Christy Ryan R.I.P

St Finbarr’s and Cork mourn the death of highly decorated dual star Christy Ryan

Mark Woods (The Echo)

THE death has taken place of Christy Ryan, the former Cork football captain and St Finbarr’s club stalwart. He was 63. Ryan, who was also a Cork hurler, won a national football league medal in 1980, manning the defence from centre-back. He was part of two successful Cork teams in Munster, leading the side on that famous day when Tadhg Murphy’s late goal rocked Kerry in the 1983 final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Four years later Ryan bagged his second Munster senior medal when Cork overcame their great rivals by 0-13 to 1-5 in the decider in Killarney. The St Finbarr’s great was full-forward in 1987 when Cork reached the All-Ireland final to lose to Meath.

Ryan’s exploits with the Barrs came during their golden era, winners of the All-Ireland club titles in both football and hurling. The foundations of those brilliant teams were laid by the all-conquering minor sides of 1976, when the Barrs completed the league and championship double in both codes with Ryan captaining the footballers. Among his vast collection of medals, Ryan pocketed three All-Ireland clubs, when they managed to keep clean sheets in all three finals. The first of those came in the 1979-80 campaign, which yielded an historic title following the 3-9 to 0-8 win over Connacht champions St Grellan’s from Galway. The Barrs retained their crown the following season, on this occasion denying Walterstown from Meath by 1-8 to 0-6 in the decider. And the Togher club were champions again in 1986-87 after defeating Clann na Gael from Roscommon by 0-10 to 0-7 in the final.

CHRISTY RYAN’S PLAYING CAREER

1975

Cork County Champions in Minor Hurling (Captain) and Minor Football Cork Minor Footballer

1976

Cork County Senior Football Champions

Defeated in the semi-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship

1977

Cork County Senior Hurling Champions (scored the Barrs goal in front of 34,151 spectators)

Munster Club Senior Hurling Champions

Defeated in quarter-final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship

Cork County Under 21 Football Champions (Captain)

Cork U21 Footballer and Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship

1978

All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling Champions

Cork County Under 21 Football Champions (Captain)

Defeated semi-finalists in the Cork County Senior Hurling and Football Championships

Cork U21 Footballer and Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship

Cork U21 Hurler

1979

Cork County Senior Football Champions (Man of the Match)

Munster Club Senior Football Champions

Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship

Cork Senior Footballer – National League (defeated finalists) and Munster Championship

1980 – Barrs best in Hurling and Football

All-Ireland Club Senior Football Champions

Cork County Senior Hurling Champions

Munster Club Senior Hurling Champions

Cork County Senior Football Champions (Captain)

Munster Club Senior Football Champions (Captain)

Cork Senior Footballer – National League (Champions and Captain) and Munster Championship

Cork Senior Hurler – National Hurling League Champions

Christy Ryan and Jimmy Barry Murphy won National League medals in Hurling & Football in 1980

1981 – Barrs in All-Ireland Club Hurling & Football Finals

All Ireland Club Senior Football Champions (Captain)

Cork County Senior Hurling Champions (Top scorer in the Championship with 6-05)

Defeated in the semi-final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship

Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship

Cork Senior Hurler – Munster Championship

1982 – Barrs best in Hurling and Football

Cork County Senior Hurling Champions

Cork County Senior Football Champions

Munster Club Senior Football Champions

Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship

1983

Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship

Defeated in the semi-final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship

Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship (Champions and Captain)

1984

Cork County Senior Hurling Champions (scored 3-1 against Blackrock in the semi-final)

Defeated in the final in the Cork County Senior Football Championship

Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship

1985

Cork County Senior Football Champions

Defeated in the first round of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship

Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship

1986

Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship

Munster Club Senior Football Champions

Defeated in the quarter-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship

Cork Senior Footballer – National League and Munster Championship

1987

All-Ireland Club Senior Football Champions

Defeated in the second round of the Cork County Senior Football Championship

Defeated in the semi-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship

Cork Senior Footballer – National League, Munster Championship (Champions) and defeated in the All-Ireland Senior Football Final

1988 – Barrs win their fifth Senior Hurling Championship in the 80’s

Cork County Senior Hurling Champions (starred in the County Final)

Defeated in the quarter-final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship

1989

Defeated in the semi-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship

Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship

1990

Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship (after a replay)

Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship (Captain)

1991

Defeated in the quarter-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship

Defeated in the final of the Cork County Senior Football Championship

1992

Defeated in the quarter-final of the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship (after a replay)

Defeated in the second round of the Cork County Senior Football Championship (after a replay)

TEAM MANAGEMENT

Following his retirement in 1992, he acted in various capacities (selector/manager/mentor) on a number of Barrs hurling and football teams over the next 3 decades.

