Jimmy Coffey

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Jimmy 'Butler' Coffey
irish = Séamus Ó Cofaigh
fullname = Jimmy Coffey
placeofbirth = Newport
countryofbirth = County Tipperary
dob =
height =
nickname = Butler
county = Tipperary
province = Munster
club = Newport
clposition = Forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Tipperary
icposition = Half-forward
icyears = 1932-1940
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 1
icallireland = 1
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

Jimmy 'Butler' Coffey (born 1909) is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Newport club and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1931 until 1940. Born in Newport, County Tipperary, Coffey holds the distinction of being one of the oldest living senior All-Ireland medal winners (as of May 2007, approaching his 98th birthday). [cite web|url=http://www.tipperarystar.ie/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3552&ArticleID=2853075|title=Enfer Group founder Tipp Person of Year|publisher=www.tipperarystar.ie|accessdate=2008-05-12]

Playing career

Club

Coffey played his club hurling with his local Newport club and enjoyed some success. He won two North Tipperary titles with the club in 1932 and 1935. Coffey later played club hurling with Ahane in County Limerick and won two senior county titles.

Inter-county

Coffey first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary minor team in 1928. He won a Munster title in this grade in 1930 before later collecting an All-Ireland medal as Tipp defeated Kilkenny.

Coffey made his senior debut for Tipp in 1931. It was a lean period for the county's senior hurling team as Limerick dominated the Munster championship throughout the 1930s. Their monopoly was ended in 1937 as Coffey collected his first senior Munster title. Due to a builders strike Croke Park was unavailable so the the subsequent All-Ireland final was played in FitzGerald Stadium in Killarney. Kilkenny provided the opposition, however, the game turned into a rout as Tipp defeated 'the Cats' on a score line of 3-11 to 0-3 giving Coffey a coveted All-Ireland medal. Tipp went into decline following this match again and Coffey retired from inter-county hurling in 1940.

Provincial

Coffey also line dout with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured a Railway Cup title with the province in 1938.

Post-playing career

Following his retirement from hurling in the early 1950s Coffey did not sever his connection with the game. He trained the Cappamore team that brought county titles to the parish in both junior and senior grades. He was also a selector with Mick Mackey on the Limerick team that won the Munster title in 1955.

References