Dónal Óg Cusack (born 16 March 1977) is an Irish hurling coach and hurler who plays for Cork Premier Championship club Cloyne. He played for the Cork senior hurling team for 16 seasons, during which time he usually lined out as a goalkeeper. Noted for his innovative and sometimes controversial approach as a player and his championing of the cause of player welfare, Cusack is also regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation.[1]

Dónal Óg Cusack
Personal information
Irish name Dónall Óg Ó Cíosóg
Sport Hurling
Position Goalkeeper
Born (1977-03-16) 16 March 1977 (age 47)
Cloyne, County Cork, Ireland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Nickname Ógie
Occupation Automations manager
Club(s)*
Years Club Apps (scores)
1994–2021
1994–1997; 2013
Cloyne
Imokilly
52 (0–13)
17 (0–00)
Club titles
Cork titles 1
Inter-county(ies)**
Years County Apps (scores)
1996–2013
Cork 58 (0–00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 5
All-Irelands 3
NHL 1
All Stars 2
* club appearances and scores correct as of 11:57, 22 April 2019.
**Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 13:50, 19 April 2019.

Cusack began his hurling career at club level with Cloyne. He broke onto the club's top adult team as a 17-year-old in 1994 and experienced his greatest success two years later when the club won the 1997 Cork Intermediate Championship title and promotion. Cusack has made 85 championship appearances in three different grades of hurling for the club, while his early prowess also saw him selected for the Imokilly divisional team with whom he won the 1997 Cork Senior Championship.

At inter-county level, Cusack was part of the successful Cork minor team that won the All-Ireland Championship in 1995 before later winning back-to-back All-Ireland Championships with the under-21 team in 1997 and 1998. He also won an All-Ireland Championships with the intermediate team in 1998. He joined the Cork senior team in 1996. Cusack eventually succeeded Ger Cunningham as first-choice goalkeeper and made a combined total of 137 National League and Championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in 2012. During that time he was part of three All-Ireland Championship-winning teams – in 1999, 2004 and 2005. Cusack also secured five Munster Championship medals and a National Hurling League medal. He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 6 March 2013.

Cusack won his first All-Star in 1999, before claiming a further accolade in 2006. He is currently the player with the third-highest number of championship appearances for Cork, second only to Christy Ring and Ben O'Connor with 58 appearances. At inter-provincial level, Cusack was selected to play in six championship campaigns with Munster, with Railway Cup medals being won in 2000 and 2005.

After being involved in team management and coaching in all grades at club level with Cloyne, Cusack won the National League title in 2016 as coach of the Clare senior hurling team.

He has been appointed manager of the Cork minor hurling team for the 2020 season.

Cusack became the first openly gay elite Irish sportsman in 2009, entering into a relationship with Galway based recruitment consultant Dean Flynn. [2][3]

Playing career

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Midleton CBS

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Cusack played in all grades of hurling during his secondary schooling at Midleton CBS Secondary School before joining the college's senior hurling side. On 27 March 1994, he lined out in goal when Midleton CBS suffered a 1–09 to 0–04 defeat by the North Monastery in the Harty Cup final.[4]

While the 1994 Harty Cup final was supposed to be his last game, Cusack was one of 11 Midleton CBS players who repeated the Leaving Cert in an effort to claim the title. He later said: "In our world, where hurling was religion and everything else was distraction, the fact that we were making an all-out charge on the Harty Cup, Munster’s famous schools' hurling championship, was far more important than the requirements of the education system or the whims of future employers."[5] On 26 March 1995, Cusack lined out in goal in a second successive Harty Cup final as well as captaining the team.[6] He ended the game with a winners' medal following the 3–18 to 3–05 defeat of Lismore CBS.[7] On 30 April, Cusack captained Midleton CBS to a 5–10 to 3-05 All-Ireland final defeat by St. Raphael's College from Loughrea.[8]

Cloyne

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Cusack joined the Cloyne club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. He joined the club's top adult team as a 17-year-old during the 1994 Cork Intermediate Championship and made his first appearance at left corner-forward on 10 July in a 1–12 to 0–10 defeat of Bishopstown.