ROLL OF HONOUR with BARRS 

• Played at senior level for the Barrs for 17 consecutive seasons

•11 Cork County Senior Championships (6 Hurling and 5 Football – Captain in 1980; played in 20 County Finals)

• 6 Munster Senior Club Championships (2 Hurling and 4 Football – Captain in 1980)

• 4 All-Ireland Club Championship (1 Hurling and 3 Football – Captain in 1981)

• 2 U21 County Championships (2 Football – Captain of both teams)

• 2 Minor County Championships (1 Hurling – Captain, 1 Football as player)

ROLL OF HONOUR with CORK

• Cork Senior Championship Footballer from 1977 to 1987 (11 consecutive seasons and played some outstanding games against the greatest Kerry teams of all times)

• Cork Senior Championship Hurler in 1981 (National League in 1980)

• 2 Munster Senior Football Championships (Captain in 1983)

• All-Ireland Senior Football Runners up in 1987

• 2 National League Medals (1 Football – Captain and 1 Hurling)

 

 

Ian Maguire speaks about playing with Cork at launch of our new jersey


Our football Captain, Ian Maguire speaks about who he’s representing when he plays for Cork and what it means to him to play at the highest level. 

 

 

“Wearing that red jersey means everything…when you are representing the red of Cork, you are representing your area, but more importantly, you’re carrying on an important tradition of success.”

@officialcorkgaa football captain, Ian Maguire, on the pride in wearing the red of Cork, what the GAA means to him and the tradition of success in the Rebel County.

The new @officialcorkgaa jersey is now available to buy exclusively through Sports Direct Ireland online order now with free delivery for all fans who purchase the Cork GAA home jersey and/or Cork GAA home kit online!

 

 

Unveiling Cork’s New Home Jersey

Our new home jersey sponsored by Sports Direct in collaboration O’Neills featuring Outside YP

SPORTS DIRECT OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF CORK GAA

 

SPORTS DIRECT OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF CORK GAA

NEW CORK GAA JERSEY UNVEILED TO KICK OFF #BORNTOPLAY CAMPAIGN

Cork GAA are delighted to announce a five-year sponsorship deal with Cork GAA. This partnership will see Sports Direct support the men’s Senior Football and Hurling teams, as well as Minor and Under 20 teams in both codes.

As part of its partnership with Cork GAA, Sports Direct will be providing all panels with personalised access to its full range of boots, an arrangement that will also extend to all members of the backroom teams.

Today’s announcement also sees the release of our new Cork GAA jersey, designed and manufactured in collaboration with O’Neills. The jersey celebrates the three core pillars of club, school and county under Corcaigh that together form the foundation of Cork GAA. It is the clubs, schools and county teams and the army of volunteers contained within that constitutes the unique fabric of Cork GAA.

Speaking at today’s launch, Sports Direct Managing Director Leonard Brassel said: “We are incredibly proud to begin this journey with Cork GAA. Cork is a unique place in Ireland and boasts a proud history within the GAA. The People’s Republic of Cork is known for its passionate support of both football and hurling and all of us at Sports Direct share this passion for Gaelic Games. Over the past three years, we have been Official Supporters of 5 grassroots clubs and, this year, we will extend this grassroots support to incorporate six additional clubs, bringing the total to 11  clubs nationwide. We are delighted to take the next step from club sponsorship to county sponsorship and look forward to working with Cork GAA over the next five years celebrating their dedication and passion in support of the further development of Gaelic Games in Cork.”

Cork GAA Chairperson Marc Sheehan commented: “We are delighted to welcome Sports Direct on board as the new sponsor of Cork GAA. We are really looking forward to working with them and seeing the teams back in action in this fantastic new jersey in the future.”

Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan noted: “We are delighted to welcome Sports Direct to the Cork GAA family. We look forward to a growing partnership with them over the coming years and look forward to seeing the teams wearing their new strip in the near future. The commercial relationship with Sports Direct is part of Cork County Board’s wider One Cork initiative, which will drive future success for Cork GAA both on, and off, the field. By putting the three pillars of club, school and county together on the jersey, we want to show every player of every age that they are part of this shared future.”

The newly-launched jersey is now available exclusively through Sports Direct Ireland online https://ie.sportsdirect.com/, until stores across the country re-open. The jersey will remain exclusive to Sports Direct for the first three weeks after stores re-open, before becoming available in sports retailers nationwide. Fans can also purchase from www.o’neills.com.  Customers who purchase via Sports Direct will receive a €10 voucher off their next Sports Direct purchase.

We are delighted to work with Sports Direct as we embark on a new journey. Further exciting activation will be unveiled nearer to the championship season, enabling GAA fans across the Cork to get behind our hurling and football teams.

 

 

Thank You Chill

Cork County Board wish to thank Chill Insurance for their support as our official sponsor from to
2013 to 2020. We shared some great games and thank them for their support through good times
and bad.

Commenting on the conclusion of the Chill Insurance sponsorship term was Cork GAA Chairperson,
Marc Sheehan, “I would like to take the opportunity to thank our friends at Chill Insurance for their support over the last few years, we have journeyed through some great games and I wish them the
very best in their future endeavours”.

CEO of Cork GAA, Kevin O’Donovan stated “It has been a pleasure partnering with Chill Insurance
and I look forward to welcoming them back to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and continuing the friendships made
during our tenure together.”
Head of Marketing of Chill Insurance Fergal Lynch noted “Chill Insurance have had eight great years
as main sponsorship partner with Cork GAA. We wish Cork every success in 2021 and beyond. We will
always be a Rebels supporter.”

To remember some of the great days we shared together please visit https://youtu.be/9i8GKzrOzuY.