Christy Ring
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring (12 October 1920 - 2 March 1979), better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with the Glen Rovers
club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game. Many former players, commentators and fans rate him as the number one player of all-time.
In a game as mythologised as hurling, Ring's universally accepted pre-eminence is remarkable. Yet, he possessed everything from talent and ferocious application to longevity and a string of records. Obsessive about the game, he worked relentlessly to sustain a formidable array of techniques, complemented by great vision and anticipation. A shamanistic sense of his own distinctness added to a reputation for eccentricity, but Ring's greatness, coupled with his physical resilience and resourcefulness, also demoralised opponents.
Ring's status as one of the all-time greats is self-evident. His record of 64 appearances in championship games stood until 2011 when it was surpassed by Brendan Cummins
of Tipperary, while his tally of 33 goals and 208 points in these games was a record score which stood until the 1970s when it was surpassed by Eddie Keher
. His haul of eight senior All-Ireland
medals, all won on the field of play, was a record which stood for over a decade until it was equalled by John Doyle
. Ring also won a record eighteen Railway Cup medals with Munster
. No other player in the history of the competition has gone into double figures. Ring is also one of only three hurling men to captain his county to three All-Ireland successes.
Ring has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. In 1959 at the age of thirty-nine his hurling prowess earned him the prestigious Caltex Hurler of the Year
award. He was posthumously honoured in 1984 when he was named, by popular opinion, in the right wing-forward position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century
. He was named in the same position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
in 2000.
in rural East Cork
. His family later moved to the village where they occupied a house on Spittal Street, commonly referred to as 'Spit Lane'. The second son born to Mary and Nicholas Ring, his father worked as a gardener for local landowners. Ring's siblings included two sisters, Katie and Mary Agnes, and two brothers, Willie John and Paddy Joe. It was Ring's father, a former Cloyne
hurler
, who instilled a passion for the game in his young son by taking him to club games in Cork
, making the eighteen-mile journey by bicycle with his son on the cross-bar.
Ring was educated at the local national school in Cloyne, where he was noted as a quiet but diligent pupil. On one occasion, the school master, Maurice Spillane, offered a prize of a hurley and sliotar to the boy who would get the highest grade in the school. Ring applied himself diligently and got first place from among forty-eight pupils.
As was common at the time Ring received no secondary education and left school before the age of fourteen. His first job was as an apprentice mechanic with the Williams firm in Midleton
, before he later moved to Cork city where he found work as a lorry driver with Córas Iompair Éireann
. In 1953 Ring became a delivery man with Shell Oil.
club in Cloyne in the 1930s allowed Ring and his brothers to play hurling locally in the various street leagues. He was twelve years-old when he played in his first competitive game, a minor hurling championship
game against Sarsfield's, and surprisingly he was chosen as goalkeeper.
Ring subsequently played minor championship hurling with the St. Enda's
club in Midleton
. He won a county championship winners' medal in this grade in 1938 following a 5-3 to 4-0 win over the Seán Clárach's
club.
. Ring was suspended for the subsequent county championship series of games.
Cloyne retained the divisional title again in 1939 with Ring's scoring prowess helping the team to go all the way to the county junior championship final. Ring played the game with an injured ankle, however, a 6-5 to 3-3 defeat of Mayfield
and a county junior championship
winners' medal was his reward.
club in Cork city in the summer of 1941. After making his debut against St. Finbarr's
in the county senior championship
semi-final, Ring went on to win his first senior championship winners' medal following a defeat of Ballincollig
in the final. 'The Glen' had just captured a record-breaking eighth county title in-a-row while Ring would go on to have much more success with the club in a career that spanned three decades.
A ninth successive championship proved beyond Glen Rovers, however, the club continued to dominate the local hurling scene in Cork for the rest of the decade. The club secured back-to-back titles in 1944 and 1945 following wins over fierce southside rivals St. Finbarr's and divisional side Carrigdhoun
respectively. Ring's side narrowly missed out on a third successive championship in 1946.
After a one-year absence from Cork's hurling showpiece, defeats of Blackrock
, Imokilly
and St. Finbarr's in the respective championship deciders of 1948, 1949 and 1950 brought Ring's county championship winners' medal tally to six.
'The Glen' dominated the next decade of hurling also, contesting eight consecutive county finals between 1953 and 1960. Victories came in 1953 and 1954 and, following the loss of three county finals in-a-row, ‘the Glen’ went on to win three-in-a-row in 1958, 1959 and 1960. The 1960s were not without success either, as Ring won further county medals in 1962 and 1964. The latter was Ring’s thirteenth county victory and was subsequently converted into a Munster
club title. Ring’s last game for Glen Rovers was a county quarter-final against UCC
in 1967.
final against Kilkenny
. He played no part in that game, which Cork won, but received no All-Ireland medal.
Ring was eligible for the minor grade again the following year and made his debut in a Cork jersey against Limerick
on 22 May 1938. Although he would come to be known as a high-scoring forward, his inter-county career began as a defender. He later won a Munster
winners' medal following a 9-3 to 0-0 thrashing of Kerry
. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Ring make his first Croke Park
appearance. Dublin
provided the opposition on that occasion and a tough game of hurling ensued. Ring, in spite of playing in defence, scored a goal from a 21-yard free to help his county to a 7-2 to 5-4 victory. It was his first All-Ireland winners' medal.
By 1939 Ring was too old for the minor grade, however, he went on to become the youngest member of the Cork junior hurling team. There was no place for him in defence and he was seen as too vital a player to be left out of the starting fifteen, so instead he was moved to the forwards. Cork were fancied to retain their junior crown for a second year, however, Waterford
got the better of them in their opening game.
. An 8-9 to 6-4 score line gave Cork the title and gave Ring his first National League winners' medal. Cork contested the Munster final later that year, however, after an exciting draw and a thrilling replay the great Limerick team of the era emerged as the victors.
and Leinster
. As a result of this Tipperary and Kilkenny, the two counties that were affected the most, were not allowed to participate. It was also decided that Cork would represent Munster in the All-Ireland final. The game against Dublin turned into a rout thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke
and Ted O'Sullivan
. At the full-time whistle Cork had won by 5-11 to 0-6. It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time, however, it did give Ring his very first All-Ireland
winners' medal at senior level. In the delayed Munster final played in October, Tipperary gained their revenge by defeating the All-Ireland champions.
