- Gary Kirby
Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling
name = Gary Kirby
irish = Gearóid Ó Ciarba
fullname = Gary Kirby
placeofbirth =Patrickswell
countryofbirth =County Limerick
dob =
dob =
height =
nickname =
county = Limerick
province = Munster
club = Patrickswell
clposition = Midfield
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Limerick
icposition = Midfield
icyears = 1987-1999
icapps(points) = 30 (10-161)
icprovince = 2
icallireland = 0
allstars = 4
clupdate =
icupdate =Gary "Colgate" Kirby (born 1967 in
Patrickswell ,County Limerick ) is a former Irish sportsperson. He playedhurling with his local club Patrickswell and with the Limerick senior inter-county team throughout from 1987 until 1999. Kirby is currently a selector on the Limerick senior hurling team.Playing career
Club
Kirby played his club
hurling with his local Patrickswell club. He enjoyed much success here, winning county titles in 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2000. Kirby also won Munster club titles in 1988 and 1990.Inter-county
Kirby first came to prominence in the mid-1980s as a member of the Limerick minor hurling team. He won a Munster medal at this level in 1984 before subsequently collecting an All-Ireland medal following a victory in a replayed final over Kilkenny. Kirby later joined the Limerick under-21 team and won a Munster title at this level in 1986. He won a second Munster medal in 1987 before adding an All-Ireland medal to his collection later that year.
Kirby made his senior debut for Limerick in a Munster Championship game against Waterford in 1987. Limerick hurling was in the doldrums at the time, however, he won a
National Hurling League medal in 1992. He later played in his first Munster final, however, Cork were victorious on the day. Two years later in 1994 Kirby was captain of the Limerick senior hurling team. That year he captured his first senior Munster title, before later leading his team inCroke Park for the All-Ireland final against Offaly. The game has gone down in history as ‘the five minute final’, as Limerick were leading by five points with five minutes to go when Offaly scored a remarkable 2-4 to win the game.Limerick again contested the Munster final in 1995, however, they were defeated by Clare. In 1996 the team bounced back and Kirby captured a second provincial medal following a defeat of Tipperary in a replay. Limerick later played in the All-Ireland final, however, for the second time in three years Kirby’s side were beaten in the championship decider as Wexford claimed their first All-Ireland title since 1968. Kirby won a second National League medal in 1997, however, there would be no further honours to come his way. He retired from inter-county hurling in 1999.
Kirby’s other honours include four All-Stars in 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1996. He also won three
Railway Cup medals with Munster in 1992, 1995 and 1996.Post-playing career
Kirby is currently a selector on the Limerick senior hurling team.
Teams
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