During the 1996 Cork Intermediate Championship Cusack was switched from playing as a forward to goalkeeper. On 20 October, he lined out in goal when Cloyne drew with Newtownshandrum in the final. He lined out in the same position a fortnight later when Cloyne were defeated in the replay by 0–12 to 0-09.[9]

Cusack lined out as goalkeeper in his second successive final on 2 November 1997. A 1–12 to 1–07 defeat of Delanys secured the title, promotion to the top flight and a Cork Intermediate Championship medal for Cusack.[10]

On 31 October 2004, Cusack was captain and coach of the team when Cloyne qualified to face Na Piarsaigh in the final of the Cork Senior Championship. He made a number of important saves and kept a clean sheet, however, Cloyne were defeated by 0–17 to 0-10.[11]

Cloyne qualified for a second successive Cork Senior Championship final with Newtownshandrum providing the opposition on 16 October 2005. Cusack was captain of the team for a second successive year, however, Cloyne suffered a 0–15 to 0–09 defeat.[12]

Cusack continued as coach of the team but handed the captaincy to Diarmuid O'Sullivan for the 2006 championship. On 22 October, he lined out in goal when Cloyne were defeated by 2–19 to 3-14 by Erin's Own in the final.[13]

Imokilly

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Cusack had just turned 18 when he was first selected for the Imokilly divisional team. He made his first appearance for the team on 10 June 1995 in a 1–15 to 1–13 defeat of Glen Rovers.

Cusack was again a regular for the Imokilly team throughout the 1996 championship and was in goal when Imokilly drew with Avondhu in the final on 22 September 1996. A fortnight later he was selected in the same position for the replay which Imokilly lost by 0–13 to 1-08.[14]

Cusack was again selected in goal the following year. On 5 October 1997, he won a Cork Senior Championship medal after a 1–18 to 2–12 defeat of Sarsfields in the final.[15]

After a 15-year period of being ineligible for selection, Cusack was recalled to the team in 2013 and was also appointed captain. His return ended with a 2–20 to 3–10 defeat by University College Cork on 8 June 2013.[16]

Cork

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Minor and under-21

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Cusack first played for Cork when he was selected for the minor team during the 1994 Munster Championship. On 10 July he won a Munster Championship medal as a non-playing substitute following Cork's 2–15 to 0–09 defeat of Waterford in the final. Cusack was also named amongst the substitutes when Cork qualified to meet Galway in the All-Ireland final. He remained on the bench for the 2–10 to 1–11 defeat.

Cusack was eligible for the minor grade again in 1995 and joined the starting fifteen as the first-choice goalkeeper. He made his first appearance for the team on 28 June in a 2–14 to 1–03 defeat of Limerick. Cusack won a second Munster Championship medal - his first on the field of play - on 9 July following a 3–18 to 0–10 defeat of Waterford. On 3 September he lined out in goal in the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny and collected a winners' medal following the 2–10 to 1–02 victory.[17]

On 17 July 1996, Cusack made his first appearance for the Cork under-21 team in a 2–18 to 1–12 defeat of Tipperary. He won a Munster Championship medal on 24 July following a 3–16 to 2–07 defeat of Clare in the final.

Cusack was retained as first-choice goalkeeper the following season and won a second consecutive Munster Championship medal on 30 July following a 1–11 to 0–13 defeat of Tipperary in the final.[18] On 21 October, he won an All-Ireland medal following Cork's 3–11 to 0–13 defeat of Galway in the final.

Cork dominated the championship again in 1998, with Cusack winning a third successive Munster Championship medal on 23 August following a 3–18 to 1–10 defeat of Tipperary in the final. He won a second successive All-Ireland medal on 20 September after lining out in goal in Cork's 2–15 to 2–10 defeat of Galway in the final. It was Cusack's last game in the grade.

Junior and intermediate

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Cusack was called up to the Cork junior panel for the 1996 Munster Championship. He won a Munster Championship medal as a non-playing substitute on 25 June following Cork's 2–15 to 2–10 defeat of Tipperary in the final.

Cusack progressed onto the Cork intermediate team in 1997 and succeeded Fergal O'Mahony as first-choice goalkeeper when he made his first appearance in a 1–19 to 1–04 defeat of Kerry on 25 June. He won a Munster Championship medal on 23 July after lining out in goal for Cork's 1–15 to 1–12 defeat of Limerick in the final. Cusack later won an All-Ireland medal on 11 October following a 2–11 to 1–12 defeat of Galway in the final.

