Jim Buttimer

James "Jim" Buttimer (born 1909) was an Irish hurler who played as a goalkeeper for the Cork senior team.

Buttimer joined the team during the 1933 championship and later became a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the 1933 championship. During that time he won two All-Ireland medals, one Munster medal and two National League medals. Buttimer was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At club level Buttimer was a three-time county club championship medalist with St. Finbarr's.

Playing career

Club

Buttimer played his club hurling with the famous St. Finbarr's and enjoyed much success.^[1]

By 1932 Buttimer was the first-choice goalkeeper as the St. Finbarr's senior hurling team reached the championship decider. Carrigtwohill provided the opposition, however, the Barr's played with a strong wind in the first half and were 2-1 ahead before Carrig first score. St. Finbarr's built up a considerable lead at the interval and got another soft goal in the opening minutes of the second half, to lead by fourteen points. For the rest of the match though Carrig fought back. In spite of this, a narrow 5-3 to 4-4 score line secured the title for St. Finbarr's and a first championship medal for Buttimer.^[2]

Both Buttimer's side and Carrigtwohill met in the county final again in 1933. An exciting game produced a draw. The replay saw St. Finbarr's make no mistake. After taking an early lead they powered to a 6-6 to 5-0 victory. It was Buttimer's second championship medal.

Three-in-a-row proved beyond St. Finbarr's and the team went into decline for almost a decade. In 1942 Buttimer was in the twilight of his career when the club reached the county final once again. Ballincollig, a team who had defeated nine-in-a-row hopefuls in the semi-final, provided the opposition. The Barr's made no mistake and powered to a 5-7 to 2-2. It was Buttimer's third championship medal while the victory also brought the curtain down on his club career.

Inter-county

Buttimer joined the Cork senior hurling team in 1933 as sub goalkeeper. He was an unused substitute that year, however, he made his championship debut in a drawn Munster quarter-final against Tipperary the following year. Buttimer was dropped from the starting fifteen for the subsequent replay and was on and off the team over the course of the next few years.

In 1939 Cork made a breakthrough in the provincial championship after nearly a decade in the doldrums. A narrow 4-3 to 3-4 defeat of Limerick gave Cork the title and gave Buttimer his only Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Kilkenny. In one of the most iconic championship deciders of all-time, played on the day that World War II broke out, the climax of which was played in a ferocious thunder storm. While a draw looked likely as the hour drew to a close Paddy Phelan sent a seventy-yard free in towards the Cork goalmouth. The sliotar was gobbled up by the defence and cleared, but only as far as Jimmy Kelly who sent it straight over the bar for a one-point lead. Immediately after the puck-out the referee blew the whistle and Cork were defeated on a score line of 2-7 to 3-3.^[3]

Although defeated in the All-Ireland decider, Cork continued their breakthrough in 1940. An 8-9 to 6-4 defeat of Tipperary in the decider gave Buttimer his first National Hurling League medal. He added a second winners' medal to his collection in 1941 following a defeat of Dublin.

An outbreak of foot and mouth disease severely hampered the 1941 championship. As a result of this Cork were nominated to represent the province in the All-Ireland series. Buckley captained the team in the final against Dublin, however, it turned into a one-sided affair thanks to contributing goals from Johnny Quirke and Ted O'Sullivan. At the full-time whistle Cork had won by 5-11 to 0-6. It was one of the most one-sided championship deciders of all-time, however, it did give Buttimer a coveted All-Ireland medal.

In 1942 Buttimer was replaced as Cork's first-choice goalkeeper by Ned Porter and he was demoted to the substitutes' bench. In spite of this Cork reclaimed the Munster title and reached the All-Ireland final. Dublin provided the opposition for the second year in-a-row and the opening half turned out to be a close affair. Buttimer came on as a substitute as Johnny Quirke gave Cork a comfortable half-time lead thanks to a goal. In the second-half Cork went on the rampage. At the final whistle Cork were the champions by 2-14 to 3-4 and Buttimer had the honour of collecting a second All-Ireland medal on the field of play. He retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.

Honours

Team

St. Finbarr's

• Cork Senior Club Hurling Championship (3): 1932, 1933, 1942

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2): 1941, 1942
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 1939
• National Hurling League (2): 1939-40, 1940-41

References