Eoin Larkin
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Eoin Ó Lorcáin | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Left wing-forward | ||
| Born | 17 July 1984 Kilkenny, Ireland |
||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Occupation | Soldier | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| 2002-present | James Stephens | ||
| Club Titles | |||
| Football | Hurling | ||
| Kilkenny titles | 2 | 3 | |
| Leinster titles | 0 | 2 | |
| All-Ireland titles | 0 | 1 | |
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
| 2005-present | Kilkenny | 36 (5-64) [1] | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 7 | ||
| All Irelands | 6 | ||
| NHL | 4 | ||
| All Stars | 2 | ||
| * Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 14:03, 7 May 2012. | |||
Eoin Larkin (born 17 July 1984) is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a left wing-forward for the Kilkenny senior team.[2]
Larkin made his first appearance for the team during the 2005 championship and immediately became a regular member of the starting fifteen. During that time he has won six All-Ireland medals, seven Leinster medals and four National League medals. He has also won two All-Star awards and made a clean sweep of the three major Hurler of the Year awards in 2008.[3][4][5]
At club level Larkin is an All-Ireland medalist with the James Stephens club. In addition to this he has also won two Leinster titles and numerous county championship winners' medals in both hurling and Gaelic football.
Playing career
Club
Larkin plays his club hurling and football with the famous James Stephens club.
He first enjoyed success at underage levels, winning two county under-21 championship medals in 2000 and 2002.
In 2003 Larkin won a county football championship medal following a 2-7 to 0-6 defeat of O'Loughlin Gaels. He played a key role at corner-forward in that game, scoring 1-6 of the James Stephens total.[6]
Larkin added a county hurling championship medal to his collection in 2004 following a 2-16 to 3-12 defeat of Young Irelands.[7] He later collected a Leinster title, although the one-point defeat of UCD was in controversial circumstances.[8] The James Stephens club subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland final with Athenry providing the opposition. Larkin gave an exhibition of scoring in that game and went on to collect a coveted All-Ireland club medal.[9]
James Stephens retained the county championship in 2005, with Larkin winning a second hurling memento following a 1-18 to 2-12 defeat pf Ballyhale Shamrocks.[10] He later picked up a second Leinster club medal following a second consecutive triumph over UCD.[11] James Stephens were subsequently trounced by eventual winners Portumna in the All-Ireland semi-final.
After a six-year gap, Larkin won a third hurling championship in 2011 after a thrilling draw and replay with Ballyhale Shamrocks.[12]
Inter-county
Larkin first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny minor hurling team in 2002. He was a non-playing substitute that year as the team landed both the Leinster and All-Ireland titles.
He later moved on to the county under-21 team with whom he won his first Leinster under-21 title in 2004. He later played a key part as his native-county recorded an All-Ireland final victory over Tipperary.
2005 saw Larkin add a second Leinster under-21 medal to his collection; however, 'the Cats' were later defeated by Galway in the All-Ireland final.
Larkin first tasted success at senior level in 2005. That year he won his first National Hurling League title before later making his championship debut in a Leinster semi-final trouncing of Offaly. Larkin later won his first Leinster title as ‘the Cats’ had a narrow win over reigning provincial champions Wexford. While a third successive All-Ireland showdown with Cork seemed extremely likely, Galway defeated Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final in one of the game's of the decade.
2006 proved to be a very successful year for Larkin and for his team. He began the year by adding a second National League winners' medal to his collection. This victory was followed by Larkin winning his second Leinster title before later lining out in his first All-Ireland final. The game that everyone had predicted would happen in 2005 was now taking place as Cork squared up to Kilkenny for the third time in four years. The Leesiders were aiming for a third All-Ireland victory in-a-row; however, revenge was foremost in the minds of Kilkenny as it was Cork who denied their three-in-a-row bid in 2004. On the day Kilkenny were far too strong for Cork and went on to record a 1-16 to 1-13 victory.[13] It was Larkin's first senior All-Ireland medal.
In 2007 Larkin was a key member of the Kilkenny team once again. After losing the National League final the team moved on undeterred and Larkin collected a third Leinster medal following another facile victory in the provincial decider. After a minor scare against Galway Kilkenny later qualified for the All-Ireland final where, surprisingly, Limerick provided the opposition. Kilkenny got off to a flying start with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin scoring two goals within the first ten minutes. Unfortunately, Shefflin sustained an injury during the game and had to retire at half-time. In spite of losing their captain and star player Kilkenny still went on to win the game by 2-19 to 1-15.[14] It was Larkin's second consecutive All-Ireland medal.
Larkin was a key member of the forwards again in 2008, as Kilkenny launched an all-out attack in an attempt to capture a third All-Ireland title in-a-row. He collected a second Leinster winners' medal after a 5–21 to 0–17 defeat of Wexford in the provincial final, before later lining out in his second All-Ireland decider. Waterford provided the opposition, however, Kilkenny recorded an enormous 3–30 to 1–13 victory. It was a third All-Ireland winners' medal for Larkin.[15] His performances throughout the year were later rewarded with a first All-Star award.[16] Larkin later made a clean sweep of all the Hurler of the Year awards.