Senior

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Cusack was just out of the minor grade when he was drafted onto the Cork senior team.[19] He made his first appearance for the team on 12 October 1996 in a 1–11 to 2–07 defeat of Tipperary in the pre-season Waterford Crystal Cup. Cusack made his first appearance competitive appearance on 27 April in a 2–11 to 1-07 National League defeat of Meath. He was also included on Cork's panel for the 1997 Munster Championship as deputy goalkeeper to Ger Cunningham.

Cusack made two appearances for Cork during the 1998 National League. On 17 May, he won a National Hurling League medal as a non-playing substitute following a 2–14 to 0–13 defeat of Waterford in the final. Cusack was again deputy goalkeeper to Ger Cunningham for the 1998 Munster Championship.

Following the announcement of Ger Cunningham's retirement from inter-county hurling on 14 January 1999, Cusack was promoted to Cork's first-choice goalkeeper.[20] He lined out in all six of Cork's National League games that season before making his championship debut on 13 June in a 0–24 to 1–15 defeat of Waterford. On 4 July, he won a Munster Championship medal after a 1–15 to 0–14 defeat of reigning champions Clare in the final. On 11 September, Cusack was in goal for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. He kept a clean sheet and claimed a winners' medal following the 0–13 to 0–12 victory.[21] Cusack was later honoured with his first All-Star award.[22]

On 3 July 2000, Cusack lined out in his second Munster final. He was described as "lucky" not to have been red-carded after upending Tipperary's Paul Shelly, however, he also saved a penalty from John Leahy in the 0–23 to 3–12 defeat of Tipperary.[23]

Cork qualified for the 2002 National League final on 5 May, with Cusack lining out in goal. In the week leading up to the game there had been speculation that Gaelic Players Association members from both teams would stage a protest during the parade before the match with their socks down and jerseys out - offences punishable by fine under the GAA's match regulations.[24] The Cork players went ahead with their pre-match protest before losing the final by 2–15 to 2-14.[25] Later that year, Cusack gave an interview on 96FM in which he stated that young players were warned off joining the GPA. He alleged: "Younger players got calls informing them that joining the GPA would jeopardise their chances of playing with the senior team. Publicly, the county board stated they had no problem with us joining the GPA but that was not the case, and behind the scenes other forces were at work."[26][27] On 29 November, Cusack and six of his teammates from the Cork hurling panel held a press conference at the Imperial Hotel to announce that all 30 members of the panel were withdrawing their services from the county in the hope of better treatment from the county board.[28] He remained a high-profile representative at the negotiations over the following two weeks before was reached on 13 December.[29]

Cusack lined out in his third Munster final on 29 June 2003. In spite of conceding three goals Cork won the game by 3–16 to 3–12 with Cusack winning his third Munster Championship medal.[30] On 14 September, he was in goal for Cork's 1–14 to 1-11 All-Ireland final defeat by Kilkenny.[31]

On 27 June 2004, Cusack lost his first Munster final when Waterford defeated Cork by 3–16 to 1-21.[32] In spite of this defeat, Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. A 0–17 to 0–09 victory gave Cusack a second All-Ireland medal.[33] He ended the season by being nominated for an All-Star, but lost out to Wexford's Damien Fitzhenry for the goalkeeping berth.[34]

Cusack won his fourth Munster Championship medal on 26 June 2005 after a 1–21 to 1–16 defeat of Tipperary in the final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.[35] On 11 September 2005, Cork faced Galway in the All-Ireland final for the first time since 1990. Cork won the game by 1–21 to 1-16, with Cusack collecting a third All-Ireland medal.[36] He ended the season by being nominated for All-Star.[37]

On 25 June 2006, Cusack won his fifth Munster Championship medal after a 2–14 to 1–14 defeat of Tipperary for the second consecutive year.[38] Cork subsequently qualified for a fourth successive All-Ireland final, with Kilkenny providing the opposition for the third time. Cork lost the game by 1–16 to 1-13.[39] Cusack ended the season by winning a second All-Star.[40]

