Christy Connery

Christopher "Christy" Connery (born 1967) is an Irish former hurler who played as a right corner-back for the Cork senior team.

Born in Cork, Connery first excelled at hurling during his schooling at the North Monastery. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Cork minor team before later joining the under-21 side. He made his senior debut during the 1987 championship and became a regular member of the team over the next few seasons. Connery won one All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute.

At club level Connery is a three-time county club championship medalist with Na Piarsaigh.

Throughout his career Connery made 3 championship appearances. His retirement came following the conclusion of the 1991 championship.

Playing career

Club

After enjoying championship success in the under-21 grade with Na Piarsaigh, Connery quickly joined the senior team. After losing the 1987 championship decider to Midleton, the club qualified for the final again in 1990. Southside kingpins St. Finbarr's provided the opposition, however, the game ended level. The replay was also a close affair, however, a narrow 2-7 to 1-8 victory gave Connery a coveted championship medal.^[1]

Na Piarsaigh failed to retain their title, while the club also faced defeat at the hands of Erin's Own in 1992. Three years later Connery lined out in a fourth championship decider as North Cork minnows Ballyhea provided the opposition. A 1-12 to 3-1 victory gave Mullins a second championship medal.^[2]

Almost a decade would pass before Na Piarsaigh qualified for the championship decider in 2004. By now Connery was a veteran on the team after enjoying a club career that spanned three decades. A 0-17 to 0-10 defeat of Cloyne gave him a third championship medal.^[3]

Inter-county

Connery first played for Cork as a member of the minor hurling team on 15 May 1985 in a 1-12 to 1-8 Munster semi-final defeat of Limerick. A subsequent 1-13 to 1-8 defeat of Tipperary secured a centenary year Munster medal for Connery. Wexford provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland decider on 1 September 1985. Connery collected a coveted All-Ireland medal following a 3-10 to 0-12 victory.^[4]

Three years later Connery was a key member of the Cork under-21 team. He won a Munster medal that year following a 4-12 to 1-7 defeat of Limerick. Cork subsequently faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider on 11 September 1988. Played in St. Brendan's Park, Birr to commemorate the centenary of the very first senior All-Ireland final being played there, Cork triumphed by 4-12 to 1-5, with Connery winning a coveted All-Ireland medal.

Connery joined the Cork senior panel in 1987 but didn't make his championship debut until 17 July 1988 in a 2-19 to 1-13 Munster final defeat by Tipperary.

In 1990 Cork bounced back after a period in decline, however, Connery's appearances were limited. In spite of this he won a Munster medal as a non-playing substitute following a 4-16 to 2-14 defeat of Tipperary. The subsequent All-Ireland final on 2 September 1990 pitted Cork against Galway for the second time in four years. Galway were once again the red-hot favourites and justified this tag by going seven points ahead in the opening thirty-five minutes thanks to a masterful display by Joe Cooney. Cork fought back with an equally expert display by captain Tomás Mulcahy. The game was effectively decided on an incident which occurred midway through the second half when Cork goalkeeper Ger Cunningham blocked a point-blank shot from Martin Naughton with his nose. The umpires gave no 65-metre free, even though he clearly deflected it out wide. Cork went on to win a high-scoring and open game of hurling by 5–15 to 2–21.^[5] In spite of not playing any part in the game Connery collected a coveted All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute.

References