John O'Grady (hurler)

John O'Grady (born 14 January 1931)[1] is an Irish former hurler. At club level he played with Moycarkey–Borris, University College Cork and Blackrock and was also a member of the Tipperary senior hurling team.

John O'Grady
Personal information
Irish name Seán Ó Gráda
Sport Hurling
Position Goalkeeper
Born (1931-01-14) 14 January 1931
Littleton,
County Tipperary, Ireland
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Occupation Secondary school deputy principal
Club(s)
Years Club
 Moycarkey–Borris
University College Cork
Blackrock
Club titles
Tipperary titles 0
Colleges(s)
Years College
1949–1953
 University College Cork
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles 0
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
1958
 Tipperary 5 (0–00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 1
All-Irelands 1
NHL 0

Career

O'Grady first played hurling at club level with Moycarkey–Borris and joined the club's senior team as a 16-year-old. He also lined out with Thurles CBS in the Harty Cup and earned selection on the Munster Colleges team.[2] As a university student in Cork, O'Grady played in the Fitzgibbon Cup with University College Cork and also earned inclusion on the Combined Universities team in 1952 and 1953. After leaving university he played with the Blackrock club in Cork, lining out in the 1954 final defeat by Glen Rovers, before ending his career with Moycarkey–Borris in 1962.

O'Grady first played for Tipperary during a three-year tenure as goalkeeper with the minor team. He won his first All-Ireland MHC medal in 1947 before captaining the team to the title two years later in 1949.[3] O'Grady's progress to the senior team was delayed due to the dominance of Tony Reddin in the position, however he lined out in a tournament game with Cork in 1953.[4] After Reddin's retirement in 1957, O'Grady impressed in a series of club games and inter-county trials and was called up to the team in 1958.[5] Later that year he won a Munster SHC medal before lining out in goal in the 1958 All-Ireland final defeat of Galway. An eyesight issue brought an end to his inter-county career shortly afterwards.

Personal life

Following his graduation from University College Cork, O'Grady worked as a secondary school teacher at Sullivan's Quay CBS. He took a teaching post in Thurles CBS in 1955 and remained there until his retirement as deputy principal in 1992.[6] For over 60 years O'Grady has written a hurling column in the Tipperary Star under the pen name "Cúlbáire".[7]

Honours
Tipperary

References
  1. "Happy birthday". Moycarkey-Borris GAA website. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  2. "Thurles CBS Bicentenial Exhibition Match programme" (PDF). Thurles CBS website. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  3. "Minor hurling". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  4. "The day John O'Grady -aka- 'Cúlbáire' played in goal for Cork". Tipperary Live. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  5. "Nerves of steel, character and skill - the late Tony Reddin had it all". Irish Independent. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  6. "Newsletter 34 – 10th of May 2021". Thurles CBS website. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  7. "Cúlbáire reflects on Congress of 50 years ago when the 'Ban' was removed". Tipperary Live. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
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