Martin Coleman
Encyclopedia
Martin Coleman is a retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Ballinhassig
and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1970 until 1979.
with his local Ballinhassig
club and enjoyed some success. He won county medals at junior level
in 1973 and at intermediate level
in 1975 and 1977.
on various Cork hurling teams thrilled supporters. He frequently made full-length saves followed by long puck-outs which regularly set-up scores at the other end of the field. He first came to prominence as a goalkeeper in 1968 when he won a Munster minor medal, however, Cork lost the subsequent All-Ireland final to Wexford
. Coleman won a second Munster minor title in 1969 before later adding an All-Ireland
med al to his collection following a victory over Kilkenny
. In 1970 and 1971 Coleman won back-to-back Munster and All-Ireland
medals at under-21 level.
By this stage Coleman had joined the Cork senior hurling panel. He made his senior championship debut in 1970, coming on as a substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over London
. It would be 1974, however, before he became a semi-regular member of the team, coming on as a substitute against Waterford
in that year’s championship. The following year (1975) Coleman became the number-one choice as Cork goalkeeper. That year he won his first senior Munster
title, however, Cork were later defeated by Galway
in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 1976 he won a second Munster title, a victory which allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final. Coleman faced a nightmare start as Wexford scored two goals in the first eight minutes. Cork quickly settled into the game and defeated the men from the Model County on a score line of 2-21 to 4-11, giving Coleman his first senior All-Ireland
title.
In 1977 Coleman captured a second Munster title and Cork qualified for a second consecutive All-Ireland final. Coleman turned out to be the hero of the game, making two great saves in the last two minutes of the game to clinch a second consecutive All-Ireland title for himself and for Cork. 1978 saw Coleman add a fourth provincial medal to his collection. It was a special year for Cork hurling as the team later defeated Kilkenny in the championship decider, giving Coleman a third All-Ireland medal in-a-row. In 1979 he won a fifth consecutive Munster medal, however, Cork were caught on the hop by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Following this defeat Coleman retired from inter-county hurling at the relatively young age of twenty-nine.
In spite of winning three consecutive All-Ireland medals with Cork he failed to win a single All-Star
award as the 1970s proved to be a golden era for goalkeeping excellence. Noel Skehan
of Kilkenny
and Séamus Durack
of Clare
kept Coleman from claiming a spot on the All-Star selection.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured two Railway Cup medals as goalkeeper of his province in 1976 and 1978.
, is currently a member of the Cork senior hurling panel, following in his father's footsteps as a goalkeeper.
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 Ballinhassig
Ballinhassig GAA
Ballinhassig is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Ballinhassig in County Cork, Republic of Ireland. The club was founded in 1886, and now plays Hurling at Premier Intermediate level, having won the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship in 2005, and the Cork Junior Hurling...
and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1970 until 1979.
Club
Coleman played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local Ballinhassig
Ballinhassig GAA
Ballinhassig is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Ballinhassig in County Cork, Republic of Ireland. The club was founded in 1886, and now plays Hurling at Premier Intermediate level, having won the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship in 2005, and the Cork Junior Hurling...
club and enjoyed some success. He won county medals at junior level
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...
in 1973 and at intermediate level
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 1975 and 1977.
Inter-county
Although small in stature, standing just 5' 7", Coleman’s acrobatics as goalkeeperGoalkeeper
In many team sports which involve scoring goals, a goalkeeper is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by intercepting shots at goal...
on various Cork hurling teams thrilled supporters. He frequently made full-length saves followed by long puck-outs which regularly set-up scores at the other end of the field. He first came to prominence as a goalkeeper in 1968 when he won a Munster minor medal, however, Cork lost the subsequent All-Ireland final to 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...
. Coleman won a second Munster minor title in 1969 before later adding an All-Ireland
All-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...
med al to his collection following a victory over 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 1970 and 1971 Coleman won back-to-back Munster and 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...
medals at under-21 level.
By this stage Coleman had joined the Cork senior hurling panel. He made his senior championship debut in 1970, coming on as a substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over London
London GAA
The London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or London GAA is one of the county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in London...
. It would be 1974, however, before he became a semi-regular member of the team, coming on as a substitute 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 that year’s championship. The following year (1975) Coleman became the number-one choice as Cork goalkeeper. That year he 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, however, Cork were later defeated by 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,...
in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 1976 he won a second Munster title, a victory which allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final. Coleman faced a nightmare start as Wexford scored two goals in the first eight minutes. Cork quickly settled into the game and defeated the men from the Model County on a score line of 2-21 to 4-11, giving Coleman his first senior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
title.
In 1977 Coleman captured a second Munster title and Cork qualified for a second consecutive All-Ireland final. Coleman turned out to be the hero of the game, making two great saves in the last two minutes of the game to clinch a second consecutive All-Ireland title for himself and for Cork. 1978 saw Coleman add a fourth provincial medal to his collection. It was a special year for Cork hurling as the team later defeated Kilkenny in the championship decider, giving Coleman a third All-Ireland medal in-a-row. In 1979 he won a fifth consecutive Munster medal, however, Cork were caught on the hop by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Following this defeat Coleman retired from inter-county hurling at the relatively young age of twenty-nine.
In spite of winning three consecutive All-Ireland medals with Cork he failed to win a single 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...
award as the 1970s proved to be a golden era for goalkeeping excellence. Noel Skehan
Noel Skehan
Noel Skehan is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Bennettsbridge club and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1963 and 1985. Skehan is regarded as one of the greatest hurling goalkeepers of all-time.Skehan's status as one of the all-time greats...
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...
and Séamus Durack
Séamus Durack
Séamus Durack is a former Irish sportsperson. He played senior hurling with the Clare inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s.-Club:Durack played his club hurling with the Feakle and Éire Óg clubs in Clare...
of 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....
kept Coleman from claiming a spot on the All-Star selection.
Provincial
Coleman also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured two Railway Cup medals as goalkeeper of his province in 1976 and 1978.
Post-playing career
In retirement from hurling Coleman remained closely involved in the game. He served as a selector at senior and under-21 levels with Cork from 1990 until 2002 and saw his native-county win several All-Ireland titles during that period. Coleman's son, Martin Coleman, JnrMartin Coleman, Jnr
Martin Coleman, Jnr is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Ballinhassig and made his debut with the Cork senior inter-county team in 2008...
, is currently a member of the Cork senior hurling panel, following in his father's footsteps as a goalkeeper.