Martin Coleman, Jnr

Martin Coleman, Jnr (born 15 February 1983 in Ballinhassig, County Cork) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Ballinhassig and made his debut with the Cork senior inter-county team in 2008. He is the son of Martin Coleman, Snr, an All-Ireland-winning goalkeeper with Cork.

Playing career

Club

Coleman plays his club hurling with his local club in Ballinhassig and has enjoyed much success. He won a county junior championship winners' medal in 2002 following a victory over Fr. O'Neill's.^[1] Ballinhassig later represented Cork in the provincial series of games. A 6-7 to 2-8 defeat of Tipp's Ballinahinch gave Coleman a coveted Munster club winners' medal at junior level. The club later qualified for the All-Ireland final. Ballinhassig won that game and Coleman picked up a coveted All-Ireland title.

Ballinhassig later joined the ranks of the county premier intermediate championship. The club defeated Aghada in the final of that grade in 2005, giving Coleman another county winners' medal.^[2] Once again the club later represented Cork in the provincial series. Ballinhassig reached the final of that competition also. A 1-12 to 0-13 defeat of Ballyduff Upper gave Coleman a Munster, however, there would be no All-Ireland title.^[3]

Coleman and Ballinhassig currently play hurling in the county senior championship.

Inter-county

Coleman first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork intermediate hurling team in 2003. That year he won a Munster winners' medal following a 2-12 to 0-11 defeat of Waterford.^[4] He later lined out in the All-Ireland final with Kilkenny providing the opposition. In a classic game of hurling both sides were still level at the full-time whistle. There was little to separate the sides in a period of extra-time, however, Cork narrowly emerged victorious by 1-21 to 0-23.^[5]

Around this time Coleman also became a member of the Cork senior hurling panel. Since 2003 he has won three Munster and two All-Ireland winners' medals, however, they have all been claimed as a non-playing substitute.

In 2008 Coleman made an unexpected debut for the senior team. In an All-Ireland qualifier against Galway, regular goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack was red-carded just before half-time. Coleman was quickly deployed into the goalkeeping position and had to immediately save a penalty. Joe Canning converted that penalty and Cork faced an uphill battle. 'The Rebels' fought back accordinglyand won the game by 0-23 to 2-15.^[6] Cusack returned as the goalkeeper for all subsequent championship games, however, Coleman was lauded for a fine performance in difficult circumstances.

References