Paul Kerrigan

Paul Kerrigan (born 16 December 1986) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays as a right wing-forward for the Cork senior team.^[1] He is the current captain of the team.

Born in Cork, Kerrigan was introduced to Gaelic football by his father, Jimmy Kerrigan, an All-Ireland medallist with Cork. He enjoyed Corn Uí Mhuirí success at colleges level with Coláiste Chríost Rí while simultaneously enjoying championship successes at underage levels with the Nemo Rangers club. An All-Ireland runner-up with the Nemo Rangers senior team, Kerrigan has won three Munster medals and six championship medals.

Kerrigan made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Cork minor team. Unsuccessful in this grade, he later won an All-Ireland medal with the under-21 team. Kerrigan made his senior debut during the 2008 championship. He went on to play a key role for Cork in attack during a successful era, and has won one All-Ireland medals, three Leinster medals and three National Football League medals. He has been an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, Kerrigan has yet to win a Railway Cup medal.

Playing career

Club

Kerrigan plays his club football with the famous Nemo Rangers club in Cork. He made his debut with the senior team in 2005 and has enjoyed much success since then.

In his debut year Nemo reached the final of the county senior championship with divisional side Muskerry providing the opposition. The mid-Cork side were no match for Kerrigan's side, as Nemo Rangers easily won the game by ten points.^[2] It was his first county winners' medal. Nemo Rangers subsequently represented Cork in the subsequent provincial club championship and even reached the final. Clare champions St. Senan's provided the opposition, however, Kerrigan's side gave another masterful display. A 2–12 to 1–6 victory gave Nemo the title and gave Kerrigan a coveted Munster club winners' medal.^[3] An All-Ireland final appearance beckoned for Nemo, with St. Gall's of Antrim providing the opposition. A close gave developed, however, at the full-time whistle Kerrigan's side lost out by the narrowest of margins. A 0–10 to 1–6 score line gave the Ulster men the All-Ireland title.

In 2006 Nemo Rangers reached the Cork county final once again. Dunmanway-based side Dohenys provided the opposition on that occasion, however, the city side proved the masters of club football for the second consecutive year. A 1–11 to 0–7 victory gave Kerrigan a second county winners' medal.^[4] Nemo went on the provincial trail again and reached yet another Munster club final. Kerry side Dr Crokes were the opposition, however, Nemo couldn't match their goal-scoring ability. Kerrigan's side lost out on that occasion by 2–10 to 0–10.^[5]

Nemo bounced back from this defeat and qualified for a third consecutive county final in 2007. Ilen Rovers were the opponents on this occasion, however, they couldn't stop Nemo's march to three-in-a-row. A 0–12 to 0–9 victory gave Kerrigan, the top scorer in the game, a third successive county medal.^[6] After completing the county three-in-a-row, Nemo later reached a third consecutive Munster club final. Ballinacourty of Waterford were the opposition and a close game developed. Nemo never really looked troubled and a 1–10 to 1–7 score line gave Kerrigan a second Munster club winners' medal.^[7] A second All-Ireland final appearance in two years soon followed with Dublin side St. Vincents lining out against Nemo. Kerrigan's side fought back from a six-point deficit, however, they still lost out by the narrowest of margins on a score line of 1–11 to 0–13.^[8]

In 2008 Nemo Rangers had the chance to make history by capturing a fourth county title in succession. All went to plan with Kerrigan's side lining out against Douglas. Nemo proved that they were the best club side in Cork once again with a 0–13 to 0–5 defeat of their nearest neighbours. It was Kerrigan's fourth county winners' medal in-a-row. Nemo, however, were later defeated by eventual Munster champions Dromcollogher-Broadford in the subsequent provincial club series of games.

Kerrigan's side looked set to become the first team ever to win five consecutive county championship titles in 2009, however, Nemo's march was halted in the early stages of the county championship.

Minor and under-21

Kerrigan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor football team in 2004. That year Cork qualified for a Munster final showdown with arch-rivals Kerry. That game ended in a 0–9 apiece draw.^[9] Cork lost the replay by three points. In spite of this Cork were still in with a chance of claiming the All-Ireland title. A 1–9 apiece draw was the result of their All-Ireland quarter-final game against Laois, however, Kerrigan's side were defeated at the second attempt.

