Pat Hartigan

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Pat Hartigan (born 1951) is a former Irish sportsperson who played hurling with Limerick in the 1970s.

Pat Hartigan was born in Drombanna, County Limerick in 1951. He learn his hurling skills on the roads and in the fields of his local parish where his reputation as a skillful hurler was built. It was only when he attended the local Christian Brothers school that he began to hurl competitively. By the age of 15 Hartigan had White Cup (under fifteen and a half) and Dean Ryan Cup (Munster junior colleges) medals to his name and had broken onto the Harty Cup panel. His school won a third successive Harty Cup and All-Ireland colleges' title, beating St. Mary's of Galway in 1966. In 1967, after a fourth consecutive Harty Cup title was claimed, a number of the panel decided to repeat the year and attempt to capture the elusive five-in-a-row. The prospect of making history became an obsession for Hartigan, however, his team were eventually beaten by Coláiste Chríost Rí of Cork.

While the Harty Cup defeat was a huge disappointment for Hartigan he soon made the breakthrough onto the inter-county team, playing on eight different Limerick teams in the same year - minor, under-21 and senior in hurling and Gaelic football, as well as intermediate in hurling and junior in football. Once Hartigan established his place on the senior hurling and football teams he never lost it. As well as having a successful career at Gaelic Games Hartigan had a great shot-put career for Ireland. Without any specialised training Hartigan captained Limerick AC in 1983, and later went on to represent Ireland in the European club championships. In the mid-1960s Hartigan was offered a sporting scholarship to Boston, owever, he declined in favour of playing Gaelic games with his native county.

The decision paid off. He spent six years playing at under-21 level and by the age of 21 Hartigan had a National Hurling League medal and a first hurling All Star Award on the inugural team of 1971. The early 1970s was a busy time for Hartigan and Limerick's hurlers. They played in five consecutive League finals, winning only one. As well as this the team contested five Munster Finals, winning two and claiming an All-Ireland medal in 1973. The 1973 win was the high point of Hartigan's career. By 1975 Hartigan had won his fifth consecutive All Star Award. In a training session in 1979 Hartigan was tragically injured when the sliothar spun awkwardly off a hurley and hit him in the eye. The whole incident left Hartigan blind in one eye and ended his inter-county hurling career.

In retirement from hurling he returned to athletics where he had much success. He also spent a period as manager of his local underage teams, South Liberties. Hartigan also won the Poc Fada competition on two occasions in the 1980s.

	Limerick - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 1973 (7th title)
1 S. Horgan | 2 W. Moore | 3 P. Hartigan | 4 J. O'Brien | 5 P. Bennis | 6 É. Cregan | 7 S. Foley | 8 R. Bennis | 9 É. Grimes (Capt.) | 10 B. Hartigan | 11 M. Dowling | 12 L. O'Donoghue | 13 F. Nolan | 14 N. Rea | 15 J. McKenna | Subs: T. Ryan | Manager: J. Power |