In 1942 Cork were still on form and Ring won his first senior Munster
title following a defeat of Tipperary. He subsequently lined out in a second consecutive All-Ireland final. Dublin provided the opposition for the second year in-a-row and the opening half turned out to be a close affair. Johnny Quirke gave Cork a comfortable half-time lead thanks to a goal, however, in the second-half Cork went on the rampage. At the long whistle Cork were the champions by 2-14 to 3-4 and Ring collected a second All-Ireland winners' medal.
A defeat of Waterford
allowed Ring to add a second Munster title to his collection in 1943 before later contesting a third successive All-Ireland final with Cork. Antrim
, having already pulled off two of the biggest shocks in the history of the championship by defeating Galway
and Kilkenny, were ‘the Rebels'’ opponents. The game, however, turned into an absolute rout. At half-time Cork led by 3-11 to 0-2, howvever, by full-time they had forged ahead to capture a 5-16 to 0-4 victory. It was Ring's third consecutive All-Ireland medal.
In 1944 Cork faced Limerick in the Munster final. The game ended in a 4-13 to 6-7 draw and had to be replayed; however, as full-time approached the possibility of another draw seemed likely. With just minutes remaining Ring caught the sliotar in his own half-back line, made a solo run past a succession of challenges and, from forty yards out, hammered a shot into the Limerick net. Cork went on to win the game by a goal and many regard this game as the moment that the mantle of hurling’s star player passed from Mick Mackey
to Ring. Once again Cork went on to face Dublin in the All-Ireland final and, like the previous three years, the Munstermen had an easy win. Dublin could only manage to score 1-2 compared to Cork's 2-13, resulting in Cork taking the title. With that Cork set a record of four consecutive championship victories that has yet to be equaled. Ring was also the proud holder of four senior All-Ireland medals before his 24th birthday.
Cork lost their provincial crown to Tipperary in 1945, however, the team returned in 1946 with Ring, now as captain of the team, picking up a fourth Munster winners' medal after a defeat of Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against old rivals Kilkenny for the first time since 1939. Two quick goals just before half-time, one from the stick of Ring, put Cork in the driving seat. Five more goals followed in the second period as Cork were the 7-5 to 3-8 winners. It was a remarkable fifth All-Ireland title in six years for Cork and for Ring.
Ring won a fifth Munster title following a second consecutive defeat of Limerick in 1947. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year as Cork and Kilkenny did battle again. In what has been described by many as the greatest hurling decider of all-time Mossy O'Riordan
and Joe Kelly scored two goals that almost won the game for Cork. Kilkenny, however, fought back with Terry Leahy
and Jim Langton
leading the charge and eventually won the game by 'the usual point' on a score line of 0-14 to 2-7. That defeat saw the break-up of the great four-in-a-row team of the 1940s and was followed by four lean years of championship hurling for Cork.
In 1953 Ring took over the captaincy of the team from Paddy Barry
. The year began well with the new captain collecting a third National League title and a seventh Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Galway take on Cork, however, 'the Rebels' were victorious by 3-3 to 0-8 and Ring added a record-equaling All-Ireland medal to his collection. The game, however, was clouded in controversy due to the injury to the Galway captain, Mickey Burke
. After the match at the Gresham Hotel
in Dublin a fight broke out when another Galway player struck Ring. The following morning another fight broke out when another member of the Galway panel attempted to hit Ring. The fights, however, ended just as quickly as they had started.
In 1954 Ring was still captain of Cork as he attempted to make history ny capturing an eighth All-Ireland medal. Tipperary fell to Cork by 2-8 to 1-8 in the provincial final, giving Ring an eighth Munster winners' medal. A ninth All-Ireland final appearance beckoned for the Cork maestro, with Wexford
providing the opposition. A record attendance of nearly 85,000 people packed into Croke Park
to witness the Munster champions defeating the Leinster champions by 1-9 to 1-6. More importantly for Ring, he had entered the record books as the first player to win eight senior All-Ireland medals on the field of play.
Cork lost their provincial crown in 1955, but ‘the Rebels’ were back in 1956 and faced Limerick in the Munster final. Limerick looked to be cruising to victory, however the last ten minutes of the game saw Ring display his exceptional class by scoring three goals and a point to capture a ninth Munster winners' medal. Wexford were Cork’s opponents in the All-Ireland final once again. The game has gone down in history as one of the all-time classic games as Ring was bidding for a ninth All-Ireland medal. The game turned on one important incident as the Wexford goalkeeper, Art Foley
, made a miraculous save from a Ring shot and cleared the sliotar up the field to set up another attack. Wexford went on to win the game on a score line of 2-14 to 2-8. In spite of Cork's loss Wexford’s Nick O'Donnell
and Bobby Rackard
, in an unparalleled display of sportsmanship in any game, raised Ring onto their shoulders and carried him off the field. Wexford had won the game but there was no doubt in their minds that the real hero was Ring.
, Ring suffered a broken wrist which ruled him out of the subsequent Munster final. Cork lost that game to an up-and-coming Waterford
side by 1-11 to 1-6.
In 1958 Cork exited the championship after just two games, while in 1959 the side reached the Munster final once again. Waterford provided the opposition and in spite of Ring scoring 1-5, Cork lost by a goal. Ring, however, was later honoured as the Caltex Hurler of the Year
as he embarked on his fourth decade of senior inter-county hurling. He remains the oldest player ever to win the award.
Ring finished the 1959-60 National League as top scorer, however, Cork were beaten by Tipperary in the final. Both sides met later that same year in the Munster final, in what has been described as the toughest game of hurling ever played. Cork had most of the possession in the first-half, however, Tipp led by a goal at the interval. The deadly accuracy of Jimmy Doyle
saw him end the game with a tally of 1-8. A nail-biting finish saw 'the Rebels' capture a late goal, however, Tipperary held on to win a grueling encounter by 4-13 to 4-11.
1961 followed a similar pattern to the year before. Ring was once again the National League top scorer for the 1960-61 season and, once again, Cork and Tipperary lined out against each other in the Munster final. A tempestuous game followed with scuffles breaking out throughout the first-half. As the game entered the final quarter Ring and John Doyle
became involved in a punch-up while Tom Moloughney
was knocked to the ground, allegedly after being struck by Ring. Tipperary won the game by 3-6 to 0-7, however, Ring was wrongly named in some national newspapers as having hit both Doyle and Moloughney. The National Union of Journalists later issued an apology to him.
