John Fitzgibbon (hurler)
Encyclopedia
John Fitzgibbon is former Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Glen Rovers
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.
with the Glen Rovers
club on the north side of Cork city. He enjoyed some success here and won a senior county title
in 1989.
following a victory over Wexford
. Three years later in 1988 Fitzgibbon won a Munster title with the under-21 team. Once again he later collected an All-Ireland
title following a defeat of Kilkenny
.
By this stage Fitzgibbon had already joined the Cork senior team. He made his debut in 1986 and collected his first senior Munster
title that year. Unfortunately, Fitzgibbon missed the team’s subsequent All-Ireland final victory over Galway
. Cork lost their provincial crown for the first time in five years in 1987, however, the team returned in 1990 with Fitzgibbon collecting a second Munster title. Cork later qualified for another All-Ireland appearance with Galway. Once again Cork were complete underdogs, however, in a thrilling and high-scoring game Cork defeated the men from the West, giving Fitzgibbon his first All-Ireland
medal on the field of play. His championship performance later earned him his first of two consecutive All-Star
awards. Two years later in 1992 Fitzgibbon won a third Munster title. Cork later faced Kilkenny
in the championship decider, however, victory went to ‘the Cats’ on that occasion. Cork had now lost their last three All-Ireland final meetings with their arch-rivals Kilkenny, something which took the gloss off their wins over Galway. The following year Fitzgibbon added a National Hurling League
medal to his collection. His inter-county hurling career ended shortly afterwards.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played 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 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:...
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.
Club
Fitzgibbon played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with 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 on the north side of Cork city. He enjoyed some success here and won a senior county title
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....
in 1989.
Inter-county
Fitzgibbon first came to prominence as a member of the Cork minor hurling team in the early 1980s. He won a Munster medal at this level in 1985, before later collecting an 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...
following a victory over Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
. Three years later in 1988 Fitzgibbon won a Munster title with the under-21 team. Once again he later collected an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
title following a defeat of 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...
.
By this stage Fitzgibbon had already joined the Cork senior team. He made his debut in 1986 and collected 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 that year. Unfortunately, Fitzgibbon missed the team’s subsequent All-Ireland final victory over 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 lost their provincial crown for the first time in five years in 1987, however, the team returned in 1990 with Fitzgibbon collecting a second Munster title. Cork later qualified for another All-Ireland appearance with Galway. Once again Cork were complete underdogs, however, in a thrilling and high-scoring game Cork defeated the men from the West, giving Fitzgibbon his 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....
medal on the field of play. His championship performance later earned him his first of two consecutive All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
awards. Two years later in 1992 Fitzgibbon won a third Munster title. Cork later faced 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...
in the championship decider, however, victory went to ‘the Cats’ on that occasion. Cork had now lost their last three All-Ireland final meetings with their arch-rivals Kilkenny, something which took the gloss off their wins over Galway. The following year Fitzgibbon added a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
medal to his collection. His inter-county hurling career ended shortly afterwards.