Alan Browne
Encyclopedia
Alan Browne is an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Blackrock
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1995 until 2003.
club in Cork and has enjoyed much success. Afater failing to collect and silverware at minor or under-21 levels, Browne lined out in his first senior county final in 1998. Imokilly
provided the opposition on that occasion and a tense game developed. At the full-time whistle, however, Imokilly were the champions for the second year in-a-row by 1-10 to 1-15. In 1999 Blackrock reached their second consecutive county final. That game turned into a rout as the collegians were trounced by 3-17 to 0-8. It was Browne's first county senior championship
winners' medal.
After surrendering their title in 2000, Blackrock were back in a third county final in four years in 2001. Imokilly once again provided the opposition, however, Browne proved the hero and single-handedly defeated the opposition. He contributed 3-8 of Blackrock's tally of 4-8, while the east Cork divisional side could only muster 2-7. It was a second county championship winners' medal for Browne. 'The Rockies' later represented Cork in the provincila club championship and even reached the final. Ballygunner
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Browne's side fell easily by 2-14 to 0-12.
In 2002 Blackrock continued their dominance of the club championship and reached the final once again. North Cork side Newtownshandrum
provided the opposition as the old order were challenged by the new kids on the block. Browne proved the goal-scoring hero again as Blackrock won by 1-14 to 0-12.
In 2003 Blackrock set out to become the first team in twenty-one years to win a three-in-a-row of club championship titles. All went to plan as Browne's side reached a fifth county final in six years, with Newtownshandrum providing the opposition for the second consecutive year. 'The Rockies', however, were now in decline and 'Newtown' recorded a significant 0-17 to 0-9 victory. It was Browne's second defeat in a county final. Blackrock have since failed to reach the final of the club championship. In 2011 Alan Browne officially retired from club hurling.
under-21 winners' medal as Cork defeated LImerick
by 1-18 to 3-9. Cork, however, fell in the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway
.
Browne's move onto the Cork senior team was a natural progression. He made his senior championship debut against Kerry
in 1995, however, it was an unhappy time for the Cork hurlers.
Three years later in 1998 Browne tasted success at senior level for the first time as Cork defeated Waterford to take the National Hurling League title. It was a welcome return to the big time for Cork; however, success in the championship was slow in coming. Between 1995 and 1999 Browne played in every championship game for Cork and only ended up on the winning side on two occasions.
In 1999 Cork were back in their first Munster final since 1992 and Browne was listed as a substitute. Clare
, the team that had won three of the last four provincial titles, together with two All-Ireland titles, provided the opposition and were very much the favourites going into the game. A score line of 1-15 to 0-14 gave Cork the victory and gave Browne his first senior Munster
title on the field of play, after he came on mid-way through the match. Cork later defeated Offaly
in one of the games of the year to set up an All-Ireland final meeting with arch-rivals Kilkenny. Browne, however, failed to make the starting fifteen again. A wet and windy day meant that the classic game that everyone expected failed to materialise. Both sides shot seventeen wides over the course of the seventy minutes as a young and inexperienced Cork came back from five points down to win by 0-13 to 0-12. Browne entered the game in the second-half and chipped in with a point. It was Cork’s first senior All-Ireland
title since 1990 and it was Browne's first. The victory was all the more special for Browne as his brother John
was also on the team. They both followed in Richard Browne
's footsteps, their brother, who won an All-Ireland medal in 1986.
In 2000 Cork were the favourites to retain their All-Ireland title. The team got off to a good start by retaining their Munster title, however, Tipperary put up a good fight. Browne's personal tally that day was three points as Cork won by 0-23 to 3-12. Cork’s next game was an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Offaly. While Cork were expected to win the game without breaking a sweat Offaly caught Browne's side on the hop and recorded a 0-19 to 0-15 win.
While the Cork hurling team should have gone from strength to strength as a result of a solid foundation at minor and under-21 levels the opposite happened. Embarrassing defeats in 2001 and 2002 saw the Cork hurling team reach rock bottom and call a players' strike just before Christmas in 2002. Had the strike failed it could have meant the end of his and his fellow teammates' careers, however, in the end the county board relented and met the demands. Although still amateur sportsmen the Cork senior hurling team were treated as professional athletes.
