Denis Mulcahy

Denis Mulcahy (born 15 August 1956 in Midleton, County Cork, Ireland) is an Irish former sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Midleton and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1981 until 1992.

Playing career

Club

Mulcahy played his club hurling with his local Midleton club and enjoyed much success. His great hurling career began in his home town when he won an East Cork minor hurling title in 1972. Mulcahy enjoyed little success in the minor or under-21 grades, however, in 1978 he captured a county intermediate championship winners' medal with the club. This victory catapulted Midleton into the senior ranks of the county championship where he enjoyed the ultimate in terms of success throughout the 1980s.

Mulcahy won his first senior county senior championship title with the club in 1983 after a defeat of mighty St. Finbarr's.^[1] It was Midleton's first senior county final triumph since 1916. Mulcahy's side later had the honour of representing Cork in the provincial club championship. A 1–14 to 1–11 defeat of Tipperary's Borrisoleigh in the replay of provincial decider gave Mulcahy a coveted Munster club winners' medal.^[2] Midleton were later defeated by Gort in the All-Ireland club semi-final.

Three years later in 1986 Mulcahy won a second county title before adding a third county winners' medal to his collection in 1987. Later that year Midleton won a second Munster club title following a one-point win over Cappawhite of Tipperary. On St. Patrick's Day, 1988 Midleton lined out in the All-Ireland club final. Athenry of Galway provided the opposition, however, two early goals by Kevin Hennessy and a kicked goal by Colm O'Neill gave Midleton a 3–8 to 0–9 victory. This victory also gave Mulcahy a coveted All-Ireland club winners' medal.

Mulcahy won a fourth county title with the club in 1991 after defeating Glen Rovers. He retired from club hurling in the mid-nineties.

Inter-county

Mulcahy joined the Cork senior hurling team in the 1980–81 season, having never played for his county at minor or under-21 levels. That year he captured a National Hurling League medal when he came on as a substitute in the defeat of Offaly in the final.^[3] Mulcahy was included on the Cork championship panel that year, however, it would be another few years before he established himself fully.

After two seasons off the panel Mulcahy returned to corner-back in 1984. It was a special year in the annals of Gaelic games as it was the centenary year of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The year began well with Mulcahy helping his team to victory in the special Centenary Cup competition. He later won his first Munster winners' medal as Cork defeated Tipperary by 4–15 to 3–14 in a memorable Munster final.^[4] The subsequent All-Ireland final, played at Semple Stadium in Thurles, saw Cork take on Offaly for the first time ever in championship history. The centenary-year final failed to live up to expectations and Cork recorded a relatively easy 3–16 to 1–12 victory. It was Mulcahy's first All-Ireland winners' medal.

In 1985 Mulcahy added a second Munster title to his collection as Cork defeated Tipperary by 4–17 to 4–11 in the provincial decider once again. Cork, however, were later defeated by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.

In 1986 Cork made it five-in-a-row in Munster as Crowley's team defeated Clare by 2–18 to 3–12 to take the provincial title. It was Mulcahy's third Munster winners' medal in succession. This victory paved the way for an All-Ireland final meeting with Galway. The men from the west were the red-hot favourites against an ageing Cork team, however, on the day a different story unfolded. Four Cork goals, one from John Fenton, two from Tomás Mulcahy and one from Kevin Hennessy, stymied the Galway attack and helped 'the Rebels' to a 4–13 to 2–15 victory. It was Mulcahy's second All-Ireland winners' medal. He was later honoured with his sole All-Star award.

The next few seasons proved difficult as Cork made the transition from the great team of the seventies and eighties to developing a new team for the nineties. Cork lost back-to-back Munster finals ti Tipperary in 1987 and 1988. Mulcahy was captain in the latter year and, at the age of thirty-two, it looked as if his inter-county career was at an end. He played on in 1989, however, defeat was Cork's lot again that year.

Mulcahy was dropped on the team for the next two years, missing out on Cork's All-Ireland and Munster triumphs of 1990. He sensationally returned to the team in 1992 and took over the full-back position. That year he went on to win his fourth Munster winners' medal on the field of play as Limerick fell to 'the Rebels.' After a defeat of Down, Cork advanced to the All-Ireland final where Kilkenny provided the opposition. It was the two sides' first meeting in the championship in nine years. Kilkenny played into a strong wind in the first-half and were two points in arrears at half-time. 'The Cats' fought back and defeated their arch rivals by 3–10 to 1–12. This defeat brought the curtain down on Mulcahy's inter-county career.

Inter-provincial

Mulcahy also had the honour of being selected to play for Munster in the inter-provincial series of games. He played with his province for four seasons from 1985 until 1988, winning just one Railway Cup winners' medal in his first year. Munster defeated Connacht by a single point on that occasion.^[5]

Honours

Midleton

• All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 1988
• Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (2): 1983, 1987
• Cork Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (4): 1983, 1986, 1987, 1991
  • Runner-up (2): 1985
• Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 1978

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (2): 1984, 1986
  • Runner-up (1): 1992
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (4): 1984, 1985, 1986, 1992
  • Runner-up (2): 1987, 1988
• National Hurling League:
  • Winner (1): 1980–1981

Munster

• Railway Cup:
  • Winner (1): 1985
  • Runner-up (1): 1986

References