On 27 May 2007, Cusack was at the centre of what came to be known as "Semplegate". Prior to the start of the Munster Championship meeting between Cork and Clare at Semple Stadium, a number of players from both teams clashed as they emerged from the tunnel at the same time with the fighting spilling onto the pitch in front of a number of children who had formed a guard of honour.[41] At a subsequent meeting of the GAA's Central Hearings Committee, Cork players Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Cusack were served with a month-long suspension for their participation in the melee.[42] The three players were later restored to the starting fifteen, however, Cork's championship campaign ended with an All-Ireland quarter-final replay defeat by Waterford.[43] Cusack ended the season by receiving a fifth All-Star nomination.[44]

For the second time in six years, the Cork senior hurling team withdrew their services in sympathy with the Cork senior football team who had also refused to play due to the appointment of Teddy Holland as team manager and the changing of the rules regarding the selection committee.[45] Because of this, Cusack and his teammates failed to fulfil their opening two fixtures in the 2008 National League. On 19 July, Cusack was red carded for the only time in his inter-county career after dragging Galway's Alan Kerins to the ground in an All-Ireland Qualifier.[46]

On 20 October 2008, Cusack and John Gardiner, as player representatives, met with team manager Gerald McCarthy to inform him that the majority of players on the team had lost confidence in him.[47] McCarthy was reappointed as manager a day later, however, Cusack and Gardiner, as members of the seven-man selection committee, did not vote on the nomination of McCarthy due to what they perceived as serious problems with the appointment process.[48] It was later revealed that only two of the 32-man Cork panel wanted to play under McCarthy.[49] The players on the 2008 panel, with Cusack taking a more low-key role than in previous strikes, refused to play or train under McCarthy.[50] Cork began the 2009 National League campaign with a new squad, none of whom had been able to make the previous year's panel. After months of pressure McCarthy eventually stepped down as manager with Cusack and the rest of the 2008 panel returning to play.[51]

On 2 May 2010, Cusack lined out in goal in Cork's 2–22 to 1–17 defeat by Galway in the National League final.[52] On 11 July, he lined out in his seventh Munster final when he was selected in goal in Cork's 2-15 apiece draw with Waterford.[53] Cork lost the replay a week later by 1–16 to 1-13.[54] Cusack ended the season by being nominated for his sixth All-Star.[55]

On 29 October 2011, Cusack was named captain of the Cork senior team for the upcoming season.[56] His captaincy was short-lived due to a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in a National League game against Tipperary on 22 April 2012.[57]

On 31 January 2013, it was revealed that Cusack had been omitted from the Cork panel for the National League.[58][59] He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 6 March 2013.[60]

Munster

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Cusack was selected for the Munster inter-provincial team for the first time during the 1999 Railway Cup. On 25 November, he was an unused substitute when Munster suffered a 2–13 to 1–15 defeat by Connacht in the final.

Cusack was again included on the Munster panel for the 2000 Railway Cup. On 12 November, he won a Railway Cup medal as a non-playing substitute following Munster's 3–15 to 2–15 defeat of Leinster in the final.

After a one-year absence, Cusack was back on the Munster panel for the 2002 Railway Cup. He was an unused substitute when Munster suffered a 4–15 to 3–17 defeat by Leinster in the final on 3 November.[61]

On 6 November 2005, Cusack was named on the bench when Munster faced Connacht in the 2005 Railway Cup final. He was introduced as a substitute for Davy Fitzgerald and collected a second winners' medal following the 1–21 to 2–14 victory.

After a two-year absence, Cusack was named on the bench when Munster faced Leinster in the Railway Cup final on 1 November 2008. He was introduced as a half-time substitute for Brendan Cummins in the 1–15 to 1–12 defeat.[62]

On 19 February 2012, Cusack played his last game for Munster. He lined out in goal for the 3–14 to 1–16 defeat by Leinster in the Railway Cup semi-final.[63]

Coaching career

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Clare

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On 26 October 2015 it was announced that Cusack had been appointed coach to the Clare senior hurling team.[64] On 1 May 2016, Clare drew 0-22 apiece with Waterford in the National League final.[65] The replay saw Cusack collect his first silverware as coach as Clare defeated Waterford by 1–23 to 2-19.[66]

