Eoin Downey

Eoin Downey
Personal information
Irish name Eoin Ó Dúnaigh
Sport Hurling
Position Full-back
Born (2003-05-17) 17 May 2003 (age 21)
Ballyvolane, Cork, Ireland
Height 6 ft 4[1] in (1.93 m)
Occupation Student
Club(s)*
Years Club Apps (scores)
2021-present
 Glen Rovers 14 (1-08)
Club titles
Cork titles 0
Colleges(s)
Years College
2022-present
 University College Cork
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles 0
Inter-county(ies)**
Years County Apps (scores)
2022-present
 Cork 8 (0-00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 0
All-Irelands 0
NHL 0
All Stars 1
* club appearances and scores correct as of 21:03, 9 July 2024.
**Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 23:30, 8 July 2024.

Eoin Downey (born 17 May 2003) is an Irish hurler. At club level he plays with Glen Rovers and at inter-county level with the Cork senior hurling team.

Early life

Born and raised in Cork, Downey first played hurling to a high standard as a student at Christian Brothers College, Cork. He progressed through the various age grades before joining the school's senior team in 2019. Downey's first year as a senior ended with defeat by St Flannan's College in the 2020 Harty Cup final.[2] He captained CBC to the Dr O'Callaghan Cup title after a 3–13 to 1–12 defeat of Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh in March 2022, in what was his last game for the school.[3] Downey later studied at University College Cork and was added to their Fitzgibbon Cup panel in 2023.[4]

Club career

Downey began his club career at juvenile and underage levels with the Glen Rovers club on the northside of Cork city.[5] He had success in the under-21 grade in 2023 when the Glen won the Cork Premier 1 U21HC title.[6] Downey won a Seandún U21B FC title with the Glen's sister club St Nick's in 2024.[7]

Downey made his senior team debut at midfield in the Glen's 0–24 to 1–10 defeat by Douglas in September 2021.[8] He ended his debut championship season with a 0–24 to 1–18 defeat by Midleton in the final.[9]

Inter-county career

Downey first appeared on the inter-county scene with Cork as a member of the minor team in 2019, before being named team captain in 2020.[10] His minor career ended without success, however, he immediately progressed to the under-20 team. Success in this grade was immediate with Downey claiming Munster and All-Ireland U20HC medals in 2021 after respective defeats of Limerick and Galway.[11][12] After surrendering their titles the following year, Downey claimed a second Munster U20HC medal after a two-point defeat of Clare in 2023.[13] His last game in the grade saw him claim a second winners' medal after a defeat of Offaly in the 2023 All-Ireland U20 final.[14]

Downey was still a school student when he was called into the Cork senior hurling team by manager Kieran Kingston in 2022.[15] He made his debut in a 2–17 to 0–22 defeat of Limerick in round 1 of the 2023 National Hurling League.[16]

He and his brother Robert won an All Star at the end of the 2024 season.[17][18]

Personal life

Downey's older brother Robert is also a hurler.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of 16 September 2023.
Team Year Cork PSHC
Apps Score
Glen Rovers 2021 6 0-01
2022 4 0-06
2023 4 1-01
Total 14 1-08
Year Cork SAHC
Apps Score
2024 0 0-00
Total 0 0-00
Career total 14 1-08

Inter-county

As of 7 July 2024
Team Year National League Munster All-Ireland Total
Division Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score
Cork 2022 Division 1A 0 0-00 0 0-00 0 0-00 0 0-00
2023 4 0-01 1 0-00 — 5 0-01
2024 4 0-01 4 0-00 3 0-00 11 0-01
Career total 8 0-02 5 0-00 3 0-00 16 0-02

Honours

Christian Brothers College, Cork
Glen Rovers
St Nicholas'
  • Seandún Under-21 B Football Championship: 2024
Cork
Awards
Individual

References

  1. ^ "Pat Ryan goes for power and height to bridge gap to Limerick". Irish Examiner. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  2. ^ O'Callaghan, Therese (1 March 2020). "St Flannan's hold out against Christians in Harty Cup final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  3. ^ O'Callaghan, Therese (22 March 2022). "Sun and scores rain down as clinical CBC claim O'Callaghan Cup glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Fitzgibbon Cup: UCC exit competition as holders UL pull away in second half". Echo Live. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Minor hurling: Glen dig deep to see off the Rockies and reach the last four". Echo Live. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Glen Rovers hold off Douglas comeback to lift City Division U21 title". Echo Live. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  7. ^ "St Nicks take the bragging rights as they beat Na Piarsaigh in Seandun U21B football championship final". Echo Live. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Cork club hurling: Douglas deliver in 11-point rout of Glen Rovers". Echo Live. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  9. ^ Hurley, Denis (21 November 2021). "Premier SHC final: Midleton are the county champions again". Echo Live. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Cork minor hurling team announced". Cork GAA website. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Cork dig deep to retain Munster U20 hurling title". GAA website. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Impressive Cork crowned BGE All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Champions". GAA website. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  13. ^ Cormican, Eoghan (15 May 2023). "Cork claim Munster U20 hurling title after thrilling win over Clare". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Cork v Offaly: All-Ireland U20 hurling glory for Rebels". Echo Live. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  15. ^ O'Connor, Christy (26 March 2022). "The project is ongoing but the production line in Cork is certainly rolling again". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Shane Kingston scores the winner as Cork come back to beat Limerick". Echo Live. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  17. ^ Fogarty, John (1 November 2024). "Cork's Downey brothers make history with All-Star awards while Shane O'Donnell named top hurler". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Conroy and O'Donnell scoop Player of the Year awards". RTÉ News. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Family ties and schools hurling in Christians key to Downey development". Echo Live. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.