Séamus Looney
James V. Looney (1950 – 6 June 2022), known as Séamus Looney, was an Irish former hurler and Gaelic footballer. At club level he played with St Finbarr's and University College Cork and was also a member of the Cork senior teams as a dual player. In spite of a brief senior career, he was one of the most decorated players of his generation having won ten All-Ireland medals at various levels between 1967 and 1975.[1][2]
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Irish name | Séamus Ó Luanaigh | ||
Sport | Dual player | ||
Football Position: | Right corner-back | ||
Hurling Position: | Centre-back | ||
Born |
1950 Cork, Ireland | ||
Died |
6 June 2022 (aged 72) Cork, Ireland | ||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
Occupation | General practitioner | ||
Club(s) | |||
Years | Club | ||
1968; 1974–1977 1968–1974 |
St Finbarr's → University College Cork | ||
Club titles | |||
Football | Hurling | ||
Cork titles | 3 | 3 | |
Munster titles | 1 | 1 | |
All-Ireland titles | 0 | 1 | |
Colleges(s) | |||
Years | College | ||
1968–1974 | University College Cork | ||
College titles | |||
Sigerson titles | 3 | ||
Fitzgibbon titles | 2 | ||
Inter-county(ies) | |||
Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1968–1972 1971–1972; 1977 |
Cork (hurling) Cork (football) |
11 (0–02) 6 (0–00) | |
Inter-county titles | |||
Football | Hurling | ||
Munster Titles | 1 | 3 | |
All-Ireland Titles | 0 | 1 | |
League titles | 0 | 3 |
Career
Born in Cork, Looney first came to prominence at colleges level with Coláiste Chríost Rí. After winning provincial colleges titles in both codes in 1968, he subsequently won a Hogan Cup title. Looney simultaneously made his first impact on the club scene and won a County Hurling Championship title with St Finbarr's in his first full season. His medical studies at University College Cork saw him spend five seasons lining out with the college in the championship and various other tournaments. During that time Looney claimed multiple Fitzgibbon Cup and Sigerson Cup titles, three County Championship titles across both codes and a Munster Club Championship title.[3][4]
On resuming his club career with St Finbarr's, he won an All-Ireland Club Championship in 1975.[5] Looney began his inter-county career as a dual player at minor level with Cork. After winning consecutive All-Ireland Championships as a footballer, he subsequently won five All-Ireland titles in three seasons with the respective Cork under-21 teams.[6] Looney was drafted onto the Cork senior hurling team in 1968 and was at midfield for their 1970 All-Ireland Championship success.[7] His other honours include two Munster Championship titles, three National Hurling League titles and a Munster Championship title with the Cork senior football team.
Death
Looney died in Cork on 6 June 2022, aged 72.[8]
Honours
- Coláiste Chríost Rí
- Hogan Cup: 1968
- Corn Uí Mhuirí: 1968
- Dr. Harty Cup: 1968
- University College Cork
- Munster Senior Club Football Championship: 1971
- Cork Senior Football Championship: 1969, 1973
- Cork Senior Hurling Championship: 1970
- Sigerson Cup: 1969, 1970, 1972
- Fitzgibbon Cup: 1971, 1972
- St Finbarr's
- All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1975
- Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1974
- Cork Senior Hurling Championship: 1968, 1974
- Cork Senior Football Championship: 1976
- Cork
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: 1970
- Munster Senior Hurling Championship: 1969, 1970, 1972
- Munster Senior Football Championship: 1971
- National Hurling League: 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72
- All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship: 1969, 1970, 1971
- All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship: 1970, 1971
- Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship: 1969, 1970, 1971
- Munster Under-21 Football Championship: 1970, 1971
- All-Ireland Minor Football Championship: 1967, 1968
- Munster Minor Football Championship: 1967, 1968
- Munster Minor Hurling Championship: 1968
References
- "Séamus Looney". Hogan Stand. 25 November 1994. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- "The late Séamus Looney's medal haul worthy of the player he was". Echo Live. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- "50 years on and still central to Cork club hurling – 'There's a brilliant attitude among these fellas'". The 42. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- Horgan, John (8 May 2020). "Classic county hurling finals: UCC denied Muskerry the double in 1970". The Echo. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- Coughlan, John (5 April 2020). "The Leeside legends series: JBM shone at every level for Cork and the Barrs". The Echo. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- Coughlan, John (23 September 2000). "Minors looking for tenth All-Ireland". Irish Independent. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- Horgan, John (22 April 2020). "Cork hurling dream team 1970–2020: Midfield men were central to Rebel glory". The Echo. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- "The death has occurred of Dr. Seamus Looney". rip.ie. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.