Séamus Durack
Encyclopedia
Séamus Durack is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
with the Clare
inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s.
with the Feakle and Éire Óg
clubs in Clare. He won an intermediate county title with Feakle in 1973, before later winning a senior county championship in 1988.
inter-county selectors and he quickly joined the county minor team. He later played with the Clare under-21 side, however, he had little success at either level. Durack subsequently became the number-one choice for goalkeeper
on the Clare senior team. Over the course of the 1970s he would go on to become one of the best custodians in the game. Durack also served as goalkeeper on the Munster
Railway Cup team, winning two inter-provincial titles in 1976 and 1978. While Clare had little success in the Munster Championship
during the 1970s he did compete in two Munster finals which were both lost to Cork. There was some compensation for Durack as he won back-to-back National Hurling League
medals in 1977 and 1978. In both years he won All-Star
awards, becoming the first player from Munster
to win the goalkeeper spot on the team. Three years later in 1981 Durack won a third All-Star award, however, a Munster title eluded him with Clare.
of the Clare
senior hurling team, however, he had little success. He then took the reins of the Newmarket-on-Fergus senior team for two years (2004 and 2005) leading them to the semifinal and final of the Clare Senior championship in successive years.
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 senior 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 the 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....
inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s.
Club
Durack 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 Feakle and 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...
clubs in Clare. He won an intermediate county title with Feakle in 1973, before later winning a senior county championship in 1988.
Inter-county
Durack's skill at club level brought him to the attention of the ClareClare 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....
inter-county selectors and he quickly joined the county minor team. He later played with the Clare under-21 side, however, he had little success at either level. Durack subsequently became the number-one choice for goalkeeper
Goalkeeper
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 the Clare senior team. Over the course of the 1970s he would go on to become one of the best custodians in the game. Durack also served as goalkeeper on the Munster
Munster 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:...
Railway Cup team, winning two inter-provincial titles in 1976 and 1978. While Clare had little success in the Munster Championship
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....
during the 1970s he did compete in two Munster finals which were both lost to Cork. There was some compensation for Durack as he won back-to-back 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...
medals in 1977 and 1978. In both years he won 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, becoming the first player from Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
to win the goalkeeper spot on the team. Three years later in 1981 Durack won a third All-Star award, however, a Munster title eluded him with Clare.
Managerial career
In the early 1990s Durack served as managerManager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
of the 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....
senior hurling team, however, he had little success. He then took the reins of the Newmarket-on-Fergus senior team for two years (2004 and 2005) leading them to the semifinal and final of the Clare Senior championship in successive years.