Cork reached the final of the 1961-62 National League where Kilkenny provided the opposition. In what would be his last outing at Croke Park, much of the Ring magic still remained, however, Cork ultimately lost by 1-16 to 1-8. The subsequent Munster championship saw Ring lose out to Waterford at the semi-final stage. It would be Ring's last championship game for Cork.
Ring played a tournament game against Waterford in June 1963 and was again later picked for Cork's championship fifteen. On the day of the opening game against Clare, it was announced that Ring would not be playing. Cork won and he was again included as a non-playing substitute for Cork's subsequent Munster semi-final defeat against Tipperary.
In 1964 Ring, in spite of being out of inter-county hurling for over a year, let it be known that he was available to play on the county team but he was turned down by majority decision of the team's selection committee. After twenty-five years and a then record of sixty-four championship appearances Ring was effectively dropped and the curtain was brought down on his inter-county career.
, Limerick
, Waterford
and Clare
. Ring played for Munster
for the first time in 1941 and went on to contest twenty-three consecutive inter-provincial finals between then and 1963. During this time he won a record-breaking eighteen Railway Cup medals. No other player in the history of the Gaelic Athletic Association
has gone into double figures in terms of the amount of medals won and the only occasions that he didn’t end up on the winning side were in 1941, 1947, 1954, 1956 and 1962. Ring was noted for being at his best and for giving exceptional displays on Railway Cup days. In the 1957 final he gave a remarkable performance to coincide with the opening of the new Hogan Stand at Croke Park
. During the game he scored 4-5 of Munster’s total of 7-11. This was five points more than Connacht
’s total of 2-6.
and All-Ireland
honours at colleges level.
Ring later served as a key member of the selection teams when his beloved Glen Rovers won county, Munster and All-Ireland
club hurling honours in the 1970s.
In 1974 Ring became a selector with the Cork senior hurling team, however, it was an unsuccessful year in the championship for his county. He was dropped from the selection team in 1975, however, Ring returned as an influential selector under Bertie Troy
in 1976. That year Cork captured the Munster title before later lining out against Wexford in the All-Ireland final. After six minutes of play Cork were in arrears by 2-2 to no score, however, Ring's switch of Jimmy Barry-Murphy
to centre-forward was pivotal in helping Cork to turn the game around and win it by 2-21 to 4-11. In 1977 a second set of Munster and All-Ireland titles followed for Ring as selector again. 1978 was a particularly poignant year for Ring and the Cork hurling team. Cork annexed a third Munster title under Ring's stewardship that year before later lining out against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Once again Ring made some decisive positional switches involving Barry-Murphy and Tim Crowley
, which eventually led to a 1-15 to 2-8 victory over the old enemy. It was a particularly sweet victory for Ring. It had been forty years since he captured his first All-Ireland medal with Cork in 1938. He was a stylish young hurler on the senior team when Cork captured the three-in-a-row in 1943 and he was a legendary figure on the team when he repeated this feat in 1954. Now Ring had also become an All-Ireland three-in-a-row winning selector with Cork. The 1978 All-Ireland triumph over Kilkenny turned out to be Ring’s last visit to Croke Park.
on Morrisson's Island on 2 March 1979 he suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed. He was taken by ambulance to the South Infirmary Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. He was fifty eight years-old. The news of his death came as a great shock to the people of Ireland, and particularly to the people of Cork. His funeral was one of the biggest ever seen in Cork with up to 60,000 people lining the streets. It was also a remarkable hurling occasion with many of Ring's former Munster and All-Ireland foes in attendance. Farrenferris pupils formed a guard of honour, draped in the famous black, green and gold Glen Rovers colours. The funeral Mass was presided over by Bishop
Cornelius Lucey
while the chief celebrant was Fr. Charlie Lynch, brother of former Cork team-mate and Taoiseach
Jack Lynch
. Other former Cork team-mates involved included Fr. Con Cottrell
, Fr. Bernie Cotter and Fr. J. J. O'Brien. Ring's coffin was shouldered into St. Colman's churchyard by renowned sporting celebrities from Cork and other counties. "We carried him at last" was former team-mate Paddy Barry's remark, in reference to Ring often saving the Cork hurlers from almost certain defeat.
Ring's graveside oration in Cloyne was delivered by a former team-mate and the then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch. Lynch finished by claiming that:
It was also related that Professor Seán Ó Tuama heard an old Cork lady say at his funeral. "Tis a sin to bury that man"
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 the Glen Rovers
Glen Rovers GAA
Glen Rovers is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballyvolane and Blackpool areas of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1916 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-Colours:...
club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game. Many former players, commentators and fans rate him as the number one player of all-time.
In a game as mythologised as hurling, Ring's universally accepted pre-eminence is remarkable. Yet, he possessed everything from talent and ferocious application to longevity and a string of records. Obsessive about the game, he worked relentlessly to sustain a formidable array of techniques, complemented by great vision and anticipation. A shamanistic sense of his own distinctness added to a reputation for eccentricity, but Ring's greatness, coupled with his physical resilience and resourcefulness, also demoralised opponents.
Ring's status as one of the all-time greats is self-evident. His record of 64 appearances in championship games stood until 2011 when it was surpassed by Brendan Cummins
Brendan Cummins (Tipperary hurler)
Brendan Cummins is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with Ballybacon-Grange and Gaelic football with Ardfinnan. A former dual player at the highest level, Cummins has been a member of the Tipperary senior hurling team since 1995...
of Tipperary, while his tally of 33 goals and 208 points in these games was a record score which stood until the 1970s when it was surpassed by Eddie Keher
Eddie Keher
Edward Peter Keher , better known as Eddie Keher, is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game....
. His haul of eight 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....
medals, all won on the field of play, was a record which stood for over a decade until it was equalled by John Doyle
John Doyle (hurler)
John Doyle was an Irish sportsperson and politician, hailed as one of the best defenders in hurling and his county's most iconic player upon his death. He played hurling with his local Holycross-Ballycahill club from the 1940s until the 1970s and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county...
