Ray Cosgrove

infobox GAA player
name=Ray Cosgrove


placeofbirth=Dublin
countryofbirth=Ireland
nickname=Cossi
sport= Gaelic football
code=Football
county=Dublin
province=Leinster
club=Kilmacud Crokes
clposition=Right Corner Forward
clubs=Kilmacud Crokes
Ballinteer St. Johns
clyears= ?- (present)
unknown
clapps(points)=
clcounty=1
clprovince=1
county=Dublin
counties=Dublin
icyears= 1999-2008
icposition=Right Corner Forward
icapps(points)=
icprovince=4|

Ray "Cossy" Cosgrove is an Irish Gaelic footballer, born in Dublin. He attended St. Benildus College in Kilmacud. He plays his club football for Kilmacud Crokes. He got his first chance for Dublin in the 1999 Leinster final. Unfortunately, having been brought on as a sub, he was substituted himself soon after. He did not get another chance in the Tommy Carr era, but when fellow Crokes man, Tommy Lyons, was appointed Dublin manager in late 2001, naturally he got another chance. Cosgrove retired from inter-county football in May 2008 citing family commitments, lack of playing time and poor recent form as his reasons for retiring. He will be most remembered for his incredible performances in the 2002 scoring an amazing 6-23 in a season which saw Dublin lift their first Leinster title since 1995. [ [http://www.hill16.ie/viewstoryhill16.asp?mainheading=Word+on+The+Hill&id=10034&viewstory=yes HILL 16 ] ]

All-Star Year (2002)

Cosgrove was brought in to the Dublin squad in 2002 and started at full forward in the Leinster quarter-final of 2002 against Wexford, to the surprise of some in the press who felt Cosgrove had blown his chance in 1999. Cosgrove scored 2-3 in that match, while Dublin recorded their first victory over Meath in 7 years and helped Dublin reach the Leinster final to meet Kildare.In that Leinster final, Cosgrove scored the second goal in an amazing 2 minutes for Dublin. The game was turned on its head and Dublin had won their first Leinster football title in 7 years. Dublin got knocked out in the semi-final to Armagh, who went on to win the All-Ireland. In that game Ray missed a free with the last kick of the game what would have leveled the game and forced a replay, the free hit the upright from just over 21 yards out. At club level, Rays performance were at a high level. Although, in 2002 when he won the 2002 Adult FL Division 1 title with Kilmacud Crokes, although he received a red card 12 minutes into the second half. This incident did not affect the score though, as Kilmacud Crokes turned out winners against a ressiliant Ballyboden side.

Cosgrove was rewarded with his performances with a place on the All Star team at full forward.

2003-2006

Cosgrove's form dipped following on from the International rules football of Autumn, 2002. He didn't regain any sort of form until the 2005 Dublin Championship with his club, Kilmacud Crokes. He scored 1-10 in the first round of the Leinster Club Championship against St.Peters Dunboyne in Navan.

Cosgrove has two Leinster Senior Football Championship medals. The first from 2002, and although he did not play for the entire year, he received a medal as a panel member in 2005.

Ray was also part of Kilmacuds 2004 and 2005 winning sides of the Dublin Senior Club Football Championship, a team which went on to claim the Leinster Club Football Championship in 2005. Due to his return to form in the 2005/2006 AIB Provincial Championship he received the award for AIB Leinster player of the year. He won a Leinster Senior football medal with Dublin against Offaly.

Return

Cosgrove made his first Championship start with Dublin for three years on the 25th of June 2006 against Laois in the Leinster Senior Football Championship Semi-final. He scored a total of 1-03 and also received the RTÉ Man Of The Match Award for his performance. His form in the final against Offaly did not reach expectations and although he started brightly against Westmeath, scoring a point, he faded in the second half and he was eventually replaced. Cosgrove made a similarly bright start against Mayo, this time scoring two points.

Retirement

On the 13th May 2008 Ray Cosgrove in an interview with Dublin's Evening Herald decided that due to his family commitments and children he felt that he could no longer continue with Paul Caffrey's Dublin Senior Football Team.

References

See also

*Dublin GAA
*Dublin GAA Honours
*Dublin Senior Club Football Championship