In 2003 Cork’s players were vindicated in taking a stand as the team reached the Munster final for the first time in three years. Furthermore, Browne was appointed captain of the team for the year. Waterford provided the opposition on that occasion as one of hurling’s modern rivalries began in earnest. An exciting game resulted between the two teams; however, victory went to Cork by 3-16 to 3-12. It was Browne's third Munster medal and it gave a signal that Cork were back. Browne's side were hot favourites going into the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final against Wexford
, however, it was far from a walkover. In one of the most exciting games of the championship both sides finished level: Cork 2-20, Wexford 3-17. Both sides met again six days later with Cork making no mistake and taking the spoils on a score line of 3-17 to 2-7. This win set up an All-Ireland final meeting with Kilkenny. In another thrilling game of hurling both teams were level for much of the game, exchanging tit-for-tat scores. A Setanta Ó hAilpín
goal steadied the Cork ship, however, a Martin Comerford
goal five minutes from the end settled the game as Kilkenny went on to win by 1-14 to 1-11.
Browne retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.
in the inter-provincial hurling championship where he played alongside his championship rivals from Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Waterford. He first played for his province in 1996. Browne collected his first Railway Cup winners' medal that year, albeit as a non-playing substitute, as Munster trounced Leinster
by sixteen points. Four years later in 2000 he was a full member of the team. That year he won a second Railway Cup title, his first on the field of play, as Leinster were beaten once again. A third winners' medal quickly followed in 2001 as Connacht
were accounted for.
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 1995 until 2003.
Club
Browne plays his club hurling with the famous 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:...
club in Cork and has enjoyed much success. Afater failing to collect and silverware at minor or under-21 levels, Browne lined out in his first senior county final in 1998. Imokilly
Imokilly GAA
Imokilly GAA is a Gaelic football and Hurling division in the east of Cork, Ireland. The division includes towns such as Midleton, Cobh, and Youghal. It is one of eight divisions of Cork County Board. It organizes competitions for the clubs within the division, from Under 12 up to the adult level...
provided the opposition on that occasion and a tense game developed. At the full-time whistle, however, Imokilly were the champions for the second year in-a-row by 1-10 to 1-15. In 1999 Blackrock reached their second consecutive county final. That game turned into a rout as the collegians were trounced by 3-17 to 0-8. It was Browne's first 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....
winners' medal.
After surrendering their title in 2000, Blackrock were back in a third county final in four years in 2001. Imokilly once again provided the opposition, however, Browne proved the hero and single-handedly defeated the opposition. He contributed 3-8 of Blackrock's tally of 4-8, while the east Cork divisional side could only muster 2-7. It was a second county championship winners' medal for Browne. 'The Rockies' later represented Cork in the provincila club championship and even reached the final. Ballygunner
Ballygunner GAA
Ballygunner GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Ballygunner in County Waterford, Ireland. The club is exclusively concerned with hurling.- History :...
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Browne's side fell easily by 2-14 to 0-12.
In 2002 Blackrock continued their dominance of the club championship and reached the final once again. North Cork side Newtownshandrum
Newtownshandrum GAA
Newtownshandrum GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the small village of Newtownshandrum in County Cork, Ireland. The club, situated in half a parish of about 800 people, was founded in 1896 and is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.In senior hurling...
provided the opposition as the old order were challenged by the new kids on the block. Browne proved the goal-scoring hero again as Blackrock won by 1-14 to 0-12.
In 2003 Blackrock set out to become the first team in twenty-one years to win a three-in-a-row of club championship titles. All went to plan as Browne's side reached a fifth county final in six years, with Newtownshandrum providing the opposition for the second consecutive year. 'The Rockies', however, were now in decline and 'Newtown' recorded a significant 0-17 to 0-9 victory. It was Browne's second defeat in a county final. Blackrock have since failed to reach the final of the club championship. In 2011 Alan Browne officially retired from club hurling.
Inter-county
Browne's hurling skills at club championship level brought him to the attentions of the Cork inter-county selectors and he was soon picked for the county under-21 team. In 1995 he won his sole MunsterMunster Under-21 Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Under-21 Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for players aged between 18 and 21 in the province of Munster in Ireland...
under-21 winners' medal as Cork defeated LImerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
by 1-18 to 3-9. Cork, however, fell in the All-Ireland semi-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,...
.
Browne's move onto the Cork senior team was a natural progression. He made his senior championship debut 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 1995, however, it was an unhappy time for the Cork hurlers.