. Ring also won a record eighteen Railway Cup medals 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:...
. No other player in the history of the competition has gone into double figures. Ring is also one of only three hurling men to captain his county to three All-Ireland successes.
Ring has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. In 1959 at the age of thirty-nine his hurling prowess earned him the prestigious Caltex Hurler of the Year
Texaco Hurler of the Year
The Texaco Hurler of the Year is a hurling award, created in 1958, that honours the achievements of a hurler of outstanding excellence. The award is part of the Texaco Sportstars Awards, in which Irish sportspeople from all fields are honoured....
award. He was posthumously honoured in 1984 when he was named, by popular opinion, in the right wing-forward position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century
GAA Hurling Team of the Century
The Hurling Team of the Century was chosen as part of the Gaelic Athletic Association's centenary year celebrations in 1984 to comprise, as a fifteen-member side divided as one goalkeeper, three half-backs, two midfielders, three half-forwardss and three full-forwards, the best hurling players of...
. He was named in the same position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
The GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium was announced by GAA President Seán McCague at a special dinner at Croke Park on 24 July 2000. The initiative was sponsored by An Post who issued special commemorative stamps of the Millennium team members. The team was chosen to comprise, as a...
in 2000.
Early years
Ring was born at Kilboy, less than a mile from the small village of CloyneCloyne
Cloyne is a small town to the south-east of the town of Midleton in eastern County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. It is also a see city of the Anglican Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, while also giving its name to a Roman Catholic diocese...
in rural East Cork
East Cork
East Cork lies in south-west Ireland in Ireland's largest county, Co. Cork.East Cork contains the world's second largest natural harbour Cork Harbour, which is also home to the world's oldest yacht club. St...
. His family later moved to the village where they occupied a house on Spittal Street, commonly referred to as 'Spit Lane'. The second son born to Mary and Nicholas Ring, his father worked as a gardener for local landowners. Ring's siblings included two sisters, Katie and Mary Agnes, and two brothers, Willie John and Paddy Joe. It was Ring's father, a former Cloyne
Cloyne GAA
Cloyne GAA club is located in the small town of Cloyne in east County Cork, Ireland. Founded in 1887 they have yet to win a Cork Senior Hurling Championship title and have the dubious distinction of losing in the last 3 finals...
hurler
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...
, who instilled a passion for the game in his young son by taking him to club games 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...
, making the eighteen-mile journey by bicycle with his son on the cross-bar.
Ring was educated at the local national school in Cloyne, where he was noted as a quiet but diligent pupil. On one occasion, the school master, Maurice Spillane, offered a prize of a hurley and sliotar to the boy who would get the highest grade in the school. Ring applied himself diligently and got first place from among forty-eight pupils.
As was common at the time Ring received no secondary education and left school before the age of fourteen. His first job was as an apprentice mechanic with the Williams firm in Midleton
Midleton
Midleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
, before he later moved to Cork city where he found work as a lorry driver with Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann , or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of the Irish state, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport in the Republic of Ireland and, jointly with its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, between the...
. In 1953 Ring became a delivery man with Shell Oil.
St. Enda's
The formation of a Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club in Cloyne in the 1930s allowed Ring and his brothers to play hurling locally in the various street leagues. He was twelve years-old when he played in his first competitive game, a minor hurling championship
Cork Minor Hurling Championship
The Cork Minor Hurling Championship is a hurling competition for Gaelic Athletic Association players under the age of 18 in County Cork, Ireland. This competition is also known as the Cork Premier Minor Hurling Championship since 1992. It is played on a countywide basis. Prior to 1992, all teams...
game against Sarsfield's, and surprisingly he was chosen as goalkeeper.
Ring subsequently played minor championship hurling with the St. Enda's
Midleton GAA
Midleton Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the town of Midleton in County Cork, Ireland.-History:The concept of a Gaelic Athletic Association was first mooted in 1883 when a sub-committee of the Irish Republican Brotherhood was formed with the ideal of...
club in Midleton
Midleton
Midleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
. He won a county championship winners' medal in this grade in 1938 following a 5-3 to 4-0 win over the Seán Clárach's
Charleville GAA
Charleville GAA club is a Gaelic football and hurling club based in the town of Charleville, County Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated with the Cork GAA county board and the Avondhu divisional board.-History:...
club.
Cloyne
That same year Ring and his brothers were key players when Cloyne won the East Cork junior hurling championship following a defeat of Bride RoversBride Rovers GAA
Bride Rovers GAA is a Gaelic games club located in the small villages of Rathcormac and Bartlemy in east County Cork, Republic of Ireland. The club fields Gaelic football and hurling teams in Cork GAA and Imokilly GAA divisional competitions.-History:...
. Ring was suspended for the subsequent county championship series of games.
Cloyne retained the divisional title again in 1939 with Ring's scoring prowess helping the team to go all the way to the county junior championship final. Ring played the game with an injured ankle, however, a 6-5 to 3-3 defeat of Mayfield
Mayfield GAA
Mayfied GAA Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Mayfield area of Cork city, Ireland. Teams are fielded in Gaelic football, hurling, and Ladies' Football. The club participates in Cork GAA competitions and in Seandún board competitions....
and 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 was his reward.
Glen Rovers
In 1940 Ring and his two brothers left the Cloyne club after an acrimonious dispute. While his brothers joined other local clubs in east Cork, Ring remained 'unattached' for over a year before joining the Glen RoversGlen Rovers GAA
Glen Rovers is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballyvolane and Blackpool areas of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1916 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-Colours:...
club in Cork city in the summer of 1941. After making his debut against St. Finbarr's
St. Finbarr's GAA
St. Finbarr's National Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Togher area of Cork city, County Cork, Ireland....
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....
semi-final, Ring went on to win his first senior championship winners' medal following a defeat of Ballincollig
Ballincollig GAA
Ballincollig GAA is a Gaelic football and hurling club based in the town of Ballincollig, County Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated with the Cork GAA board and plays in the Muskerry divisional competitions...
in the final. 'The Glen' had just captured a record-breaking eighth county title in-a-row while Ring would go on to have much more success with the club in a career that spanned three decades.
