Colm Sheehan
Encyclopedia
Colm Sheehan is an Irish
retired sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Éire Óg
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1965 until 1968.
side and enjoyed much success. In 1960 he was barely out of the minor ranks when he captured a Mid-Cork junior championship title following an eight-point drubbing of Ballincollig
. It was the first of three divisional titles in-a-row for Sheehan and Éire Óg as Cloughduv
and Ballincollig were subsequently defeated in the finals of 1961 and 1962. The latter win saw Éire Óg reach the final of the county junior championship
. East Cork champions Carrigtwohill
were the opponents, however, Éire Óg triumphed on a score line of 3-4 to 2-4.
This victory allowed Éire Óg to move into the county intermediate championship
. In their very first year in the new grade Sheehan's side captured the county intermediate league title.
Two years later in 1965 Éire Óg reached the final of the intermediate championship. Cork kingpins Glen Rovers
were the opponents and an exciting hour of hurling developed. At the long whistle Sheehan ended up on the losing side as 'the Glen' recorded a 3-8 to 3-5 victory.
title in that grade following a 4-13 to 1-10 defeat of Galway
. Cork, however, were later defeated by Wexford
in the All-Ireland 'home' final.
Sheehan's performances on the intermediate team brought him to the attention of the Cork senior selectors and he joined the team in 1965. He made his debut against Waterford
in a drawn Munster semi-final. Cork won the replay and met Tipperary
in the provincial decider. That game turned into a rout as Tipp won by 4-11 to 0-5.
In 1966 Cork hurling returned to centre stage. That year Sheehan's side avoided Tipperary, their old tormentors in the provincial championship, and qualified for a Munster showdown with Waterford. An entertaining hour of hurling followed, however, victory went to Cork by 4-9 to 2-9 for the first time in ten years. It was Sheehan's first senior Munster
winners' medal. This victory allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where arch-rivals Kilkenny
provided the opposition. It was the first meeting of these two great sides since 1947 and ‘the Cats’ were installed as the firm favourites. In spite of this a hat-trick of goals by Sheehan gave Cork a merited 3-9 to 1-10 victory over an Eddie Keher
-inspired Kilkenny. It was Sheehan's first All-Ireland
winners' medal.
Cork failed to retain their provincial and All-Ireland titles in 1967 while Tipperary trounced Cork by nine points in the Munster final a year later. Sheehan left the Cork team following this defeat.
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...
retired 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 Éire Óg
Éire Óg GAA (Cork)
Éire Óg is a Gaelic football and hurling based in Ovens, County Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated with Cork GAA county board and the Muskerry divisional board.-History:...
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1965 until 1968.
Club
Sheehan played his club hurling with his local Éire ÓgÉire Óg GAA (Cork)
Éire Óg is a Gaelic football and hurling based in Ovens, County Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated with Cork GAA county board and the Muskerry divisional board.-History:...
side and enjoyed much success. In 1960 he was barely out of the minor ranks when he captured a Mid-Cork junior championship title following an eight-point drubbing 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...
. It was the first of three divisional titles in-a-row for Sheehan and Éire Óg as Cloughduv
Cloughduv GAA
Cloughduv GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association based in the village of Cloughduv in County Cork, Ireland. The club is a member of the Muskerry division of Cork GAA. The club fields hurling team only...
and Ballincollig were subsequently defeated in the finals of 1961 and 1962. The latter win saw Éire Óg reach the final of the 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...
. East Cork champions Carrigtwohill
Carrigtwohill GAA
Carrigtwohill GAA is a Gaelic Football and hurling club based in the parish of Carrigtwohill in Cork, Ireland. The club participates in Cork GAA competitions and in Imokilly board competitions. In 2011 the Senior hurling team won a first county title in 93 years...
were the opponents, however, Éire Óg triumphed on a score line of 3-4 to 2-4.
This victory allowed Éire Óg to move into the county intermediate championship
Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship
Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship is the second-tier hurling competition organized by the Cork Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The winners usually will play in the senior grade the following year for the Cork Senior Hurling Championship. This championship has been played for since 1909...
. In their very first year in the new grade Sheehan's side captured the county intermediate league title.
Two years later in 1965 Éire Óg reached the final of the intermediate championship. Cork kingpins 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:...
were the opponents and an exciting hour of hurling developed. At the long whistle Sheehan ended up on the losing side as 'the Glen' recorded a 3-8 to 3-5 victory.
Inter-county
Sheehan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork intermediate hurling team in 1964. That year he captured a MunsterMunster Intermediate Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Intermediate Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1961 for the strong hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland...
title in that grade following a 4-13 to 1-10 defeat of 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,...
. Cork, however, were later defeated by Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
in the All-Ireland 'home' final.
Sheehan's performances on the intermediate team brought him to the attention of the Cork senior selectors and he joined the team in 1965. He made his debut against 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...
in a drawn Munster semi-final. Cork won the replay and met Tipperary
Tipperary 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...
in the provincial decider. That game turned into a rout as Tipp won by 4-11 to 0-5.
In 1966 Cork hurling returned to centre stage. That year Sheehan's side avoided Tipperary, their old tormentors in the provincial championship, and qualified for a Munster showdown with Waterford. An entertaining hour of hurling followed, however, victory went to Cork by 4-9 to 2-9 for the first time in ten years. It was Sheehan's 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....
winners' medal. This victory allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where arch-rivals 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...
provided the opposition. It was the first meeting of these two great sides since 1947 and ‘the Cats’ were installed as the firm favourites. In spite of this a hat-trick of goals by Sheehan gave Cork a merited 3-9 to 1-10 victory over an 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....
-inspired Kilkenny. It was Sheehan's 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.
Cork failed to retain their provincial and All-Ireland titles in 1967 while Tipperary trounced Cork by nine points in the Munster final a year later. Sheehan left the Cork team following this defeat.