On 9 July 2017, Clare suffered a 1–25 to 1–20 defeat by Cork in the Munster final.[67] On 25 October, Cusack announced that he was stepping down as coach in controversial circumstances, however, a source revealed that he had planned to end his role with Clare before the controversy.[68]

Cork

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On 1 October 2019, Cusack was ratified as manager of the Cork minor hurling team.[69]

Personal life

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Cusack was born in Cloyne, County Cork in March 1977. The eldest son of Donal and Bonnie Cusack, he is related to eight-time All-Ireland medal-winner Christy Ring. He is also the nephew of former Camogie player of the year, Marie Costine.

On 18 October 2009, ahead of the release of his autobiography, Come What May,[70] Cusack disclosed to the Irish Mail on Sunday that he is gay.[71] In Come What May he writes:

I get more out of men. Always have. I know I am different but just in this way. Whatever you may feel about me or who I am, I've always been at peace with it.

The following was serialised in the Mail on Sunday:

Since I was 13 or 14, I knew I was a bit different. I hate labels though. That's the way I am. I live with it and I am fine with it. People close to me will tell you there were never any tears. There was never agony. I just know this thing. [...] I've had to say this to people I'm close to again and again. This is who I am. This is what I do. I spend a lot of time trying to work things out but once I know something about myself, I know it. I don't agonise. It's logical to me. I thought about this but never had any problems dealing with it.[71]

According to Cusack, discussing his sexual orientation strengthened his bond with his fellow players. He went for a walk with then captain Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, whom Cusack had known since they were boys, and told him "the whole story, stuff that I thought he would have guessed", had "a deep and complex conversation from both sides and we came out of it like brothers."[3]

Since then Cusack has been noted as one of the few "openly gay sporting heroes".[72] Come What May won the William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year for 2009.[73]

Cusack confirmed in October 2017 that he was the sportsman who gave sports journalist Tom Humphries a character reference during his trial after being charged with child molestation. [74]

Media career

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On 12 May 2013, it was announced that Cusack was joining RTÉ's the Sunday Game as a hurling analyst.[75] He remained in that position until 2015 when he stepped down after being appointed coach of the Clare senior hurling team. Cusack returned to RTÉ as an analyst in 2019.[76]

Cusack also writes for the Irish Examiner.[citation needed]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 19 September 2021.
Team Year Cork IHC
Apps Score
Cloyne 1994 2 0-10
1995 2 1-05
1996 5 0-00
1997 4 0-00
Total 13 1-15
Year Cork SHC
Apps Score
1998 2 0-00
1999 1 0-00
2000 5 0-00
2001 2 0-00
2002 3 0-00
2003 5 0-00
2004 5 0-00
2005 5 0-00
2006 5 0-00
2007 2 0-07
2008 4 0-06
2009 3 0-00
2010 4 0-00
2011 6 0-00
2012
Total 52 0-13
Year Cork PIHC
Apps Score
2013 5 0-00
2014 4 0-00
2015 4 0-00
2016
2017 4 0-00
2018 3 0-00
2019 2 0-00
Total 22 0-00
Year Cork SAHC
Apps Score
2020 3 0-00
2021 2 0-00
Total 5 0-00
Career total 92 1-28

Division

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Team Year Cork SHC
Apps Score
Imokilly 1995 4 0-00
1996 6 0-00
1997 4 0-00
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013 3 0-00
Career total 17 0-00

