Michael Coleman (8 August 1963 – 7 February 2025) was an Irish hurler who played for the Abbeyknockmoy club and at senior level for the Galway county team. With Galway he won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1988.

Early life

Born and raised in Abbeyknockmoy, County Galway, Coleman attended St Jarlath's College in Tuam. Although regarded as a college more famous for Gaelic football, he played hurling at all levels during his schooldays.[2][3] Coleman later studied at University College Galway and was a two-time Fitzgibbon Cup runner-up.[4]

Club career

Coleman first played for Abbeyknockmoy at adult level in 1981.[5] He scored three points from centre-back when Abbeyknockmoy beat Craughwell by 1-09 to 1-02 to claim the Galway IHC title in 1985.[6] Three years later, Coleman was again at centre-back when Abbeyknockmoy reached the senior decider. He scored 1-02, including a penalty, as the club claimed their inaugural Galway SHC title after a one-point defeat of Athenry in a final replay.[7]

Inter-county career

Coleman first played for Galway at inter-county level as a member of the minor team. He came on as a substitute and scored a point in Galway's 1-20 to 3-09 defeat by Kilkenny in the 1981 All-Ireland minor final.[8] Coleman immediately progressed to Galway's under-21 team and was an unused substitute when Cork beat Galway by a single point in the 1982 All-Ireland under-21 final.[9] He broke onto the starting fifteen a year later and claimed an All-Ireland U21HC medal after a 0-12 to 1-06 defeat of Tipperary in that year's All-Ireland under-21 final.[10]

Coleman was still eligible for the under-21 grade when he was drafted onto Galway's junior team. He lost back-to-back All-Ireland finals in that grade, first to Cork in 1983 and, later, to Kilkenny in 1984.[11][12] By that stage, Coleman had already joined the senior team, after being added to the panel for the National Hurling League in March 1984.[13]

After a period away from the team, Coleman was recalled and won a National Hurling League title in 1987 following Galway's 3-12 to 3-10 win over Clare in the final.[14] He was later released from the panel and was a spectator when Galway beat Kilkenny to win that year's All-Ireland SHC title.[15] Coleman was again recalled to the team and was selected at midfield for the 1988 All-Ireland final against Tipperary. He ended the game with an All-Ireland SHC winners' medal following Galway's 1-15 to 0-14 victory.[16]

Coleman collected his first All Star in 1989, before claiming a second consecutive award in 1990. He had earlier lined out at midfield in Galway's 5-15 to 2-21 defeat by Cork in the 1990 All-Ireland final.[17] Coleman made his third All-Ireland final appearance in 1993, however, he once again ended on the losing side after a 2-17 to 1-15 defeat by Kilkenny.[18]

After winning the first of four consecutive Connacht SHC medals and being presented with a third All Star in 1995, Coleman was appointed team captain in 1996. He claimed a third National League title that year. Coleman stepped away from the team at the end of the 1998 season, however, he was recalled a year later for an All-Ireland quarter-final defeat by Clare.[19]

Inter-provincial career

Coleman's performances at inter-county level resulted in his selection for the Connacht team. He won his first Railway Cup medal in 1989, following a 4-16 to 3-17 defeat of Munster in the final.[20] Coleman added a second winners' medal to his collection two years later when Munster were once again beaten.[21] Coleman won a third Railway Cup title in 1994, when he captained the team to a one-point win over Leinster.[22]

Coaching career

Coleman spent a number of years as coach and selector with the Leitrim senior hurling team.[23] He was part of the management team in 2019 when Leitrim won the Lory Meagher Cup for the first time following a 2–23 to 2–22 win over Lancashire in the final.[24]

Death

Coleman died on 7 February 2025, at the age of 61, following an accident at his home.[25] His wife and two children survived him and his funeral was held at Brooklodge's Church of the Immaculate Conception on 13 February.[26]

Honours

Player

Abbeyknockmoy
Galway
Connacht
Individual

Management

Leitrim

References

  1. ^ "The players fact-file". Conancht Tribune. 8 August 1988. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  2. ^ "St Jarlath's legacy continues to course through veins of Galway football". Irish Times. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Burke is Cuan's hero". Conancht Tribune. 7 December 1979. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  4. ^ "UCC a class apart". Cork Examiner. 4 March 1985. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  5. ^ "Loughrea issue a warning to final opponents". Connacht Tribune. 6 November 1981. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Abbeyknockmoy end seven years of championship frustration". Connacht Tribune. 18 October 1985. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  7. ^ "New champs never say die spirit shatters Athenry on an historic day for Abbey". City Tribune. 4 November 1988. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Vital switch clinches title for Kilkenny". Irish Independent. 7 September 1981. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Galway lose by a single point". Irish Press. 13 September 1982. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Another one for Galway". Irish Independent. 12 September 1983. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  11. ^ "A close call for Cork". Irish Press. 26 September 1983. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  12. ^ "It's Kilkenny by a point". Irish Independent. 6 August 1984. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Galway call up Pascal Ryan for league play-off". Connacht Tribune. 2 March 1984. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  14. ^ "Cooney is the hero as Galway triumph". Irish Independent. 4 May 1987. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  15. ^ "Kilkenny v Galway - A hurling rivalry". RTÉ Sport. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  16. ^ "8 classic memories from Galway and Tipperary's senior hurling championship rivalry". The 42. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Classic final: 1990: Cork 5-15 Galway 2-21". Irish Examiner. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  18. ^ "Galway wounds from 10 All-Ireland final losses reopened". Irish Examiner. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  19. ^ "Coleman back for Galway". Evening Herald. 20 July 1999. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  20. ^ "No joy for Munster". Cork Examiner. 9 October 1989. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  21. ^ "The Great Western line". Irish Independent. 8 April 1991. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  22. ^ "All-Galway Connacht win the crown". Cork Examiner. 21 February 1994. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  23. ^ "Michael Coleman reflects on 'a special day' for Leitrim hurling". Leitrim Live. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  24. ^ "Leitrim win first Lory Meagher Cup in extra-time thriller". Irish Examiner. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  25. ^ Fogarty, John (8 February 2025). "Galway All-Ireland winner Michael Coleman dies aged 61". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  26. ^ McGrath, Pat (13 February 2025). "Ex-Galway hurler Coleman was 'true gentleman', funeral told". RTÉ.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Coleman_(hurler)
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