Paddy FitzGerald

Paddy FitzGerald (born 1939 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 1958 until 1967. His son, Ger FitzGerald, won All-Ireland medals with Cork in 1986 and 1990.

Playing career

Club

FitzGerald played his club hurling with his local club in Midleton. He enjoyed little success with the club, however, he also played with east Cork divisional side Imokilly. It was with Imokilly that he lined out in the 1968 county senior championship final. City stalwarts St. Finbarr's were the opponents and won a remarkable game by 5-9 to 1-9.^[1]

Inter-county

FitzGerald first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor hurling team in the 1950s. He played for two seasons in 1956 and 1957, however, Cork were beaten by Tipperary in both years.

FitzGerald made his senior debut in a National Hurling League game against Dublin in 1958. His first championship start came later that summer in a Munster quarter-final against Clare.^[2] Unfortunately, most of FitzGErald's career coincided with a sharp downturn in Cork’s hurling fortunes. He played in three consecutive Munster finals in 1959, 1960 and 1961, however, he ended up on the losing side on every occasion as the victors went on to contest the All-Ireland final.

After losing back-to-back Munster finals to Tipperray in 1964 and 1965 it looked as if FitzGerald would end his career without even a Munster medal, however, Cork hurling returned to centre stage in 1966. That year FitzGerald's side avoided Tipperary in the provincial championship and qualified for a Munster showdown with Waterford. An entertaining hour of hurling followed, however, victory went to Cork by 4-9 to 2-9 for the first time in ten years. It was FitzGerald's first senior Munster winners' medal.^[3] This victory allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where arch-rivals Kilkenny provided the opposition. It was the first meeting of these two great sides since 1947 and ‘the Cats’ were installed as the firm favourites. In spite of this a hat-trick of goals by Colm Sheehan gave Cork a merited 3-9 to 1-10 victory over an Eddie Keher-inspired Kilkenny. It was FitzGerald's first All-Ireland winners' medal.^[4]

Cork failed to retain their provincial and All-Ireland titles in 1967 while Tipperary trounced Cork by nine points in the Munster final a year later. FitzGerald retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.

Inter-provincial

FitzGerald was also called up to play with Munster in the inter-provincial series of games. He lost back-to-back finals to Leinster in 1964 and 1965, however, in 1966 Mnster defeated their old rivals by 3-13 to 3-11.^[5] It was FitzGerald's first Railway Cup winners' medal. Defeat was his lot again in 1967 as Leinster avenged the previous year's defeat.

References