In 2009 Larkin won his third National League medal following a thrilling 4-17 to 2-26 defeat of Tipperary. Another provincial title was annexed along the way to a fourth successive All-Ireland final appearance. That game was a repeat of the National League final with Kilkenny taking on Tipperary again. For much of the match it looked as if Tipp would pull off a shock and deny 'the Cats' a record-equaling four-in-a-row. Two quick goals in the space of a minute, one from a penalty by Henry Shefflin, sealed a 2–22 to 0–23 victory. It was the fourth time in-a-row that the famed Liam MacCarthy Cup was presented to a Kilkenny team while Larkin collected his fourth All-Ireland medal. He was later presented with a second All-Star award.[17]
Larkin added a sixth Leinster medal to his collection in 2010 following a 1-19 to 1-12 defeat of new provincial rivals Galway. An unprecedented fifth successive All-Ireland title looked likely, however, Kilkenny faced a number of serious injuries going into that game and failed in their 'drive for five' as Tipp won by 4-17 to 1-18.[18]
In 2011 'the Cats' continued their provincial dominance with Larkin winning a record-breaking seventh consecutive Leinster medal following a defeat of Dublin.[19] Kilkenny later qualified for yet another All-Ireland final. For the third year in succession Larkin's side faced Tipperary, however, on this occasion Kilkenny were slight underdogs going up against the new champions. Kilkenny started quickly and never surrendered the lead in the 2-17 to 1-16 victory.[20] It was Larkin's fifth All-Ireland medal.
Larkin was appointed captain of the Kilkenny team for 2012.[21]
Inter-provincial
Larkin has also had the honour of being picked for the Leinster interprovincial team. He won his first Interprovincial Championship title in 2008 following Leinster's 1-15 to 1-12 defeat of Munster.[22]
In 2009 he captured a second consecutive Inerprovincial Championship after a 3-18 to 1-17 defeat of Connacht in Abu Dhabi.[23]
Honours
Team
- James Stephens
- All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2005
- Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship (2): 2004, 2005
- Kilkenny Senior Club Hurling Championship (3): 2004, 2005, 2011
- Kilkenny Senior Club Football Championship (2): 2003, 2008
- Kilkenny Under-21 Club Hurling Championship (2): 2000, 2002
- Kilkenny
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (5): 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
- Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (7): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- National Hurling League (3): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012 (c)
- Walsh Cup (2): 2007, 2012 (c)
- All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2004
- Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2004, 2005
- Leinster
- Interprovincial Championship (2): 2008, 2009
Individual
- Awards
- GPA Hurler of the Year (1): 2008
- Texaco Hurler of the Year (1): 2008
- All Stars Hurler of the Year (1): 2008
- All Stars (2): 2008, 2009
- GPA Gaelic Team of the Year (2): 2008, 2009
References
- ^ "Eoin Larkin". www.hurlingstats.com. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
- ^ "Player profile: Eoin Larkin". Kilkenny GAA website. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
- ^ "2008 Texaco Sportstars". Irish Independent. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
- ^ "Eoin Larkin and Seán Cavanagh named Opel Gaelic players of the year". www.gaelicplayers.com. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
- ^ "Kilkenny dominate All-Star team". Irish Times. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
- ^ "James Stephens 2003 Senior County Football Champions". James Stephens website. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ Breheny, Martin (1 November 2004). "Stephens hold out against DJ's incredible late tornado". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "No offer of replay from James Stephens". RTÉ Sport. 30 November 2004. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Larkin inspires Village to third hurling title". RTÉ Sport. 17 March 2005. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
- ^ Hogan, Vincent (24 October 2005). "'Village' crowned kings as Shefflin struggles". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Ruth goal seals Village comeback to shock UCD". Irish Independent. 28 November 2005. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Super Stephens find extra gear". Irish Examiner. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Cork 1-13 1-16 Kilkenny". BBC Sport. 3 September 2006. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
- ^ "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 2-19 Limerick 1-15, by Tomás McCarthy". RTÉ Sport. 2007-09-03. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ "Kilkenny 3-30 Waterford 1-13 matchtracker". RTÉ Sport. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
- ^ "Kilkenny dominate All-Star team". Irish Times. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
- ^ "Kilkenny take six All Stars". RTÉ Sport. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "RTÉ Sport: Tipperary 4-17 Kilkenny 1-18". RTÉ Sport. 5 September2010. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
- ^ "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 4-17 Dublin 1-15". RTÉ Sport. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ "Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 1-16". RTÉ Sport. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ Keys, Colm (1 November 2011). "Stephens hero Larkin set to get Cats armband". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Leinster and Munster take Interprovincial honours". Irish Independent. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Leinster win 2009 Interprovincial hurling title". Irish Examiner. 14 March 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dan Shanahan (Waterford) |
Vodafone Hurler of the Year 2008 |
Succeeded by Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) |
| Texaco Hurler of the Year 2008 |
||
| Gaelic Players' Association Hurler of the Year 2008 |
||
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by Brian Hogan |
Kilkenny Senior Hurling Captain 2012 |
Succeeded by Colin Fennelly |
| Achievements | ||
| Preceded by Brian Hogan (Kilkenny) |
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final winning captain 2012 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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