A ninth successive championship proved beyond Glen Rovers, however, the club continued to dominate the local hurling scene in Cork for the rest of the decade. The club secured back-to-back titles in 1944 and 1945 following wins over fierce southside rivals St. Finbarr's and divisional side Carrigdhoun
Carrigdhoun GAA
Carrigdhoun GAA is one of the eight baronies or Gaelic Athletic Association divisions that make up Cork. The division is made up of eleven Gaelic Athletic Association teams, making it one of the smaller divisions....
respectively. Ring's side narrowly missed out on a third successive championship in 1946.
After a one-year absence from Cork's hurling showpiece, defeats of 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:...
, 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...
and St. Finbarr's in the respective championship deciders of 1948, 1949 and 1950 brought Ring's county championship winners' medal tally to six.
'The Glen' dominated the next decade of hurling also, contesting eight consecutive county finals between 1953 and 1960. Victories came in 1953 and 1954 and, following the loss of three county finals in-a-row, ‘the Glen’ went on to win three-in-a-row in 1958, 1959 and 1960. The 1960s were not without success either, as Ring won further county medals in 1962 and 1964. The latter was Ring’s thirteenth county victory and was subsequently converted into a Munster
Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for the top hurling clubs in the province of Munster in Ireland...
club title. Ring’s last game for Glen Rovers was a county quarter-final against UCC
UCC GAA
UCC is a football and hurling club associated with University College Cork. UCC teams play in the Cork Senior Football Championship and Cork Senior Hurling Championship as well as the two main third-level competitions namely the Sigerson Cup in football and the Fitzgibbon Cup in hurling...
in 1967.
Minor and junior
By 1937 Ring's performances as a minor hurler for St. Enda's led to him being considered for the Cork minor hurling panel. He was only sixteen years-old throughout the championship campaign and was not selected for any of the provincial stages or for the All-Ireland semi-final. He was later listed as one of the five non-playing substitutes for the subsequent 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...
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...
. He played no part in that game, which Cork won, but received no All-Ireland medal.
Ring was eligible for the minor grade again the following year and made his debut in a Cork jersey against 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...
on 22 May 1938. Although he would come to be known as a high-scoring forward, his inter-county career began as a defender. He later won a Munster
Munster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
winners' medal following a 9-3 to 0-0 thrashing of 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...
. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Ring make his first Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
appearance. Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
provided the opposition on that occasion and a tough game of hurling ensued. Ring, in spite of playing in defence, scored a goal from a 21-yard free to help his county to a 7-2 to 5-4 victory. It was his first All-Ireland winners' medal.
By 1939 Ring was too old for the minor grade, however, he went on to become the youngest member of the Cork junior hurling team. There was no place for him in defence and he was seen as too vital a player to be left out of the starting fifteen, so instead he was moved to the forwards. Cork were fancied to retain their junior crown for a second year, however, 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...
got the better of them in their opening game.
Beginnings
Ring made made his first senior appearance for Cork when he came on as a substitute against Limerick in a tournament game in early 1939. Later that year on 22 October 1939 he made his first senior start when Cork played the newly-crowned All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the opening round of the 1939-40 National Hurling League. Ring quickly became a regular fixture on the Cork starting fifteen and was named at right wing-forward for the National League final against TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
. An 8-9 to 6-4 score line gave Cork the title and gave Ring his first National League winners' medal. Cork contested the Munster final later that year, however, after an exciting draw and a thrilling replay the great Limerick team of the era emerged as the victors.
Four-in-a-row
Ring won a second consecutive National League medal in 1941, however, that year's hurling championship was severely hampered due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in MunsterMunster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. 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 purposes...
and Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. As a result of this Tipperary and Kilkenny, the two counties that were affected the most, were not allowed to participate. It was also decided that Cork would represent Munster in the All-Ireland final. The game against Dublin turned into a rout thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke
Johnny Quirke
Johnny Quirke was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1932 until 1946...
and Ted O'Sullivan
Ted O'Sullivan (hurler)
Ted O'Sullivan was an Irish sportsperson. He was born in Midleton, County Cork. He played hurling with his local clubs Midleton, Blackrock and St. Finbarr's and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1943. O'Sullivan won two All-Ireland titles, two Munster titles and...
. At the full-time whistle Cork had won by 5-11 to 0-6. It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time, however, it did give Ring his very first 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' medal at senior level. In the delayed Munster final played in October, Tipperary gained their revenge by defeating the All-Ireland champions.
In 1942 Cork were still on form and Ring won 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 following a defeat of Tipperary. He subsequently lined out in a second consecutive All-Ireland final. Dublin provided the opposition for the second year in-a-row and the opening half turned out to be a close affair. Johnny Quirke gave Cork a comfortable half-time lead thanks to a goal, however, in the second-half Cork went on the rampage. At the long whistle Cork were the champions by 2-14 to 3-4 and Ring collected a second All-Ireland winners' medal.
A 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...
allowed Ring to add a second Munster title to his collection in 1943 before later contesting a third successive All-Ireland final with Cork. Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
, having already pulled off two of the biggest shocks in the history of the championship by defeating 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,...
and Kilkenny, were ‘the Rebels'’ opponents. The game, however, turned into an absolute rout. At half-time Cork led by 3-11 to 0-2, howvever, by full-time they had forged ahead to capture a 5-16 to 0-4 victory. It was Ring's third consecutive All-Ireland medal.
In 1944 Cork faced Limerick in the Munster final. The game ended in a 4-13 to 6-7 draw and had to be replayed; however, as full-time approached the possibility of another draw seemed likely. With just minutes remaining Ring caught the sliotar in his own half-back line, made a solo run past a succession of challenges and, from forty yards out, hammered a shot into the Limerick net. Cork went on to win the game by a goal and many regard this game as the moment that the mantle of hurling’s star player passed from Mick Mackey
Mick Mackey
Michael ‘Mick’ Mackey was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the famous Ahane club from 1930 until 1948 and was a member of the Limerick senior inter-county team from 1930 until 1947. Mackey is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game...
to Ring. Once again Cork went on to face Dublin in the All-Ireland final and, like the previous three years, the Munstermen had an easy win. Dublin could only manage to score 1-2 compared to Cork's 2-13, resulting in Cork taking the title. With that Cork set a record of four consecutive championship victories that has yet to be equaled. Ring was also the proud holder of four senior All-Ireland medals before his 24th birthday.
