Donal Hurley

Donal Hurley
Personal information
Sport Gaelic football
Position Left wing-back
Born 1936
Cork, Ireland
Died (aged 85)
Cork, Ireland
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Occupation National school teacher
Club(s)
Years Club
 Erin's Hope
St Finbarr's
Club titles
  Football Hurling
Cork titles 3 1
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
1959–1960
 Cork 3 (0-00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 0
All-Irelands 0
NFL 0

Donal Hurley (1936 – 21 January 2022) was an Irish Gaelic footballer, hurler and coach. At club level played with club sides Lees, Erin's Hope and St Finbarr's, and at inter-county level with the Cork senior football team.

Playing career

Hurley first played Gaelic football for Cork as full-forward on the minor team during the unsuccessful 1954 Munster MFC campaign.[1] A year later, he was part of the St Finbarr's team that won the Cork SHC title after beating Glen Rovers in the final.[2] Hurley added a Cork SFC medal to his collection in 1956, while he also had the distinction of winning a Dublin SFC title with Erin's Hope the same year, as his teacher-training studies in the capital made him eligible to play with the club.[3]

After returning to Cork, Hurley resumed his club career with St Finbarr's in 1957. He won a second Cork SFC title that year, before claiming a third winners' medal as team captain in 1959.[4] By that stage, Hurley had joined the Cork senior football team. He served as team captain in 1960.[5]

Coaching career

In retirement from playing, Hurley became involved in team management and coaching. He was a selector when St Finbarr's beat St Michael's to win the Cork SFC in 1976.[6] He was also a selector when St Finbarr's became All-Ireland Club SFC champions in 1987.[7]

Personal life and death

Hurley spent his entire working life as a teacher at the North Monastery Primary School in Cork.[8] He died on 21 January 2022, at the age of 85.[9] Hurley was posthumously honoured when the cup for the newly created Cork PJFC was named in his honour.[10]

Honours

Player

Erin's Hope
St Finbarr's

Management

St Finbarr's

References

  1. ^ "Cork minor football teams: 1929-1969" (PDF). Cork GAA website. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  2. ^ "The Barrs - a History". St Finbarr's GAA website. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  3. ^ "New trophy is a fitting tribute to a Barrs legend". Echo Live. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Club Titles - Cork". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Cork senior football teams: 1960-1969" (PDF). Cork GAA website. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  6. ^ "St Michael's have a point to prove after previous county final disappointments". Echo Live. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  7. ^ Woods, Mark (10 November 2018). "The Barrs have had some great adventures in the All-Ireland club championships". The Echo. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Remembering lessons learnt as chalk dust settles on teacher's career". Irish Examiner. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  9. ^ "The death has occurred of DONAL HURLEY". RIP website. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  10. ^ Coleman, John (30 October 2023). "Barrs honour Hurley by reclaiming junior title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 November 2023.