In 2005 Kerrigan joined the Cork under-21 football team and was immediately appointed captain for the year. He made his debut in a Munster quarter-final victory over Kerry and, after overcoming Clare, Kerrigan subsequently lined out in the provincial decider against Limerick. A close game developed, however, Cork held on to win by 1–14 to 1–11 and Kerrigan collected his first Munster under-21 winners' medal. Cork were later beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Kerrigan was a key fixture on the starting fifteen of the Cork under-21 team once again in 2006. He lined out in the provincial decider that year against Waterford, however, the Decies were no match for 'the Rebels'. A 4–14 to 1–6 trouncing gave Cork the victory and gave Kerrigan a second Munster under-21 medal. Cork later manoeuvred through the All-Ireland series and reached the All-Ireland final against Mayo. That game was a close affair, however, at the final whistle Cork were defeated by just two points.^[10]

In 2007 Kerrigan was in his last year as a member of the Cork under-21 team. He lined out in the provincial decider that year against Tipperary and a high-scoring and exciting game developed. Cork won by 3–19 to 3–12 and Kerrigan added a third consecutive Munster under-21 winners' medal to his collection. Cork later reached the All-Ireland final against Laois. Another close and exciting game of football developed as neither side took a decisive lead. Colm O'Neill and Daniel Goulding combined to score two goals and to help Cork to a narrow 2–10 to 0–15 victory. It was Kerrigan's first All-Ireland winners' medal at under-21 level.^[11]

Senior

In 2008 Kerrigan made his debut with the Cork senior football team and lined out in his first Munster final. Kerry were cruising by eight points at the interval, however, Cork stormed back in the second-half. Kerrigan was introduced as a substitute as Cork stymied 'the Kingdom' in the second half and secured a remarkable 1–16 to 1–11 victory.^[12] It was Kerrigan's first Munster winners' medal. Both sides met again in the All-Ireland semi-final, however, after a thrilling draw and a replay Kerry were the team that advanced to the championship decider.

The following year Kerrigan had established himself as a member of the Cork starting fifteen, a team that were earmarked as potential All-Ireland contenders. After a defeat of Kerry in a replay of the Munster semi-final, Cork subsequently faced Limerick in the Munster final. Kerrigan had a poor game and was substituted in the second-half, however, 'the Rebels' eventually secured a narrow 2–6 to 0–11 victory.^[13] It was Kerrigan's second Munster title and gave Cork a save passage to an All-Ireland quarter-final meeting with Donegal. Kerrigan improved in that game and finished on the winning side after scoring a grand total of 1–4. He had another good performance in Cork's subsequent defeat of Tyrone. Cork then faced Kerry in the All-Ireland final and were surprisingly named as favourites. This tag appeared to be justified when Kerrigan's side led by 1–3 to 0–1 early in the opening half. The Kerry team stuck to their gameplan, helped in no small part by a Cork side that recorded fourteen wides. At the final whistle Kerry were the champions again by 0–16 to 1–9.^[14]

In 2010 Kerrigan was still seen as a key member of Cork's half-forward line. A defeat by Kerry in a replay of the provincial semi-final resulted in Cork being exiled to the All-Ireland qualifiers. After negotiating their way through a difficult series of games, Cork defeated Dublin to qualify for their third All-Ireland final in four years. Down provided the opposition on that occasion in the first meeting between these two teams since 1994. Cork got off to a lightning start, however, they eased off and trailed by three points at the interval. Kerrigan got his sole point of the match to put 'the Rebels' ahead for the first time in fifty minutes. Cork stretched the lead to three points, however, Down fought back. At the full-time whistle Cork were the champions by 0–16 to 0–15 and Kerrigan picked up a coveted All-Ireland winners' medal.^[15]

Honours

Nemo Rangers

• All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship:
  • Winner (0):
  • Runner-up (1): 2008
• Munster Senior Club Football Championship:
  • Winner (3): 2005, 2007,2010
  • Runner-up (1): 2006
• Cork Senior Football Championship:
  • Winner (5): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,2010, 2015
• Cork Under-21 Football Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2005

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2010
  • Runner-up (1): 2009
• Munster Senior Football Championship:
  • Winner (2): 2008, 2009
• National Football League (Div 1):
  • Winner (2): 2010 2011
• National Football League (Div 2):
  • Winner (1): 2009
• All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2007
  • Runner-up (1): 2006
• Munster Under-21 Football Championship:
  • Winner (3): 2005, 2006, 2007

Munster

• Railway Cup:
  • Winner (0):
  • Runner-up (1): 2009

References