Three years later in 1998 Browne tasted success at senior level for the first time as Cork defeated Waterford to take the National Hurling League title. It was a welcome return to the big time for Cork; however, success in the championship was slow in coming. Between 1995 and 1999 Browne played in every championship game for Cork and only ended up on the winning side on two occasions.
In 1999 Cork were back in their first Munster final since 1992 and Browne was listed as a substitute. Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
, the team that had won three of the last four provincial titles, together with two All-Ireland titles, provided the opposition and were very much the favourites going into the game. A score line of 1-15 to 0-14 gave Cork the victory and gave Browne his first senior 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 on the field of play, after he came on mid-way through the match. Cork later defeated Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
in one of the games of the year to set up an All-Ireland final meeting with arch-rivals Kilkenny. Browne, however, failed to make the starting fifteen again. A wet and windy day meant that the classic game that everyone expected failed to materialise. Both sides shot seventeen wides over the course of the seventy minutes as a young and inexperienced Cork came back from five points down to win by 0-13 to 0-12. Browne entered the game in the second-half and chipped in with a point. It was Cork’s 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 since 1990 and it was Browne's first. The victory was all the more special for Browne as his brother John
John Browne (hurler)
John Browne is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with Cork and Blackrock in the 1990s and 2000s.John Browne was born in Blackrock just outside Cork in 1977. He was educated locally and later studied at University College Cork where he qualified with a degree in dentistry...
was also on the team. They both followed in Richard Browne
Richard Browne (hurler)
Richard Browne is a retired Irish sportsman. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1980s. He was a member of Cork's 1986 Munster Senior Hurling Championship team.- References :...
's footsteps, their brother, who won an All-Ireland medal in 1986.
In 2000 Cork were the favourites to retain their All-Ireland title. The team got off to a good start by retaining their Munster title, however, Tipperary put up a good fight. Browne's personal tally that day was three points as Cork won by 0-23 to 3-12. Cork’s next game was an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Offaly. While Cork were expected to win the game without breaking a sweat Offaly caught Browne's side on the hop and recorded a 0-19 to 0-15 win.
While the Cork hurling team should have gone from strength to strength as a result of a solid foundation at minor and under-21 levels the opposite happened. Embarrassing defeats in 2001 and 2002 saw the Cork hurling team reach rock bottom and call a players' strike just before Christmas in 2002. Had the strike failed it could have meant the end of his and his fellow teammates' careers, however, in the end the county board relented and met the demands. Although still amateur sportsmen the Cork senior hurling team were treated as professional athletes.
In 2003 Cork’s players were vindicated in taking a stand as the team reached the Munster final for the first time in three years. Furthermore, Browne was appointed captain of the team for the year. Waterford provided the opposition on that occasion as one of hurling’s modern rivalries began in earnest. An exciting game resulted between the two teams; however, victory went to Cork by 3-16 to 3-12. It was Browne's third Munster medal and it gave a signal that Cork were back. Browne's side were hot favourites going into the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final against 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...
, however, it was far from a walkover. In one of the most exciting games of the championship both sides finished level: Cork 2-20, Wexford 3-17. Both sides met again six days later with Cork making no mistake and taking the spoils on a score line of 3-17 to 2-7. This win set up an All-Ireland final meeting with Kilkenny. In another thrilling game of hurling both teams were level for much of the game, exchanging tit-for-tat scores. A Setanta Ó hAilpín
Setanta Ó hAilpín
Setanta "Carlos" Ó hAilpín is an Australian-Irish sportsman. He was a hurler with the Cork senior team before becoming a professional Australian Rules footballer. He is of mixed Irish and Rotuman background...
goal steadied the Cork ship, however, a Martin Comerford
Martin Comerford
Martin Comerford is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club O'Loughlin Gaels and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 2002 until 2010.-References:-Teams:...
goal five minutes from the end settled the game as Kilkenny went on to win by 1-14 to 1-11.
Browne retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.
Provincial
Browne also lined out with MunsterMunster 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:...
in the inter-provincial hurling championship where he played alongside his championship rivals from Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Waterford. He first played for his province in 1996. Browne collected his first Railway Cup winners' medal that year, albeit as a non-playing substitute, as Munster trounced Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
by sixteen points. Four years later in 2000 he was a full member of the team. That year he won a second Railway Cup title, his first on the field of play, as Leinster were beaten once again. A third winners' medal quickly followed in 2001 as Connacht
Connacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
were accounted for.