Jamesy Kelleher

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Jamesy Kelleher
irish = Séamus Ó Céileachair
fullname = James Kelleher
placeofbirth = Dungourney
countryofbirth = County Cork
dob =
dod =
height = 5'9"
nickname =
county = Cork
province = Munster
club = Dungourney
clposition = Full-back
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Cork
icposition = Full-back
icyears = 1900-1914
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 7
icallireland = 2
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

Jamesy Kelleher (1878-1943) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Dungourney and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1900s and 1910s. Kelleher's inclusion on Cork's Hurling Team of the Centry marks him out as one of his county's greatest-ever players.

Kelleher's status as one of Cork's all-time greats is self-evident. In a senior inter-county career that lasted from 1900 until 1914 he has won two All-Ireland titles and seven Munster titles. In 2000 Kelleher was chosen in the full-back position on Cork's Hurling Team of the Century, truly marking him out as one of the county's greatest.

Biography

Jamesy Kelleher was born in Dungourney just outside Midleton, County Cork in 1878. He was educated at the local national school and, like many of his contemporaries, he earned his livelihood as a farmer. Kelleher remained a non-smoker and a non-drinker throughout his life and was regarded as one of the great players of his era. As well as hurling he also bred and trained many first class horses and won several cross-country trophies. His victory in a steeplechase against many of the leading gentry was widely acclaimed.

Kelleher lived in his native Dungourney until his death in 1943.

Playing career

Club

Kelleher played his club hurling with his local Dungourney club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1902. He added two more county titles to his collection in 1907 and 1909. These are Dungourney's only victories in the county championship.

Inter-county

Kelleher first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with Cork at the turn of the 20th century. He made his debut in 1900, however, Cork were defeated in the early stages of the championship. Kelleher was included in the Cork selection again in 1901. That year he collected his first Munster title as Cork defeated by Limerick by 3-10 to 2-6. Cork later defeated Wexford in the so-called 'home' All-Ireland final before lining out against London in the real championship decider. London provided the opposition on that occasion and the match was desribed as a close affair. Both sides were level for much of the game, however, London scored the winning goal with five minutes left to secure a 1-5 to 0-4 victory.

In 1902 Kelleher was selected to captain the Cork team for the year. He collected a second Munster title that year as Limerick fell for the second year in-a-row by 2-9 to 1-5. The subsequent 'home' All-Ireland final saw Kelleher's side take on Dublin. That game ended in a draw - 1-7 apiece - however, the replay saw victory going to Cork by 2-6 to 0-1. The real All-Ireland final was a replay of the previous year's decider as Cork played London once again. The game was played to mark the official opening of the Cork Athletic Ground and a rout ensued. Cork won the game by 3-13 to 0-0 and Kelleher collected his first All-Ireland medal.

In 1903 Cork continued their winning ways with Kelleher collecting a third Munster title. A 5-16 to 1-1 victory over Waterford tells its own story. A huge defeat of Kilkenny in the 'home' All-Ireland final set up a championshipd ecider with London for the third consecutive year. Once again the game turned into a rout as Cork recorded 3-16 to London's 1-1. Andy 'Dooric' Buckley of Cork was the scoring hero of the championship as Kellher won his second All-Ireland title.

In 1904 Kelleher picked up a fourth Munster title following a 3-10 to 3-4 victory over Tipperary. Cork defeated Antrim in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final before setting up a meeting with Kilkenny in the championship decider. The game was a close affair with neither side breaking away. Kilkenny went on to win the game by 1-9 to 1-8. It was Kilkenny's first All-Ireland title, however, it would not be the last time that K-lkenny defeated Cork by a point to win the All-Ireland.

In 1905 Cork made history by capturing a record fifth Munster title in-a-row. It was a record which stood until it was equalled by Cork teams in 1979 and 1986. The 7-12 to 1-4 victory over Limerick gave Kelleher his fifth Munster title. THe subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on KIlkenny for the second year-in-a-row. Cork won the game by 5-10 to 3-13; however, the game had to be replayed for a number of reasons. Firstly, Cork goalkeeper Daniel McCarthy was a British army reservist and, secondly, Kilkenny’s Matt Gargan had played with Waterford before playing for Kilkenny. The replay produced another high-scoring, however, Kilkenny won the game by 7-7 to 2-9. It was Kelleher's third All-Ireland final defeat in five consecutive appearances.

Cork lost their provincial crown in 1906, however, Kelleher was appointed captain for a second time in 1907. That year he won a sixth Munster title following a hard-fought 1-6 to 1-4 victory over Tipperary. For the third time in four years Kilkenny provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final. In yet another high-scoring encounter between these two sides Kilkenny won by a single point on a scor eline of 3-12 to 4-8. This game became the benchmark by which all subsequent All-Ireland performances were judged.

Cork went into decline following this defeat. It was 1912 before Kelleher captured his seventh and final Munster title with a two goal victory over Tipperary. Once again, Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion in a low-scoring but close game. A score line of 2-1 to 1-3 resulted in a victory for 'the Cats'. This was Kelleher's last major occasion on the hurling field. He retired from inter-county hurling in 1914 after successive defeats in Munster finals.

Teams

References

* Corry, Eoghan, "The GAA Book of Lists" (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).
* Fullam, Brendan, "Captains of the Ash" (Wolfhound Press, 2002).

External links

* [http://munster.gaa.ie/teams/seniorhurling.html Munster final winning teams]
* [http://www.hoganstand.com/Cork/Profile.aspx Cork GAA honours]