Cork lost their provincial crown to Tipperary in 1945, however, the team returned in 1946 with Ring, now as captain of the team, picking up a fourth Munster winners' medal after a defeat of Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against old rivals Kilkenny for the first time since 1939. Two quick goals just before half-time, one from the stick of Ring, put Cork in the driving seat. Five more goals followed in the second period as Cork were the 7-5 to 3-8 winners. It was a remarkable fifth All-Ireland title in six years for Cork and for Ring.
Ring won a fifth Munster title following a second consecutive defeat of Limerick in 1947. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year as Cork and Kilkenny did battle again. In what has been described by many as the greatest hurling decider of all-time Mossy O'Riordan
Mossy O'Riordan
Maurice Francis "Mossy" O'Riordan was an Irish sportsperson who played hurling with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s....
and Joe Kelly scored two goals that almost won the game for Cork. Kilkenny, however, fought back with Terry Leahy
Terry Leahy (hurler)
Terry Leahy was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Emeralds in Kilkenny and Faughs in Dublin...
and Jim Langton
Jim Langton
Jim Langton was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Éire Óg and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1954. Langton's inclusion on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium mark him out as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:Langton played his...
leading the charge and eventually won the game by 'the usual point' on a score line of 0-14 to 2-7. That defeat saw the break-up of the great four-in-a-row team of the 1940s and was followed by four lean years of championship hurling for Cork.
Three-in-a-row
The Cork team bounced back in 1952 with Ring winning a sixth Munster medal following a defeat of three-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Tipperary in the provincial decider. Dublin provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final, however ‘the Dubs’ were completely outclassed by Cork on that occasion. In spite of only leading by three points at half-time Cork won by 2-14 to 0-7 and Ring picked up a sixth All-Ireland medal.Paddy Barry (Sarsfield's)
Paddy Barry was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Sarsfield's and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1947 until 1964. Barry is regarded as one of Cork’s greatest-ever hurlers....
. The year began well with the new captain collecting a third National League title and a seventh Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Galway take on Cork, however, 'the Rebels' were victorious by 3-3 to 0-8 and Ring added a record-equaling All-Ireland medal to his collection. The game, however, was clouded in controversy due to the injury to the Galway captain, Mickey Burke
Mickey Burke (hurler)
Mickey Burke is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Castlegar and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s.-References:...
. After the match at the Gresham Hotel
Gresham Hotel
The Gresham Hotel is a hotel in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Located on O'Connell Street, the hotel is a Dublin institution. This landmark building has recently been refurbished.-History:...
in Dublin a fight broke out when another Galway player struck Ring. The following morning another fight broke out when another member of the Galway panel attempted to hit Ring. The fights, however, ended just as quickly as they had started.
In 1954 Ring was still captain of Cork as he attempted to make history ny capturing an eighth All-Ireland medal. Tipperary fell to Cork by 2-8 to 1-8 in the provincial final, giving Ring an eighth Munster winners' medal. A ninth All-Ireland final appearance beckoned for the Cork maestro, with 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...
providing the opposition. A record attendance of nearly 85,000 people packed into Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
to witness the Munster champions defeating the Leinster champions by 1-9 to 1-6. More importantly for Ring, he had entered the record books as the first player to win eight senior All-Ireland medals on the field of play.
Cork lost their provincial crown in 1955, but ‘the Rebels’ were back in 1956 and faced Limerick in the Munster final. Limerick looked to be cruising to victory, however the last ten minutes of the game saw Ring display his exceptional class by scoring three goals and a point to capture a ninth Munster winners' medal. Wexford were Cork’s opponents in the All-Ireland final once again. The game has gone down in history as one of the all-time classic games as Ring was bidding for a ninth All-Ireland medal. The game turned on one important incident as the Wexford goalkeeper, Art Foley
Art Foley
Michael Arthur Foley , better known as Art Foley, is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club St. Aidan's of Enniscorthy and with the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1946 until 1956.-Club:...
, made a miraculous save from a Ring shot and cleared the sliotar up the field to set up another attack. Wexford went on to win the game on a score line of 2-14 to 2-8. In spite of Cork's loss Wexford’s Nick O'Donnell
Nick O'Donnell
Nick O'Donnell was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Éire Óg in Kilkenny and St. Aidan’s in Wexford. He was also a member of both the Kilkenny and Wexford senior inter-county teams from 1947 until 1962...
and Bobby Rackard
Bobby Rackard
Bobby Rackard was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Rathnure and with the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1945 until 1957. Rackard is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:...
, in an unparalleled display of sportsmanship in any game, raised Ring onto their shoulders and carried him off the field. Wexford had won the game but there was no doubt in their minds that the real hero was Ring.
Twilight years
Following defeat in the 1956 All-Ireland final, it was expected by many that Ring, who was now thirty-six years-old, would retire from inter-county hurling. No such announcement came and he was included on Cork's championship fifteen again for 1957. In the Munster semi-final victory over TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
, Ring suffered a broken wrist which ruled him out of the subsequent Munster final. Cork lost that game to an up-and-coming 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...
side by 1-11 to 1-6.
In 1958 Cork exited the championship after just two games, while in 1959 the side reached the Munster final once again. Waterford provided the opposition and in spite of Ring scoring 1-5, Cork lost by a goal. Ring, however, was later honoured as the Caltex Hurler of the Year
Texaco Hurler of the Year
The Texaco Hurler of the Year is a hurling award, created in 1958, that honours the achievements of a hurler of outstanding excellence. The award is part of the Texaco Sportstars Awards, in which Irish sportspeople from all fields are honoured....
as he embarked on his fourth decade of senior inter-county hurling. He remains the oldest player ever to win the award.
Ring finished the 1959-60 National League as top scorer, however, Cork were beaten by Tipperary in the final. Both sides met later that same year in the Munster final, in what has been described as the toughest game of hurling ever played. Cork had most of the possession in the first-half, however, Tipp led by a goal at the interval. The deadly accuracy of Jimmy Doyle
Jimmy Doyle
James 'Jimmy' Doyle , is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with the famous Thurles Sarsfields club from 1956 until 1975 and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1957 until 1973...
saw him end the game with a tally of 1-8. A nail-biting finish saw 'the Rebels' capture a late goal, however, Tipperary held on to win a grueling encounter by 4-13 to 4-11.
