Pat Fox
Encyclopedia
Pat Fox is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Éire Óg] Anacarty
and with the Tipperary
senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.
with his local parish club Éire Óg
and he enjoyed some success with the club.
minor hurling team in the late 1970s. He had little success in this grade as Cork dominated the Munster Championship. Fox later joined the Tipp under-21 team, however, he missed the teams Munster final victory in 1979. In spite of this he later collected an All-Ireland
as Tipp defeated Galway
. Fox won his first Munster under-21 medal in 1980 and, once again, this was subsequently converted into a second All-Ireland medal. In 1981 he added a second Munster under-21 medal to his collection before claiming a third consecutive All-Ireland under-21 medal.
Fox subsequently joined the Tipperary senior hurling panel, however, the early 1980s was not a successful period for the team. In 1987, however, he won his first senior Munster
title following a classic Munster final replay against Cork. His side were subsequently defeated by Galway
in the All-Ireland semi-final. Fox won a National Hurling League
medal and a second Munster medal in 1988, however, Tipp were once again beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland final. 1989 saw Fox add a third Munster medal to his collection. Tipp later defeated Antrim
in the championship decider on a score line of 4-24 to 3-9 and Fox won his first senior All-Ireland
title. Tipp lost their Munster crown to Cork in 1990, however, they regained it in 1991 and Fox collected a fourth provincial title. He later won a second All-Ireland medal following a defeat of Kilkenny
in the final. Fox’s performance in the entire championship earned him the Hurler of the Year accolade. Tipp lost their provincial crown again in 1992, however, the team bounced back in 1993 and Fox won a fifth Munster title. His last appearance in a Tipp senior jersey was as a substitute in the 1996 Munster Hurling Final replay.
's famous delivery during a particularly exciting hurling encounter:
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 Éire Óg] Anacarty
Éire Óg GAA
Éire Óg GAA may refer to:*Éire Óg Anacarty GAA*Éire Óg Greystones GAA*Nenagh Éire Óg GAA*Éire Óg GAA...
and with the 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...
senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.
Club
Fox 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 parish club Éire Óg
Éire Óg GAA
Éire Óg GAA may refer to:*Éire Óg Anacarty GAA*Éire Óg Greystones GAA*Nenagh Éire Óg GAA*Éire Óg GAA...
and he enjoyed some success with the club.
Inter-county
Fox first came to prominence as a member of the 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...
minor hurling team in the late 1970s. He had little success in this grade as Cork dominated the Munster Championship. Fox later joined the Tipp under-21 team, however, he missed the teams Munster final victory in 1979. In spite of this 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...
as Tipp defeated 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,...
. Fox won his first Munster under-21 medal in 1980 and, once again, this was subsequently converted into a second All-Ireland medal. In 1981 he added a second Munster under-21 medal to his collection before claiming a third consecutive All-Ireland under-21 medal.
Fox subsequently joined the Tipperary senior hurling panel, however, the early 1980s was not a successful period for the team. In 1987, however, 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 following a classic Munster final replay against Cork. His side were subsequently 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. Fox won 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 and a second Munster medal in 1988, however, Tipp were once again beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland final. 1989 saw Fox add a third Munster medal to his collection. Tipp later defeated 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...
in the championship decider on a score line of 4-24 to 3-9 and Fox won 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. Tipp lost their Munster crown to Cork in 1990, however, they regained it in 1991 and Fox collected a fourth provincial title. He later won a second All-Ireland medal 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...
in the final. Fox’s performance in the entire championship earned him the Hurler of the Year accolade. Tipp lost their provincial crown again in 1992, however, the team bounced back in 1993 and Fox won a fifth Munster title. His last appearance in a Tipp senior jersey was as a substitute in the 1996 Munster Hurling Final replay.
Famous quote
Fox became wellknown to the public at large due to radio sports commentator Micheál Ó MuircheartaighMícheál Ó Muircheartaigh
Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh is an Irish Gaelic games commentator for the Irish national radio and television, RTÉ. In a career that has spanned six decades he has come to be regarded as the "voice of Gaelic games." His prolific career has earned him a place in Guinness World Records.-Early...
's famous delivery during a particularly exciting hurling encounter:
- "Pat Fox has it on his hurl and is motoring well now ... but here comes Joe Rabbitte hot on his tail ...... I've seen it all now, a Rabbitte chasing a Fox around Croke ParkCroke ParkCroke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
!"