Charlie McCarthy (hurler)

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Charlie McCarthy

Personal information
Sport	Hurling
Irish Name	Cathal Mac Carthaigh
Date of Birth	1946
Place of birth	Cork,
Height	5'7"
Club information
Club	St. Finbarr's
Position	Forward
Club(s)*
Club	Years	Apps (scores)
Inter County
County	Cork
Position	Corner-forward
Inter County(ies)**
County	Years	Apps (scores)
Cork	1965-1980	45 (27-151)
Inter County Titles
Munster Titles	9
All-Ireland	5
All-Stars	3
* club appearances and scores correct as of . **Inter County team apps and scores correct as of .

Charlie McCarthy (born 1946) is a former Irish sportsperson who played senior hurling with Cork from 1965 until 1980. He is regarded as one of Cork's greatest-ever players.

[edit] Early life

Charlie McCarthy was born in Cork in 1946. He was educated locally at Sullivan's Quay Christian Brothers school and quickly showed a natural talent for hurling. He soon joined the St. Finbarr's GAA club in the city, a club where he had much success. In 1964 McCarthy tasted his first success as an inter-county hurler with Cork when the team won the All-Ireland Minor title. McCarthy scored an impressive 3 goals and 1 point in the final against Laois. Later that same year McCarthy played on the St. Finbarr's team that made it all the way to the Cork County Final, however, they lost out to Glen Rovers in what was to be Christy Ring's last appearance in a county final. In 1965 McCarthy made his senior debut for Cork in the Munster Championship. He was on and off the team but eventually became a regular fixture at corner-forward. McCarthy didn't have to wait long for his first Cork county championship medal, because in 1965 St. Finbarr's were back in the final and won. The side later went on to win the Munster club hurling title.

[edit] Playing career

1966 proved to be a special year for Cork and McCarthy. He won his first Munster Championship title before playing a key role in the team's All-Ireland final victory over Kilkenny. A week after that game McCarthy played for the Cork under-21 side which had a great victory in the inaugural All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship. Two years later in 1968 McCarthy claimed his second County Championship medal wth St. Finbarr's. More success followed with the inter-county hurlers in 1969 when they claimed the National Hurling League title and another Munster title, before losing to Kilkenny in the All-Ierland decider. The team bounced back in 1970, with McCarthy winning a second National League medal and a third Munster title, before claiming a second All-Ireland title with a victory over Wexford in the first 80-minute All-Ireland final.

By now McCarthy was one of the best players on what would become one of the most oustanding teams of the decade. In 1972 he won his third National League medal with Cork, before claiming his fourth Munster Championship medal. Once again Cork lost out to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, however, the game itself is considered one of the greatest finals of modern times. There was some consolation in the fact that he claimed his very first All-Star Award. Two years later in 1974 McCarthy enjoyed more success with club and county. He won his fourth and final National League medal before winning his third county championship medal with St. Finbarr's. This county victory paved the way for a second Munster club title and a first All-Ireland club title at the start of 1975. The rest of the year proved successful for McCarthy. He won a fifth Munster medal but the side were knocked out by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.

In 1976 Cork and McCarthy were back, claiming a second consecutive Munster title and a first All-Ireland victory in six years. It was McCarthy's third All-Ireland medal and the beginning of a wonderful run of success for him and the Cork team. In 1977 he claimed his seventh Munster medal before winning his fourth All-Ireland medal with a comprehensive victory over Wexford once again. McCarthy rounded off the year by winning his fourth county championship medal with St. Finbarr's, another Munster club hurling title and a second All-Star Award.

1978 proved to be a very special and a very successful year for McCarthy. On St. Patrick's Day he led St. Finbarr's to victory in All-Ireland club hurling final. On May 7 he led Munster to Railway Cup victory at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and he was also appointed captain of the Cork senior hurling team for the year. He later claimed his eighth Munster championship medal before leading Cork to victory over Kilkenny in the 1978 All-Ireland final. It was his fifth All-Ireland medal and the third in-a-row for him and Cork.

In 1979 Cork were the favourites to retain the All-Ireland title and become the first team in thirty years to complete the four-in-a-row. The year started well when Cork claimed their fifth Munster title in-a-row, bringing McCarthy's total up to nine. However, the side were beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final and the four-in-a-row dream was over. Following defeat in the 1980 Munster final, McCarthy retired from inter-county hurling.

Preceded by Martin O'Doherty	Cork Senior Hurling Captain 1978	Succeeded by John Horgan
Preceded by Martin O'Doherty (Cork)	All-Ireland Hurling Final winning captain 1978	Succeeded by Ger Fennelly (Kilkenny)

[edit] Teams

	Cork - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 1966 (20th title)
1 P. Barry | 2 P. Doolan | 3 T. O'Donoghue | 4 D. Murphy | 5 T. Connolly | 6 J. O'Sullivan | 7 P. Fitzgerald | 8 J. McCarthy | 9 M. Waters | 10 S. Barry | 11 J. O'Halloran | 12 G. McCarthy (Capt.) | 13 C. McCarthy | 14 C. Sheehan | 15 J. Bennett |

	Cork - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 1970 (21st title)
1 P. Barry (Capt.) | 2 T. Maher | 3 P. McDonnell | 4 J. Horgan | 5 D. Clifford | 6 P. Hegarty | 7 C. Roche | 8 G. McCarthy | 9 S. Looney | 10 T. Ryan | 11 W. Walsh | 12 C. Cullinane | 13 C. McCarthy | 14 R. Cummins | 15 E. O'Brien |

	Cork - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 1976 (22nd title)
1 M. Coleman | 2 B. Murphy | 3 P. McDonnell | 4 M. O'Doherty | 5 P. Barry | 6 J. Crowley | 7 D. Coughlan | 8 G. McCarthy | 9 P. Moylan | 10 M. Malone | 11 B. Cummins | 12 J. Barry-Murphy | 13 C. McCarthy | 14 R. Cummins (Capt.) | 15 S. O'Leary | Subs: J. Horgan | E. O'Donoghue | Manager: B. Troy

	Cork - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 1977 (23rd title)
1 M. Coleman | 2 B. Murphy | 3 M. O'Doherty (Capt.) | 4 J. Horgan | 5 D. McCurtain | 6 J. Crowley | 7 D. Coughlan | 8 T. Cashman | 9 T. Crowley | 10 M. Malone | 11 G. McCarthy | 12 J. Barry-Murphy | 13 C. McCarthy | 14 R. Cummins | 15 S. O'Leary | Subs: P. Moylan | T. Murphy | Manager: B. Troy

	Cork - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 1978 (24th title)
1 M. Coleman | 2 B. Murphy | 3 M. O'Doherty | 4 J. Horgan | 5 D. McCurtain | 6 J. Crowley | 7 D. Coughlan | 8 T. Cashman | 9 P. Moylan | 10 J. Barry-Murphy | 11 G. McCarthy | 12 T. Crowley | 13 C. McCarthy (Capt.) | 14 R. Cummins | 15 S. O'Leary | Subs: J. Allen | E. O'Donoghue | Manager: B. Troy

	All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship - Silver Jubilee Team (1971-1996)
1 Niall Patterson | 2 Tony Maher | 3 Conor Hayes | 4 John Horgan | 5 Joe Hennessy | 6 Frank Cummins | 7 Denis Coughlan | 8 Gerald McCarthy | 9 Joe Cooney | 10 Francis Loughnane | 11 Ray Cummins | 12 Ger Fennelly | 13 Charlie McCarthy | 14 Tony Doran | 15 Liam Fennelly |