Ahern scored a goal after just 30 seconds. It brought him his third All-Ireland medal. Cork had no little success in the championship of 1930, however, Ahern won his second National League medal. In 1931 Cork were back under the captaincy of Mick's brother in-law Eudie Coughlan
. Ahern won his fifth Munster title and once again qualified for the All-Ireland final, this time against Kilkenny
. It took two replays to separate the two sides with Cork eventually emerging as the victors. Ahern scored a goal in every game and captured his fifth All-Ireland medal. He retired from inter-county hurling shortly after.
In 1932 Ahern played hurling for Ireland at the Tailteann Games
, Ireland’s answer to the Olympic Games
. He is regarded as a supreme stylist and as one of the greatest hurling forwards of all-time.
Mick 'Gah' Ahern died at the young age of 41 on 30 December 1946.
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 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 was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1925 until 1932.
Early life
Mick 'Gah' Ahern was born Ballintemple, CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in 1905. He was educated at Crab Lane National School where his 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...
skills were developed. On the school team he played with his brother, Paddy 'Balty' Ahern, and their reputations as fine hurlers were seen once again in the School Shield competitions. Balty was always physically dominant and from an early age was able to impose himself on a game by his presence alone. But the crowds flocked to see Gah who was a veritable wizard with the stick and from an early age Gah became the Boy Wonder of the school-shield leagues. Ahern later played club hurling and had much success with his local team 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:...
. He also had great success with the great Cork senior hurling team of the 1920s.
Club
Ahern was one of the key members of the great BlackrockBlackrock 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:...
team of the 1920s. His brother, Paddy, had already had much success with the club before Mick started playing. He played in the forward line and was joined by other greats of the game such as his Seán Óg Murphy
Seán Óg Murphy
Jackie 'Seán Óg' Murphy was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1915 until 1929. Murphy captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 1926 and 1928...
, 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...
and many more. Ahern won five Cork County 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....
titles in all. His first win came in 1925. Another championship title was captured in 1927 before completing a hat-trick of county titles in 1929, 1930 and 1931.
Inter-county
In the early 1920s Ahern played junior hurling with Cork at inter-county level. This culminated in the winning of Munster and All-Ireland titles in 1925. He quickly joined his brother on the senior team and in 1926 captured his first 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...
, 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 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....
honours. Ahern was instrumental in attack in the final 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...
. It was the beginning of a glorious era for Cork hurling. Ahern captured his second Munster medal in 1927, however, Dublin accounted for Cork in the All-Ireland final. Ahern had earlier won a Railway Cup medal with Munster
Munster 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:...
.
He added a second Railway Cup title at the start of 1928 before later winning his third Munster title. In the All-Ireland final 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,...
Ahern scored 5 goals and 4 points to clinch victory and claim his second All-Ireland medal. His total in this final remains to date the highest individual score in a McCarthy Cup final. His astonishing achievement betters by one point Nicholas English's 2-12 in the 1989 final between Tipp and Antrim and Eddie Keher's 2-11 in the 1971 final between Tipp and Kilkenny.In 1929 he captured his fourth Munster medal in-a-row before later playing in his fourth All-Ireland final in-a-row. Cork’s opponents in the final were Galway once again and Ahern scored a goal after just 30 seconds. It brought him his third All-Ireland medal. Cork had no little success in the championship of 1930, however, Ahern won his second National League medal. In 1931 Cork were back under the captaincy of Mick's brother in-law 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...
. Ahern won his fifth Munster title and once again qualified for the All-Ireland final, this time 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...
. It took two replays to separate the two sides with Cork eventually emerging as the victors. Ahern scored a goal in every game and captured his fifth All-Ireland medal. He retired from inter-county hurling shortly after.
In 1932 Ahern played hurling for Ireland at the Tailteann Games
Tailteann Games
The Tailteann Games were an ancient sporting event held in Ireland in honour of the goddess Tailtiu. They ran from 632 BC to 1169-1171 AD when they died out after the Norman invasion....
, Ireland’s answer to the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. He is regarded as a supreme stylist and as one of the greatest hurling forwards of all-time.
Mick 'Gah' Ahern died at the young age of 41 on 30 December 1946.