Con Cottrell

Fr. Con Cottrell

Personal information
Sport	Hurling
Position	Midfield
Born	Ballinhassig, County Cork
Club(s)
Years	Club
1940s	Ballinhassig
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
1941-1947	Cork
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	5
All Irelands	4

Fr. Con Cottrell (1917–1982) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Ballinhassig and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1941 until 1947.

Playing career

Club

Cottrell played his club hurling with his local club in Ballinhassig, however, he enjoyed little success. He also played Gaelic football with the Cooley Kickhams club with whom he won a Louth county title.

Inter-county

Cottrell first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork senior team in the early 1940s. He made his debut in 1941, however, that year's hurling championship was severely hampered due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in parts of Munster and Leinster. As a result of this Tipperary and Kilkenny, the two counties that were affected the most, were not allowed to participate. Because of this it was decided that Cork would represent Munster in the All-Ireland final. The game against Dublin turned into a rout thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke and Ted O'Sullivan. At the full-time whistle Cork had won by 5-11 to 0-6.^[1] It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time, however, it did give Ring his first All-Ireland medal at senior level. In the delayed Munster final played in October Tipperary gained their revenge by defeating the All-Ireland champions.

In 1942 Cork were still on form and Cottrell won his first senior Munster title following a defeat of Tipperary. He later missed the All-Ireland final which Cork won by defeating Dublin.^[2]

In 1943 Cottrell captured a second provincial title as Cork recorded a Munster final victory over Waterford. He later lined out for the county in his second senior All-Ireland final. Antrim, having already pulled off two of the biggest shocks in the history of the championship by defeating Galway and Kilkenny, were ‘the Rebels'’ opponents. The game, however, turned into an absolute rout. At half-time Cork led by 3-11 to 0-2, howvever, by full-time they had forged ahead to capture a 5-16 to 0-4 victory.^[2] It was Cottrell's second All-Ireland winners' medal.

In 1944 Cork faced Limerick in the Munster final. The game ended in a 4-13 to 6-7 draw and had to be replayed; however, as full-time approached in that game the possibility of another draw seemed likely. With just minutes remaining Christy Ring caught the sliotar in his own half-back line, made a solo run past a succession of challenges and, from forty yards out, hammered a shot into the Limerick net. Cork went on to win the game giving Cottrell a third Munster winners' title on the field of play. Once again Cork went on to face Dublin in the All-Ireland final and, like the previous two years, the Munstermen had an easy win. Dublin could only manage to score 1-2 compared to Cork's 2-13, resulting in Cork taking the title.^[3] It was Cottrell's third All-Ireland winners' medal.

Cork lost their provincial crown to Tipperary in 1945, however, the team returned in 1946 with Cottrell picking up a fourth Munster winners' medal after another defeat of Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against old rivals Kilkenny for the first time since 1939. Two quick goals just before half-time, one from the stick of Christy Ring, put Cork in the driving seat. Five more goals followed in the second period as Cork were the 7-5 to 3-8 winners.^[3] It was a fourth All-Ireland title in six years for Cottrell.

Cottrell won a fifth and final Munster title following a second consecutive defeat of Limerick in 1947. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year as Cork and Kilkenny did battle again. In what has been described by many as the greatest hurling decider of all-time Mossy O'Riordan and Joe Kelly scored two goals that almost won the game for Cork. Kilkenny, however, fought back with Terry Leahy and Jim Langton leading the charge and eventually won the game by 'the usual point' on a score line of 0-14 to 2-7.^[3] That defeat saw the break-up of the great four-in-a-row team of the 1940s and brought Cottrell's inter-county career to an end.

Inter-provincial

Cottrell also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling championship. He helped his province to a 4-10 to 4-4 victory over Connacht in 1944 to give him a coveted Railway Cup winners' medal. The following year Munster trounced Ulster to give Cottrell a second Railway Cup title.^[4]

Death

Fr. Con Cottrell died on 3 March 1982.

References

1. ^ Corry, Eoghan (2005). The GAA Book of Lists. Hodder Headline Ireland. p. 349. 
2. ^ ^{a b} The GAA Book of Lists p. 349
3. ^ ^{a b c} The GAA Book of Lists p. 350
4. ^ "Munster Railway Cup Hurling Teams". Munster GAA. http://munster.gaa.ie/teams/railwaycuphurling.html. Retrieved 2009-02-15. ^{[dead link]}

Teams

Persondata
Name	Cottrell, Con
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1917
Place of birth	Ballinhassig
Date of death	1982
Place of death