1961 followed a similar pattern to the year before. Ring was once again the National League top scorer for the 1960-61 season and, once again, Cork and Tipperary lined out against each other in the Munster final. A tempestuous game followed with scuffles breaking out throughout the first-half. As the game entered the final quarter Ring and John Doyle
John Doyle (hurler)
John Doyle was an Irish sportsperson and politician, hailed as one of the best defenders in hurling and his county's most iconic player upon his death. He played hurling with his local Holycross-Ballycahill club from the 1940s until the 1970s and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county...
became involved in a punch-up while Tom Moloughney
Tom Moloughney
Tom Moloughney was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Kilruane McDonagh's and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1960 until 1963. Moloughney won two All-Ireland titles, three Munster titles and two National Hurling League titles with...
was knocked to the ground, allegedly after being struck by Ring. Tipperary won the game by 3-6 to 0-7, however, Ring was wrongly named in some national newspapers as having hit both Doyle and Moloughney. The National Union of Journalists later issued an apology to him.
Cork reached the final of the 1961-62 National League where Kilkenny provided the opposition. In what would be his last outing at Croke Park, much of the Ring magic still remained, however, Cork ultimately lost by 1-16 to 1-8. The subsequent Munster championship saw Ring lose out to Waterford at the semi-final stage. It would be Ring's last championship game for Cork.
Ring played a tournament game against Waterford in June 1963 and was again later picked for Cork's championship fifteen. On the day of the opening game against Clare, it was announced that Ring would not be playing. Cork won and he was again included as a non-playing substitute for Cork's subsequent Munster semi-final defeat against Tipperary.
In 1964 Ring, in spite of being out of inter-county hurling for over a year, let it be known that he was available to play on the county team but he was turned down by majority decision of the team's selection committee. After twenty-five years and a then record of sixty-four championship appearances Ring was effectively dropped and the curtain was brought down on his inter-county career.
Possible comeback
There was speculation in 1966, however, that Ring, at the age of forty-five, would come out of retirement to play for Cork in that year’s All-Ireland final. His name was listed in the official match programme for the Munster final, however, Ring did not line out with Cork when he heard that the decision to be recalled was not a unanimous one. While he also indicated that he would be interested in playing in the All-Ireland final, the prospect of winning his ninth All-Ireland winners' medal as a substitute to another player did not appeal to Ring and he declined to be listed as a sub in the end. This decision finally ended all of the speculation that Ring would make a dramatic comeback at some stage.Inter-provincial career
Ring's relationship with the Railway Cup inter-provincial competition was as remarkable for its longevity as well as its success rate. While he enjoyed the rivalry with the other counties during the Munster Championship he felt honoured to be on the same team as the great players from TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
, 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...
, 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...
and 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....
. Ring played for 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:...
for the first time in 1941 and went on to contest twenty-three consecutive inter-provincial finals between then and 1963. During this time he won a record-breaking eighteen Railway Cup medals. No other player in the history of the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
has gone into double figures in terms of the amount of medals won and the only occasions that he didn’t end up on the winning side were in 1941, 1947, 1954, 1956 and 1962. Ring was noted for being at his best and for giving exceptional displays on Railway Cup days. In the 1957 final he gave a remarkable performance to coincide with the opening of the new Hogan Stand at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
. During the game he scored 4-5 of Munster’s total of 7-11. This was five points more than 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:...
’s total of 2-6.
Retirement
In retirement from playing the game that he loved Ring quickly became a selector with various teams at all levels. In 1963 he was a mentor to the senior hurling team of St Finbarr's College, Farranferris that captured both MunsterDr. Harty Cup
The Dr. Harty Cup is a hurling competition for schools in the province of Munster in Ireland. The cup is presented to the winners of the Munster Colleges Senior "A" Hurling Championship. Players have to be under the age of 19 to compete. The winning team represents Munster in the Dr. Croke Cup...
and All-Ireland
Dr. Croke Cup
The Dr. Croke Cup is an inter-county GAA competition in hurling. The first Croke Cups took place between 1896 and 1915. Clare was the first winner of the Dr Croke Cup for Hurling in 1896. In 1909 Ulster were expelled from the Dr...
honours at colleges level.
Ring later served as a key member of the selection teams when his beloved Glen Rovers won county, Munster and All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
club hurling honours in the 1970s.
In 1974 Ring became a selector with the Cork senior hurling team, however, it was an unsuccessful year in the championship for his county. He was dropped from the selection team in 1975, however, Ring returned as an influential selector under Bertie Troy
Bertie Troy
Canon Bertie Troy was a Roman Catholic priest and an All-Ireland Hurling Final winning manager with Cork.Bertie Troy was born in Newtownshandrum, County Cork in 1931. He was educated and the local national school and later at St. Colman’s College in Fermoy. While he studied here Troy became...
in 1976. That year Cork captured the Munster title before later lining out against Wexford in the All-Ireland final. After six minutes of play Cork were in arrears by 2-2 to no score, however, Ring's switch of Jimmy Barry-Murphy
Jimmy Barry-Murphy
James "Jimmy" Barry-Murphy is a former Irish hurler, Gaelic footballer and association footballer and is the current manager of the Cork senior hurling team...
to centre-forward was pivotal in helping Cork to turn the game around and win it by 2-21 to 4-11. In 1977 a second set of Munster and All-Ireland titles followed for Ring as selector again. 1978 was a particularly poignant year for Ring and the Cork hurling team. Cork annexed a third Munster title under Ring's stewardship that year before later lining out against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Once again Ring made some decisive positional switches involving Barry-Murphy and Tim Crowley
Tim Crowley
Tim Crowley is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with Newcestown and Cork in the 1970s and 1980s.-Playing career:...
, which eventually led to a 1-15 to 2-8 victory over the old enemy. It was a particularly sweet victory for Ring. It had been forty years since he captured his first All-Ireland medal with Cork in 1938. He was a stylish young hurler on the senior team when Cork captured the three-in-a-row in 1943 and he was a legendary figure on the team when he repeated this feat in 1954. Now Ring had also become an All-Ireland three-in-a-row winning selector with Cork. The 1978 All-Ireland triumph over Kilkenny turned out to be Ring’s last visit to Croke Park.
