Niall Cahalane
Encyclopedia
Niall Cahalane is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played senior football
with Cork in the 1980s and 1990s.
, County Cork
in 1963. The eldest of a family of ten he has four brothers and five sisters. His brothers are also well known footballers.He was educated locally and since 1990 he has worked as an auctioneer. He currently owns his own firm, based in Cork
.
team. When Cahalane was born the club played in the junior B section of the county championship, however, by the time his career had taken off Castlehaven had joined senior ranks. Cahalane won three Cork SFC titles with the club in 1989, 1994 and 2003. Two of these wins were subsequently converted into Munster
club titles. He continued to play with the club until 2004 when he retired at the age of 41.
Cahalane played senior hurling
with Blackrock
from 1986 until 1993.
medal in 1981 when Cork defeated Derry
in the minor final. By 1982 he had moved on to the under-21 team where he won a Munster title. Two years later in 1984 Cahalane captained Cork to All-Ireland
victory over Mayo
at under-21 level. Playing at full-back he held Liam McHale scoreless in the All-Ireland final.
He is married to Pauline/Ailis
game against Kerry
in 1983. It took another few years before he would establish himself on the team. In 1987 Cahalane won his first Munster
title at senior level. Cork later played Meath
in the All-Ireland final, however, Cahalane’s side were beaten on the day. In 1988 he captured his second Munster medal, however, Cork were once again beaten by Meath in a controversial All-Ireland final replay. In spite of ending up on the losing side on both occasions Cahalane was honoured with back-to-back All-Star
awards.
1989 began well for Cahalane and for Cork. He won his first and only National Football League medal before later adding a third Munster medal to his collection. Cork reached the All-Ireland final once again, however, this time they were victorious against Mayo
with Cahalane winning his first senior All-Ireland
medal. In 1990 Cork he captured a fourth consecutive Munster medal and a second consecutive All-Ireland medal following a win over Meath. Three years later in 1993 he won his fifth Munster medal. In the All-Ireland final Cork played Derry
, however victory went to the men from Ulster
.
In 1994 and 1995 Cahalane won his sixth and seventh provincial medals, however, Cork were defeated on both occasions in the All-Ireland semi-final. Cahalane continued to play senior football with Cork until 1997 when he decided to retire from inter-county activity.
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 senior football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with Cork in the 1980s and 1990s.
Biography
Niall Cahalane was born in CastlehavenCastlehaven
Castlehaven is a civil parish in County Cork, Ireland. It is located some 75 km south west of Cork City on the coast and is made up of two key towns: Union Hall and Castletownshend....
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1963. The eldest of a family of ten he has four brothers and five sisters. His brothers are also well known footballers.He was educated locally and since 1990 he has worked as an auctioneer. He currently owns his own firm, based in Cork
Cork (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...
.
Club
Cahalane played his club football with his local CastlehavenCastlehaven GAA
Castlehaven Gaelic Football Club is a West Cork-based GAA club in the parish of Castlehaven near the town of Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland. The club also draws players from the village of Union Hall. The club participates in competitions run by Cork GAA and by the Carbery divisional board...
team. When Cahalane was born the club played in the junior B section of the county championship, however, by the time his career had taken off Castlehaven had joined senior ranks. Cahalane won three Cork SFC titles with the club in 1989, 1994 and 2003. Two of these wins were subsequently converted into Munster
Munster Senior Club Football Championship
The Munster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between the hundreds of senior football clubs in Munster. The winners will represent Munster in the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship. East Kerry were the first winners of the Munster senior...
club titles. He continued to play with the club until 2004 when he retired at the age of 41.
Cahalane played senior 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 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:...
from 1986 until 1993.
Minor and Under-21
By the start of the 1980s Cahalane had joined the Cork minor football team. He won his first 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...
medal in 1981 when Cork defeated Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
in the minor final. By 1982 he had moved on to the under-21 team where he won a Munster title. Two years later in 1984 Cahalane captained Cork to All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months...
victory over Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
at under-21 level. Playing at full-back he held Liam McHale scoreless in the All-Ireland final.
He is married to Pauline/Ailis
Senior
By the mid-1980s Cahalane was training with the Cork senior football team. He made his senior debut in a National Football LeagueNational Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
game against Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry 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 Kerry...
in 1983. It took another few years before he would establish himself on the team. In 1987 Cahalane won his first Munster
Munster Senior Football Championship
The Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
title at senior level. Cork later played Meath
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
in the All-Ireland final, however, Cahalane’s side were beaten on the day. In 1988 he captured his second Munster medal, however, Cork were once again beaten by Meath in a controversial All-Ireland final replay. In spite of ending up on the losing side on both occasions Cahalane was honoured with back-to-back All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
awards.
1989 began well for Cahalane and for Cork. He won his first and only National Football League medal before later adding a third Munster medal to his collection. Cork reached the All-Ireland final once again, however, this time they were victorious against Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
with Cahalane winning his first senior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
medal. In 1990 Cork he captured a fourth consecutive Munster medal and a second consecutive All-Ireland medal following a win over Meath. Three years later in 1993 he won his fifth Munster medal. In the All-Ireland final Cork played Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
, however victory went to the men from Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. 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...
.
In 1994 and 1995 Cahalane won his sixth and seventh provincial medals, however, Cork were defeated on both occasions in the All-Ireland semi-final. Cahalane continued to play senior football with Cork until 1997 when he decided to retire from inter-county activity.