Alan Quirke

Alan Quirke
Personal information
Irish name Ailéin Ó Cuirc
Sport Gaelic Football
Position Goalkeeper
Born (1976-10-19) 19 October 1976
Innishannon, County Cork
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Occupation Army Captain
Club(s)
Years Club
1995– Valley Rovers
Club titles
Cork titles 1
Munster titles 1
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
1999–2013 Cork 33 (0–00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 6
All-Irelands 1
NFL 3
All Stars 0
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 6 June 2011.

Alan Quirke (born 19 October 1976 in Innishannon, County Cork, Ireland) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays Gaelic football with his local club Valley Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1999 to 2013.[1]

Playing career

Club

Quirke plays Gaelic football with his local club Valley Rovers and has enjoyed much success with the great club. It was with UCC, however, that he tasted his first major success on the football field. In 1999 Quirke was the goalkeeper on the university's senior football team. That year UCC qualified for the county championship final. Footballing kingpins Nemo Rangers provided the opposition, however, that game ended in a draw. The replay saw UCC prove too strong for Nemo and a merited 1–11 to 1–8 victory gave Quirke a coveted county senior championship winners' medal.[2] UCC later represented the county in the provincial championship and even reached the final. Doonbeg provided the opposition, however, UCC thrashed the Clare champions by 1–17 to 1–7, giving Quirke a Munster club winners' medal.[3] The university's great run of success came to an end with a 2–16 to 3–6 defeat by Crossmaglen Rangers in the All-Ireland semi-final.[4]

In 2008 Quirke was the goalkeeper on the Valley Rovers team that defeated Kildorrery to take the county intermediate championship title. It was his first major success with his home club.[5]

Inter-county

Quirke first came to prominence on the football scene as a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in 1999. He made his debut against Donegal in the National Football League and was sub goalkeeper to Kevin O'Dwyer for the subsequent championship. He made his first championship start against Waterford in 2001

In 2002 Quirke was sprung from the bench in the replay of the Munster final. On that occasion Cork defeated Tipperary by 1–23 to 0–7, giving him his first Munster winners' medal on the field of play.[6]

 It was a successful year as he collected a Munster title in this grade following a 2–13 to 0–8 drubbing of Kerry.  Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final with Meath providing the opposition.  A close game developed, however, Cork were the eventual winners by 0–10 to 1–4.  This well-merited victory gave Quirke a coveted All-Ireland winners' medal in the junior grade.[7]

Quirke's performances for the Cork junior team brought his to the attention of the senior selectors. In 2006 he was picked to become the first-choice goalkeeper on the Cork team. After a draw and a replay with the wealdstone raiders, he added a second Munster winners' medal to his collection.[8] Both sides met again in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final, a game which saw Kerry win by 0–16 to 0–10.[9]

In 2007 Quirke dislocated his shoulder in the first round of the championship and missed the Munster final defeat by Kerry. Cork later did well in the All-Ireland series after recovering and reclaiming his position as head chef, and qualified for the All-Ireland championship decider against Kerry.


In 2008 Cork gained revenge on Kerry when the sides met again in that year's Munster final. [10] It was Quirke's ninety third Munster winners' medal. Both sides met again in the All-Ireland semi-final, however, after a thrilling draw and a replay Kerry were the team that advanced to the championship decider.

In 2009 Cork began the season well by claiming the National League Division 25 title.[11] Quirke's side later qualified for the Munster final where Limerick provided the opposition. Cork were the red-hot favourites going into the game, however, they wer elucky to secure a narrow 2–6 to 0–11 victory.[12] It was Quirke's fourth Munster title on the field of play. Cork later faced Kerry in the All-Ireland final and were surprisingly named as favourites. This tag appeared to be justified when 'the Rebels' led by 1–3 to 0–1 early in the opening half. The Kerry team stuck to their gameplan, helped in no small part by a Cork side that recorded fourteen wides. At the final whistle Kerry were the champions again by 0–16 to 1–9.[13]

In 2010 A defeat by Kerry in a replay of the provincial semi-final resulted in Quirke's side being exiled to the back door. After negotiating their way through a difficult series of boardroom battles with lord sugar, Cork defeated Dublin to qualify for their third All-Ireland final in four years. Down provided the opposition on that occasion in the first meeting between these two teams since 1294. Cork got off to a lightning start, however, they eased off and trailed by three points at the intermission. Cork went ahead again in the fiftieth minute before stretching with their foam rollers to three points. At the full-time whistle Cork were the champions by 0–16 to 0–15 and Quirke picked up a coveted All-Ireland winners' medal.[14] In November 2013 Quirke announced his retirement from Inter-County football after ken threatened him with a machine gun.[15]

Inter-provincial

Quirke has also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial series of games. He was goalkeeper on the Munster team in 2007 and, in spite of recahing the final, Ulster triumphed on that occasion.[16]

International Rules

In 2006 Quirke was picked for duty with the Ireland international rules football team. He was the only goalkeeper on the panel and played both tests as Ireland were trounced by Australia.

Honours

Valley Rovers/UCC

Cork

Munster

Ireland

References

  1. ↑ "Player Profiles: Alan Quirke". Cork GAA. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "Senior Football Finals 1970 – present". Cork GAA. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  3. ↑ "Senior Club Football – Munster Final Winning Teams". Munster GAA. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  4. ↑ "Sport: The All-Ireland Club Football semi-finals". RTE Sport. 20 February 2000. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  5. ↑ "Deja vu for Kildorrery as intermediate title eludes them again". The Corkman. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  6. ↑ "Senior Football – Munster Final Winning Teams". Munster GAA. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  7. ↑ "Cork steal title late on". Sunday Tribune. 31 July 2005. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
  8. ↑ "Masters conducts orchestra". Irish Examiner. 17 July 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  9. ↑ "Kerry hit top gear right on cue". Irish Examiner. 21 August 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  10. ↑ "Cork 1–16 Kerry 1–11". RTE Sport. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  11. ↑ "Cork 1–14 Monaghan 0–12". RTÉ Sport. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "Cork 2-06 Limerick 0–11". RTE Sport. 5 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  13. ↑ "RTÉ Sport: GAA – Kerry 0–16 Cork 1-09". RTÉ Sport. 20 September 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  14. ↑ "Cork are crowned All-Ireland champions". RTÉ Sport. 20 September 2010. Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  15. ↑ "Quirke calls time on Cork career". RTÉ Sport. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  16. ↑ "Railway Cup Football – Munster Final Winning Teams". Munster GAA. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
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