Death
As Ring was walking past the Cork College of CommerceCork College of Commerce
Cork College of Commerce is a college that was established by the business and education communities on the banks of the River Lee in Cork, Ireland in 1908...
on Morrisson's Island on 2 March 1979 he suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed. He was taken by ambulance to the South Infirmary Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. He was fifty eight years-old. The news of his death came as a great shock to the people of Ireland, and particularly to the people of Cork. His funeral was one of the biggest ever seen in Cork with up to 60,000 people lining the streets. It was also a remarkable hurling occasion with many of Ring's former Munster and All-Ireland foes in attendance. Farrenferris pupils formed a guard of honour, draped in the famous black, green and gold Glen Rovers colours. The funeral Mass was presided over by Bishop
Bishop of Cork and Ross
The Bishop of Cork and Ross is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Cork and the town of Rosscarbery in Ireland. The title was first used by the Church of Ireland from 1638 to 1660 and again from 1679 to 1835...
Cornelius Lucey
Cornelius Lucey
-Youth and education:Cornelius Lucey was born into a farming family at Carrigrohane, near Cork City. He studied at St Finbarr's College, Farranferris, the diocesan college. He graduated from St Patrick's College, Maynooth with BC and BCL, and obtained MAs at Innsbruck University in 1927–29 and then...
while the chief celebrant was Fr. Charlie Lynch, brother of former Cork team-mate and Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
. Other former Cork team-mates involved included Fr. Con Cottrell
Con Cottrell
Fr. Con Cottrell was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Ballinhassig and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1941 until 1947.-Club:...
, Fr. Bernie Cotter and Fr. J. J. O'Brien. Ring's coffin was shouldered into St. Colman's churchyard by renowned sporting celebrities from Cork and other counties. "We carried him at last" was former team-mate Paddy Barry's remark, in reference to Ring often saving the Cork hurlers from almost certain defeat.
Ring's graveside oration in Cloyne was delivered by a former team-mate and the then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch. Lynch finished by claiming that:
"As long as young men will match their hurling skills against each other on Ireland's green fields, as long as young boys swing their camáns for the sheer thrill of the feel and the tingle in their fingers of the impact of ash on leather, as long as hurling is played the story of Christy Ring will be told. And that will be forever."
It was also related that Professor Seán Ó Tuama heard an old Cork lady say at his funeral. "Tis a sin to bury that man"
Tributes
- A film about Ring's life was produced by Gael-Linn in 1964 and Val Dorgan wrote his biography in 1981, both works entitled "Christy Ring".
- He has also been commemorated by a life-size statue in his native village of Cloyne, and the "Christy Ring Bridge" over the River LeeRiver Lee (Ireland)The Lee is a river in Ireland. It rises in the Shehy Mountains on the western border of County Cork and flows eastwards through Cork City, where it splits in two for a short distance, creating an island on which Cork's city centre is built, and empties into the Celtic Sea at Cork Harbour on the...
in 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...
remembers his achievements. One of Cork city’s principal GAA stadia, Páirc Uí RinnPáirc Uí RinnPáirc Uí Rinn is a stadium in Cork owned by the Gaelic Athletic Association . It was formerly Flower Lodge, a soccer ground home to several Cork teams in the 20th century, named after a Big House on whose grounds it was built.-Flower Lodge:...
(Ring Park in English), is named in his honour.
- In 2005 the GAA commemorated Ring by creating the Christy Ring CupChristy Ring CupThe Christy Ring Cup is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 2005 for middle-ranking hurling teams in Ireland....
, a hurlingHurlingHurling 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...
award for the tier 2 winning team. The inaugural Christy Ring Cup final was played on Sunday, August 14, 2005 between DownDown GAAThe Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
and WestmeathWestmeath GAAThe Westmeath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Westmeath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Westmeath...
. The score was Westmeath 1-23, Down 2-18.
- In 2006 a life-sized statue of him was revealed outside Cork airport's new terminal commemorating his achievements. The statue is of him swinging a hurley outside the arrivals wing at the airport.
Quotes
- 'I always liked to do the impossible.'
- 'Let no one say the best hurlers belong to the past, they're with us now and better yet to come.'
- 'Small cut, big bandage. Big cut, no bandage.'
Cork
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe 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....
:- Winner (8): 1941All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1941The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1941 was the 55th series of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition...
, 1942All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1942The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1942 was the 56th series of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition...
, 1943All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1943The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1943 was the 57th edition of Ireland’s premier hurling knockout competition. The championship ran from May to September of that year, culminating with the All-Ireland final, held at Croke Park, Dublin on 5 September. The match was contested by Cork...
, 1944All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1944-Scoring:*Widest winning margin: 30 points**Dublin 10-7 : 1-4 Offaly *Most goals in a match: 11**Dublin 10-7 : 1-4 Offaly **Antrim 5-7 : 6-4 Monaghan *Most points in a match: 21...
, 1946All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1946The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1946 was the 60th series of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Cork won the championship, beating Kilkeny 7-5 to 3-8 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin....
, 1952All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1952The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1952 was the 66th edition of Ireland’s premier hurling knockout competition. The championship ran from May to September of that year, culminating with the All-Ireland final, held at Croke Park, Dublin on 7 September. The match was contested by Cork...
, 1953All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1953-Miscellaneous:* Jimmy Smyth of Clare scored a Munster championship record 6-4 against Limerick in the first round of the Munster Championship.-Sources:* Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists ....
, 1954All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1954-Miscellaneous:* Meath qualified for the Leinster semi-finals for the first time.* Antrim take part in the All-Ireland semi-finals for the first time since 1949. It was their last game at this stage of the championship until 1984.... - Runner-up (2): 1947All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1947The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1947 was the 61st series of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition...
, 1956All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1956The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship of 1956 was the 70th staging of Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Wexford won the championship, beating Cork 2-14 to 2-8 in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.-Format:...
- Winner (8): 1941
- Munster Senior Hurling ChampionshipMunster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe 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....
:- Winner (9): 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956
- Runner-up (3): 1940, 1941, 1948, 1950, 1957 (sub), 1959, 1960, 1961
- National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling LeagueThe 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...
:- Winner (3): 1939-1940, 1940–1941, 1952–1953
- Runner-up (1): 1948-1949
See also
Further reading
- Tim Horgan, 2010, 'Cork's Hurling Story', Collins Press