Niall Patterson
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| Niall Patterson | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sport | Hurling | |
| Irish Name | Niall Mac Pháidín | |
| Full name | Niall Patterson | |
| Date of birth | January 2, 1962 | |
| Place of birth | Cloughmills , County Antrim | |
| Club information | ||
| Club | Loughgiel Shamrocks | |
| Position | Goalkeeper | |
| Inter-County | ||
| County | Antrim | |
| Position | Goalkeeper | |
| Inter-County(ies)** | ||
| County | Years | Apps (scores) |
| Antrim | 1979-1992 | |
| Senior Inter-County Titles | ||
| Ulster Titles | 3 | |
| All-Ireland | 0 | |
|
* club appearances and scores |
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Niall Patterson (born 2 January 1962 in Cloughmills, County Antrim) is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Loughgiel Shamrocks and with the Antrim senior inter-county team from 1979 until 1992. Patterson is regarded as one of Antrim's greatest-ever players.
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[edit] Playing career
[edit] Club
Niall Patterson first started hurling when he was just nine years-old. He began his career as a full-back, however, he moved back to the goalkeeping position when he joined the under-12 team. It was a move that would later pay dividends and he later played in that position with Loughgiel Shamrocks. Patterson won his first county title in 1982 a scaptain of the side. This was later converted into an Ulster club title. On St. Patrick's Day, 1983 Patterson captured an All-Ireland club title following a victory over St. Rynagh's in the championship decider. In 1989 he won a second set of county and Ulster titles.
[edit] Inter-county
Patterson's skills were quickly spotted by Antrim's inter-county selectors and he joined the minor team in the late 1970s. Patterson moved straight onto the senior team in 1979, making his debut against Kilkenny in the National Hurling League. Two years later in 1981 he collected an All-Ireland "B" Hurling Championship medal. This was a special competition for weaker hurling counties. A second All-Ireland "B" medal followed for Patterson in 1982.
By the late 1980s the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship was revived, with Patterson's Antrim side winning the title in 1989. Antrim subsequently went on to shock the hurling world by defeating Offaly by 4-15 to 1-15 in the All-Ireland semi-final. In another remarkable day for Ulster hurling, the Antrim team were accorded a guard of honour by Offaly following the game. Antrim subsequently met Tipperary in the All-Ireland final, their first appearance in the championship decider since 1943, however, the side were well beaten. There was some consolation at the end of the year as Patterson won a second Antrim SHC medal. In 1990 he captured another Ulster title, however, his team were subsequently defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final. Patterson made it three Ulster titles in-a-row in 1991, however, Antrim faced defeat again in the All-Ireland semi-final. In December 1992, following a National League game against Down, Patterson retired from inter-county hurling.
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jimmy O'Brien (James Stephens) |
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Final winning captain 1983 |
Succeeded by Kevin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks) |
[edit] Teams
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