Éamonn Young
Encyclopedia
Cmdt. Éamonn Young was an Irish
sportsperson. He played Gaelic football
with the Doheny’s, Collins and Army clubs and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1942 util 1953. Young is regarded as Cork’s greatest-ever player.
, County Cork
in 1921 to a family that had a strong association with Gaelic football
. His father, Jack, won an All-Ireland
medal with Cork in 1911 and was a star for his local club team. Young became interested in Gaelic games
at an early age. In 1933 he figured on his father’s school football team which won the first West Cork School Shield competition. Young later joined the Irish Army
, reaching the rank of Commandant
.
team. He won a Munster medal at this level in 1938, and subsequently collected an All-Ireland
. In 1939 the success continued and Young was a dual
medal winner in Munster. He later won a second All-Ireland minor hurling medal in the company of the legendary Christy Ring
. Young graduated onto the Cork junior football team in 1940 and won a Munster medal before joining the county senior team in 1943. He won a senior Munster
title that year, however, Cork were later beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final. Two years later in 1945 Young won a second Munster medal before lining out in Croke Park
for the All-Ireland final. On that day he won his only senior All-Ireland
medal as Cork defeated Cavan
. It was the Leesiders first championship title since 1911. Young won a third provincial title in 1949, however, Cork failed in the All-Ireland semi-final. Three years later in 1952 Young was captain of the Cork senior football team. That year he won a National Football League
medal before collecting a fourth Munster title. Once again, however, Cork failed in the All-Ireland semi-final. Young retired from inter-county football in 1953.
Young also won Railway Cup medals with Munster
in 1941, 1946 and 1949.
Eamonn was an English and history teacher at Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh in Bishopstown, Cork City for many years after he feft the Irish army. He may not have been liked by all of his students but none will forget him. He was definitely a "one off" in every sense.
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 Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with the Doheny’s, Collins and Army clubs and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1942 util 1953. Young is regarded as Cork’s greatest-ever player.
Early life
Éamonn Young was born in DunmanwayDunmanway
Dunmanway is a town in County Cork, in the southwest of Ireland. It is the geographical centre of the region known as West Cork. It is probably best known as the birthplace of Sam Maguire, an Irish Protestant republican, for whom the trophy of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 1921 to a family that had a strong association with Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
. His father, Jack, won an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
medal with Cork in 1911 and was a star for his local club team. Young became interested in Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
at an early age. In 1933 he figured on his father’s school football team which won the first West Cork School Shield competition. Young later joined the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
, reaching the rank of Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
.
Club
Young joined his local club Doheny's just as the club joined the senior ranks in 1939. Four years late rin 1943 he joined the Collin's club and enjoyed much success. Here he won senior county titles in 1949, 1951 and 1953. Young continued playing with Collins’ throughout the 1950s but returned to his native club, Doheny’s, in the 1960s with whom he finished his club career.Inter-county
Young, ironically, first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor 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...
team. He won a Munster medal at this level in 1938, and subsequently collected 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...
. In 1939 the success continued and Young was a dual
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
medal winner in Munster. He later won a second All-Ireland minor hurling medal in the company of the legendary Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
. Young graduated onto the Cork junior football team in 1940 and won a Munster medal before joining the county senior team in 1943. He won a senior Munster
Munster Senior Football Championship
The Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
title that year, however, Cork were later beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final. Two years later in 1945 Young won a second Munster medal before lining out in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
for the All-Ireland final. On that day he won his only senior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
medal as Cork defeated Cavan
Cavan GAA
The Cavan County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Cavan GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Cavan...
. It was the Leesiders first championship title since 1911. Young won a third provincial title in 1949, however, Cork failed in the All-Ireland semi-final. Three years later in 1952 Young was captain of the Cork senior football team. That year he won a National Football League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
medal before collecting a fourth Munster title. Once again, however, Cork failed in the All-Ireland semi-final. Young retired from inter-county football in 1953.
Young also won Railway Cup medals with 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:...
in 1941, 1946 and 1949.
Retirement
In retirement from playing, Young served as a selector on various Cork football teams in the late 1950s. He died on August 3, 2007.Eamonn was an English and history teacher at Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh in Bishopstown, Cork City for many years after he feft the Irish army. He may not have been liked by all of his students but none will forget him. He was definitely a "one off" in every sense.