Jimmy Coogan

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Jimmy Coogan
irish = Séamus Ó Cuagáin
fullname = Jimmy Coogan
placeofbirth = Tullaroan
countryofbirth = County Kilkenny
dob =
height =
nickname =
county = Kilkenny
province = Leinster
club = Tullaroan
clposition = Forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Kilkenny
icposition = Half-forward
icyears = 2000-2004
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 0
icallireland = 2
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

Jimmy Coogan (born 1979) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Tullaroan and is a former member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team.

Early life

Jimmy Coogan was born in Tullaroan, County Kilkenny in 1979. The area is famous for its association with the game of hurling and, naturally, Coogan would later play for both club and county. He was educated locally and later attended St. Kierans College, Kilkenny, a nursery for young hurling talent. He won an All-Ireland Colleges’ medal here in 1996, along with future county stars Henry Shefflin and Michael Kavanagh. Coogan later worked as an accounts administrator with the Campion Insurance Group.

Playing career

Club

Coogan plays his club hurling with the famous Tullaroan club in Kilkenny. He has yet to win a senior county title with the club.

Inter-county

Coogan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny minor hurling team. He won back-to-back Leinster titles at this level in 1997 and 1998, however, an All-Ireland medal eluded him. Coogan later joined the county under-21 team and won both provincial and All-Ireland honours in 1999. He later joined the county senior team, making his championship debut against Dublin in 2000. Coogan, however, found it difficult to nail down a full-time place on the team as he became better known as an impact substitute. In 2001 Coogan smashed his right knee during a club game and completely severed his cruciate ligament. He also suffered damage to the medial ligament and his cartilage was torn so badly that it had to be removed. His thigh bone had also been cracked. The injury had the potential to end his career, however, Coogan fought back and made a miraculous recovery. He returned to inter-county action in time to claim a National Hurling League medal in 2002. He made his championship return in the All-Ireland semi-final and scored a goal and a point against Tipperary to put Kilkenny into the final. Coogan later collected his first senior All-Ireland medal as Kilkenny defeated Clare in the championship decider. After he won a second National League medal in 2003 Coogan played little part in Kilkenny’s championship campaign, however, he did come on as a substitute to claim a second All-Ireland medal following a victory over Cork.

Teams