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Tag Archives: Fitzgibbon Cup


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Death of Michael G. O’Brien, Catholic Priest & Hurling Manager

Michael G. O’Brien, Irish Roman Catholic priest and also noted hurling coach and manager, dies at Dromahane, County Cork, on November 14, 2014, following a long illness.

O’Brien is born in the parish of Innishannon/Knockavilla, County Cork. He enters St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and is ordained for the Diocese of Cork and Ross in the seminary chapel on June 22, 1958. He then ministers in the Irish-emigrant areas of London until 1961, when he returns to his home diocese and a curacy in the parish of Blackrock, Cork, where he helps to rebuild St. Michael’s Church which had burned to the ground.

For twelve years, from 1964 to 1976, O’Brien teaches at St. Finbarr’s Seminary, Farranferris, where he is also the hurling trainer for the school team. He is “at the helm as Farranferris wins Dr. Harty Cups in 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974, adding All-Irelands in 1972 and 1974.”

A twelve-year stint as chaplain at the Naval Base of Haulbowline follows before O’Brien returns to parish ministry, again in Blackrock. In 1985, he starts a lengthy stay in Carrigaline where he serves as curate, administrator and finally parish priest of Carrigaline, before retiring from active ministry in 2003.

O’Brien serves as the coach of the Cork GAA senior hurling team on several occasions, guiding the team to All-Ireland titles in 1984 and 1990. At colleges’ level he also manages UCC GAA (associated with University College Cork) to Fitzgibbon Cup titles, and later manages Blackrock GAA. He also helps coaching Coláiste Chríost Rí.

O’Brien is later a resident in Nazareth House in Dromahane, County Cork. He dies there on November 14, 2014, following a long illness.

O’Brien is not to be confused with Canon Michael O’Brien of the neighbouring Roman Catholic Diocese of Cloyne.


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Birth of Tipperary Hurler Nicky English

Nicholas J. “Nicky” English, Irish hurler who plays as a full-forward for the Tipperary senior team, is born on October 20, 1962, in the village of Cullen, County Tipperary.

English first plays competitive Gaelic games during his schooling at The Abbey School in Tipperary. He arrives on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first links up with the Tipperary minor teams as a dual player, before later joining the under-21 sides. He makes his senior debut during the 1982 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. English goes on to play a key part for almost fifteen years, and wins two All-Ireland medals, five Munster medals and two National Hurling League medals. He is an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team at various times throughout his career, English wins two Railway Cup medals. At club level he wins a set of intermediate and junior championship medals with Lattin-Cullen. He also wins a remarkable five successive Fitzgibbon Cup medals with University College Cork.

English’s career tally of 20 goals and 117 points marks him out as Tipperary’s third highest championship scorer of all-time. Throughout his career he makes 35 championship appearances. He announces his retirement from inter-county hurling following the conclusion of the 1996 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

In retirement from playing English becomes involved in team management and coaching. As manager of the Tipperary senior team between 1998 and 2002, he steers the team to All-Ireland, Munster and National League honours. He also takes charge of the University College Dublin team for the Fitzgibbon Cup.

As a hurling analyst in the media, English writes a weekly column in The Irish Times, while he also works as a co-commentator with TV3 and RTÉ Radio 1 during their championship coverage. In May 2014 it is announced that English would be an analyst and co-commentator for Sky Sports new Gaelic games coverage.

English is widely regarded as one of Tipperary’s greatest ever players. During his playing days he wins six All-Star awards as well as the Texaco Hurler of the Year award in 1989. He is repeatedly voted onto teams made up of the sport’s greats, including at left corner-forward and right corner-forward on the respective Tipperary and Fitzgibbon Cup Hurling Teams of the Century. In 2009 he is chosen on a special Munster team of the quarter century, while he is also included as one of the 125 greatest hurlers of all-time.