Inter-county

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Team Year National League Munster All-Ireland Total
Division Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score
Cork Minor 1994 0 0-00 0 0-00 0 0-00
1995 2 0-00 2 0-00 4 0-00
Total 2 0-00 2 0-00 4 0-00
Cork U21 1996 2 0-00 1 0-00 3 0-00
1997 3 0-00 2 0-00 5 0-00
1998 3 0-00 2 0-00 5 0-00
Total 8 0-00 5 0-00 13 0-00
Cork Junior 1996 0 0-00 0 0-00 0 0-00
Total 0 0-00 0 0-00 0 0-00
Cork Intermediate 1997 2 0-00 3 0-00 5 0-00
Total 2 0-00 3 0-00 5 0-00
Cork 1997 Division 2 1 0-00 0 0-00 1 0-00
1998 Division 1B 2 0-00 0 0-00 2 0-00
1999 6 0-00 2 0-00 2 0-00 10 0-00
2000 6 0-00 3 0-00 1 0-00 10 0-00
2001 6 0-00 1 0-00 7 0-00
2002 7 0-00 1 0-00 2 0-00 10 0-00
2003 6 0-00 2 0-00 3 0-00 11 0-00
2004 6 0-00 3 0-00 4 0-00 13 0-00
2005 6 0-00 2 0-00 3 0-00 11 0-00
2006 Division 1A 4 0-00 2 0-00 3 0-00 9 0-00
2007 5 0-00 1 0-00 5 0-00 11 0-00
2008 5 0-00 1 0-00 4 0-00 10 0-00
2009 Division 1 4 0-00 1 0-00 2 0-00 7 0-00
2010 5 0-00 4 0-00 2 0-00 11 0-00
2011 4 0-00 1 0-00 3 0-00 8 0-00
2012 Division 1A 6 0-00 6 0-00
Total 79 0-00 24 0-00 34 0-00 137 0-00
Career total 79 0-00 36 0-00 44 0-00 159 0-00

Honours

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As a player

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Midleton CBS
Cloyne
Imokilly
Cork
Munster
Awards

As a coach

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Clare

References

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  1. ^ Keys, Colm (1 February 2013). "Groundbreaking Rebel's exit marks end of an era". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  2. ^ Potts, Sean (28 October 2012). "Details of the Gaelic Players Association AGM after a year of historic changes in GAA: The AGM of the Gaelic Players Association took place this afternoon at the Gibson Hotel, Dublin". Irish Central. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  3. ^ a b "GAA star Donal Og Cusack: Teammates helped me through ordeal of revealing I am gay". Belfast Telegraph. Independent News & Media. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  4. ^ Murphy, Éamonn (22 June 2018). "Mon united... new hurling initiative is a huge boost for the Harty Cup". Evening Echo. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  5. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (14 February 2019). "'I'll tell you straight out, only for the Harty Cup, God knows what would have happened with my career after that'". The 42. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  6. ^ Cusack, Donal Óg (13 May 2014). "Hurling needs Cork and Waterford to be noisy neighbours". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  7. ^ Crowe, Marie (21 November 2010). "Old order under threat in new colleges landscape". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
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  10. ^ "Little club with a big tradition". The Irish Times. 30 October 2004. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  11. ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (1 November 2004). "Piarsaigh storm to Cork title". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Newtown's all-star cast back in business". Irish Independent. 17 October 2005. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  13. ^ "Paradise regained for Erin's Own". Irish Examiner. 23 October 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  14. ^ Moynihan, Michael (13 October 2018). "A sense of history repeating". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
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  17. ^ Neville, Conor (9 September 2015). "Ranking The 5 Minor Hurling Teams Who've Produced The Most Senior All-Ireland Winners". Balls.ie website. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
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  26. ^ Foley, Cliona (22 August 2002). "Mutiny in the county as Cork hurlers slate officials". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  27. ^ Irwin, Damien (21 August 2002). "Cork hurling war of words rages on". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
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  31. ^ O'Sullivan, Jim (15 September 2003). "Kilkenny stand firm under Cork onslaught". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 January 2019.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ Keys, Colm (9 September 2014). "Was final the best game of hurling ever to be played?". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
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  35. ^ "Cork win Munster final". Irish Examiner. 26 June 2005. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  36. ^ O'Sullivan, Jim (12 September 2005). "Confidence and craft carry the day". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  37. ^ "Cork and Galway dominate hurling All Star nominations". Hogan Stand. 14 October 2005. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
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  39. ^ "Cats capture 29th All-Ireland". Hogan Stand. 3 September 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  40. ^ "Kilkenny dominate Hurling All-Star awards". RTÉ Sport. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  41. ^ "Controversies do no favours". Hogan Stand. 29 December 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  42. ^ "CHC suspends Clare & Cork stars". RTÉ Sport. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  43. ^ "'Semplegate' trio return for Cork". Breaking News. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
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  45. ^ "Teddy caught in Rebel crossfire". Irish Independent. 20 January 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
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