- Nicholas O'Shea
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Nicholas O'Shea Personal information Irish name Nioclás Ó Sé Sport Hurling Position Midfield Born Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary Club(s) Years Club 1880s-1890s Kickham's Club Titles Dublin titles 2 Inter-county(ies) Years County 1888-1890 Dublin Inter-county titles Leinster titles 1 All Irelands 1 Nicholas O’Shea (1862–1908) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Kickham’s and was a member of the Dublin inter-county team from 1888 until 1890. O'Shea captained Dublin to their very first All-Ireland title in 1889.
Contents
Biography
Nicholas O'Shea was born in Tullohea, South Lodge just outside Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary in 1862. Born of farming stock, he received a brief education at the local national school before moving to Dublin. After working in the capital city for some time O'Shea accumulated enough money in 1893 to buy a pub in Clonskeagh. As of 2009 the pub is still in existence and is still in the ownership of the O'Shea family.
Nicholas O'Shea died at the young age of forty-six in 1908.[1]
Playing career
Club
After moving to Dublin O'Shea started hurling with the Kickham’s club and enjoyed much success. In 1889 he won a coveted county senior championship title as Kickham's emerged as the top club in the capital. O'Shea added a second county title to his collection in 1890 when Kickham's retained their county champions status.
Inter-county
O'Shea was a key member of the very first Dublin team to represent the county in 1888. That year 'the Metropolitans' reached the final of the very first Leinster Championship with Kilkenny providing the opposition. A low-scoring game developed over the course of the hour, with victory going to 'the Cats' by 0-7 to 0-3.[2]
In 1889 O'Shea was appointed captain of the Dublin senior hurling team. That year his team only had to play one game to be declared provincial champions. After defeating Wexford O'Shea's team were give a walkover by Laois in the Leinster final.[3] Dublin's next game was an All-Ireland final meeting with Clare. All did not go to plan as O'Shea's side trailed by 1-5 to 1-0 at the interval. Heavy rain spoiled the meatch and made the surface very slippery as the Clare men played in their bare feet. Dublin fought back in the second-half with three goals by W.J. Spain. A full-time score of 5-1 to 1-6 gave Dublin the title and gave O'Shea a coveted All-Ireland winners' medal.[4]
O'Shea played with Dublin again in 1890 as his team set out to retain their title. 'The Dubs', however, made an early exit from the provincial championship.
References
- ^ Fullam, Brendan (1009). Lest We Forget: Gems of Gaelic Games and those who made them. The Collins Press. p. 13.
- ^ Donegan, Des (2005). The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games. DBA Publications. p. 26.
- ^ Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games p. 26
- ^ Corry, Eoghan (2005). The GAA Book of Lists. Hodder Headline Ireland. p. 332.
Sporting positions Preceded by
Frank CoughlanDublin Senior Hurling Captain
1889Succeeded by Achievements Preceded by
Jim Stapleton
(Tipperary)All-Ireland Senior Hurling
winning captain
1889Succeeded by
Dan Lane
(Cork)Categories:- 1862 births
- 1908 deaths
- Kickham's hurlers
- Dublin hurlers
- Winners of one All-Ireland medal (hurling)
- People from County Tipperary
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