Pat McDonnell
Encyclopedia
Pat McDonnell is a retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Inniscarra
and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1970 until 1976.
McDonnell later became a teacher and taught at Coláiste Iognaid Rís at Deerpark, St. Patrick's Road Cork, teaching Science. In 1979 he moved to the then new Bishopstown Community School. He is currently Principal of this school. http://www.bishopstown-cs.ie/principal.html
with his local Iniscara club in West Cork
. He never won a senior county championship
title.
medal with Cork. Two more All-Ireland under-21 medals followed in 1970 and 1971 (as captain), as Cork became the first team to win three-in-a-row at under-21 level.
By this stage McDonnell was also a star at full-back on the Cork senior hurling team. He began his senior career in 1970 by winning his first National Hurling League
medal. He later won a Munster
medal before claiming his first senior All-Ireland
title following a win over Wexford
in the first 80-minute All-Ireland final. He finished off the year on a successful note by becoming one of the youngest players ever to be named Hurler of the Year. Two years later in 1972 McDonnell captured a second National League title before winning his second Munster title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Kilkenny
came back from eight points down to deny Cork the title in a classic game. It would be 1975 before McDonnell won a third provincial medal, however, Galway
accounted for Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. The following year he won a fourth Munster senior medal before winning his second All-Ireland title following a win over Wexford. In 1977 McDonnell added a fifth and final Munster medal to his collection, however, he didn't play any part in Cork's All-Ireland victory over Wexford once again. He retired from inter-county hurling following that game.
In retirement from playing McDonnell became involved as a selector with various All-Ireland winning Cork teams at various levels.
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 Inniscarra
Inniscarra GAA
Inniscarra GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the parish of Inniscarra, County Cork, Ireland. The club fields Gaelic football, hurling and camogie teams in competitions organized by Cork GAA county board and the Muskerry divsional board....
and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1970 until 1976.
Biography
McDonnell attended Presentation Brothers College, Cork, where he played Munster Schools Cup Rugby. Indeed, this was during the infamous "Ban" years where McDonnell would be "spotted" playing rugby, and subsequently he would receive a suspension. The suspension would finish in time for him to play for the Cork Minor Hurling team.McDonnell later became a teacher and taught at Coláiste Iognaid Rís at Deerpark, St. Patrick's Road Cork, teaching Science. In 1979 he moved to the then new Bishopstown Community School. He is currently Principal of this school. http://www.bishopstown-cs.ie/principal.html
Club
McDonnell 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 Iniscara club in West Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
. He never won a senior 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....
title.
Inter-county
McDonnell first came to prominence as a hurler in the late 1960s as a member of the Cork minor hurling team. He won a Munster minor medal in 1968, before moving on to the county's under-21 side. In 1969 he missed the Munster under-21 final but later claimed an All-IrelandAll-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...
medal with Cork. Two more All-Ireland under-21 medals followed in 1970 and 1971 (as captain), as Cork became the first team to win three-in-a-row at under-21 level.
By this stage McDonnell was also a star at full-back on the Cork senior hurling team. He began his senior career in 1970 by winning 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...
medal. He later won a 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....
medal before claiming his first senior 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....
title following a win 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...
in the first 80-minute All-Ireland final. He finished off the year on a successful note by becoming one of the youngest players ever to be named Hurler of the Year. Two years later in 1972 McDonnell captured a second National League title before winning his second Munster title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final 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...
came back from eight points down to deny Cork the title in a classic game. It would be 1975 before McDonnell won a third provincial medal, however, 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,...
accounted for Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. The following year he won a fourth Munster senior medal before winning his second All-Ireland title following a win over Wexford. In 1977 McDonnell added a fifth and final Munster medal to his collection, however, he didn't play any part in Cork's All-Ireland victory over Wexford once again. He retired from inter-county hurling following that game.
In retirement from playing McDonnell became involved as a selector with various All-Ireland winning Cork teams at various levels.