Colman O'Donovan (born 1927) is an Irish former hurler. At club level he played with Midleton and Donoughmore, and also lined out at inter-county level with various Cork teams.

Colman O'Donovan
Personal information
Sport Hurling
Position Left corner-forward
Born 1927
Midleton,
County Cork, Ireland
Nickname Colie
Occupation Roman Catholic priest
Club(s)
Years Club
Midleton
Donoughmore
Club titles
Cork titles 0
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
1951–1952
Cork 1 (0-00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 1
All-Irelands 1
NHL 0

Career

edit

O'Donovan first played hurling to a high standard as a student at St Colman's College in Fermoy.[1] His performances in the Harty Cup resulted in a call-up to the Cork minor hurling team in 1945.[2] O'Donovan later lined out with the junior team and won an All-Ireland JHC medal in 1950 in spite of not playing in the final against London.[3] He later progressed to the senior team and made his only championship appearance at left corner-forward in an All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Galway in 1952.[4] O'Donovan lost his place on the team for the subsequent All-Ireland final, but was presented with a winners' medal after the 2–14 to 0–07 defeat of Dublin.[5]

Personal life

edit

O'Donovan was ordained to the priesthood at St Patrick's College in 1953.[6] His first posting was to England. He returned to Ireland in 1954 and spent seven years in Mallow, leaving in 1961 to take up duty in Donoughmore. In 1969, he moved to Glantane where he ministered for 14 years until a move to Youghal in 1983. After six years here, O'Donovan was moved to Inniscarra. He retired after celebrating his golden jubilee in 2003. O'Donovan later became vice-president of Midleton GAA Club.[7]

Honours

edit
Cork

References

edit
  1. ^ Shortiss, Eoin (23 June 2023). "Cork's oldest priest is 95-year-old All-Ireland hurling champ with 'no regrets' after decades in the church". Cork Beo. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Cork minor hurling teams: 1928-1969" (PDF). Cork GAA website. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Cork junior hurling teams: 1910-1996" (PDF). Cork GAA website. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Cork senior hurling teams: 1950-1959" (PDF). Cork GAA website. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  5. ^ Browne, Bill (4 August 2023). "Cork's genial Canon Colie waxes lyrical about his 70-years as a priest - and his passion for hurling". The Corkman. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Canon Colie O'Donovan". Midleton Parish website. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Club officers". Midleton GAA website. Retrieved 12 August 2023.