Tony O'Brien
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Antóin Ó Briain | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Right corner-back | ||
| Born |
1940 Patrickswell, County Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Died |
12 February 1989 (aged 48) Kilmallock, County Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Occupation | Chemist | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
1957-1979 | Patrickswell | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Limerick titles | 6 | ||
| Colleges(s) | |||
| Years | College | ||
| University College Cork | |||
| College titles | |||
| Fitzgibbon titles | 0 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
1959-1972 | Limerick | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 0 | ||
| All-Irelands | 0 | ||
| NHL | 1 | ||
| All Stars | 0 | ||
Anthony O'Brien (1940 – 12 February 1989) was an Irish hurler. At club level, he played with Patrickswell and at inter-county level with the Limerick senior hurling team.
Playing career
[edit]O'Brien played hurling at all levels during his time as a student at St Munchin's College in Limerick.[1] He was later part of University College Cork's team in the Fitzgibbon Cup. O'Brien first played for the Patrickswell club in the juvenile and underage grades and won a Limerick U16HC title in 1954.[2]
O'Brien was still eligible for the minor grade when he won a Limerick JHC title in 1957. He later added a Limerick JFC medal to his collection, before claiming a second in 1970. By that stage, O'Brien had his first hurling success after winning consecutive Limerick SHC titles in 1965 and 1966.[3][4] He won six Limerick SHC titles in total, with further victories as team captain in 1969 and 1970, as well as 1977 and 1979.
At inter-county level, O'Brien first appeared for Limerick as sub-goalkeeper on the minor team that beat Galway to win the All-Ireland MHC title in 1958.[5] He immediately progressed to the senior team and made his first appearance in a National Hurling League game against Carlow in October 1959.[6] O'Brien captained Limerick to the National League title in 1971.
Performances at inter-county level for Limerick resulted in O'Brien being called up to the Munster inter-provincial team. He won four Railway Cup medals in five seasons between 1966 and 1970.[7]
Coaching career
[edit]In retirement from playing, O'Brien remained active in coaching at all levels with Patrickswell. He was a selector when Patrickswell beat Mount Sion to win the Munster Club SHC title in 1988.[8]
Death
[edit]O'Brien collapsed and died while attending Patrickswell's All-Ireland semi-final defeat by O'Donovan Rossa on 12 February 1989.[9] He was 48.[10]
Honours
[edit]Player
[edit]- Patrickswell
- Limerick Senior Hurling Championship: 1965, 1966, 1969 (c), 1970 (c), 1977, 1979
- Limerick Junior Football Championship: 1964, 1970
- Limerick Junior Hurling Championship: 1957
- Limerick
- National Hurling League: 1970–71 (c)
- All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship: 1958
- Munster Minor Hurling Championship: 1958
- Munster
- Railway Cup: 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970
Management
[edit]- Patrickswell
- Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1988
- Limerick Senior Hurling Championship: [1988 Limerick Senior Hurling Championship|1988]]
References
[edit]- ^ "Limerick minors the "top twenty" in 1958 Gaelic sport". Limerick Leader. 3 January 1959. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ "The 'Well honour late Tony O'Brien". Limerick Leader. 1 July 1995. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (7 July 2007). "'We didn't win enough'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ "Patrickswell GAA Club Victory Dinner". Limerick Post. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ O'Connell, Jerome (4 September 2014). "Limerick's last All-Ireland minor title won in Croke Park - 1958". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ "Limerick open National Hurling League campaign". Limerick Leader. 10 October 1959. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ "Railway Cup hurling". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "McGrath set to be fit for Sion's clash with the 'Well". Irish Examiner. 11 November 2003. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Sudden death of GAA stalwart". Limerick Leader. 13 February 1989. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ "Many tributes to late Mr. Tony O'Brien". Limerick Leader. 18 February 1989. Retrieved 23 March 2017.