Seánie McGrath
Encyclopedia
Seánie McGrath is a retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling with his local clubs Mayfield
and Glen Rovers
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1997 until 2003.
in 1975. He was educated at Scoil Eoin Aspal and Mayfield Community School and from an early age he showed a great interest in the game of hurling
. McGrath attended University College Cork where his hurling skills came to the fore. He won two back-to-back Fitzgibbon Cup
medals with the college in 1997 and 1998.
club on the north side of Cork
city. He enjoyed some success at underage levels, however, he failed to win a senior county championship
title with Glen Rovers.
game against Clare
. In spite of scoring five points that day he still ended up on the losing side. The following year he won a National Hurling League
medal with Cork and in 1999 McGrath won his first Munster title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Cork defeated Kilkenny
with McGrath collecting his first, and only, All-Ireland
medal as a player. He won a second Munster medal in 2000, however, Cork were later defeated by Offaly
in the All-Ireland semi-final. McGrath's performance throughout the whole championship earned him an All-Star
award. The following few years proved difficult for McGrath as Cork's hurling fortunes took a downturn. McGrath failed to secure a regular place on the team, and was only a substitute when Cork won the Munster Championship in 2003. He retired from inter-county hurling following Cork's defeat by Kilkenny
in that year's All-Ireland final.
. He won Railway Cup medals in 1997, 2000 and 2001.
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 with his local clubs 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 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 was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1997 until 2003.
Early life
Seánie McGrath was born 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...
in 1975. He was educated at Scoil Eoin Aspal and Mayfield Community School and from an early age he showed a great interest in the game of 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...
. McGrath attended University College Cork where his hurling skills came to the fore. He won two back-to-back Fitzgibbon Cup
Fitzgibbon Cup
The Fitzgibbon Cup the championship for top division of university hurling in Ireland. It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
medals with the college in 1997 and 1998.
Club
Seánie started his hurling playing with the Mayfield Club where he played until he was 15yrs old. McGrath subsequently moved to the famous 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 on the north side of 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...
city. He enjoyed some success at underage levels, however, he failed to win a senior county 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....
title with Glen Rovers.
Inter-county
McGrath's skill at club level brought him to the attention of the Cork inter-county selectors, and he quickly joined the county's minor hurling team. He had little success at this level, only ending up with a Munster runners-up title. He later played on the Cork under-21 team where he won a Munster medal. Unfortunately All-Ireland success at either minor or under-21 levels eluded him. McGrath made his senior debut in 1997 in a Munster ChampionshipMunster 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....
game against 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....
. In spite of scoring five points that day he still ended up on the losing side. The following year he 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 with Cork and in 1999 McGrath won his first Munster title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Cork defeated 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...
with McGrath collecting his first, and only, 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 as a player. He won a second Munster medal in 2000, however, Cork were later defeated by Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
in the All-Ireland semi-final. McGrath's performance throughout the whole championship earned him an 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. The following few years proved difficult for McGrath as Cork's hurling fortunes took a downturn. McGrath failed to secure a regular place on the team, and was only a substitute when Cork won the Munster Championship in 2003. He retired from inter-county hurling following Cork's defeat by 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 that year's All-Ireland final.
Inter-provincial
McGrath also lined out for Railway Cup duty 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:...
. He won Railway Cup medals in 1997, 2000 and 2001.