Joe Cooney facts for kids

Joseph Cooney, born on March 17, 1965, is a famous Irish former hurler. He played as a centre-forward for the Galway county team. Hurling is a very fast and exciting sport, a bit like a mix of hockey and lacrosse!

Joe started playing hurling in school at St Raphael's College. He joined the Galway minor team when he was 17. Later, he played for the under-21 team. He made his first senior team appearance in the 1983 championship.

Joe quickly became a key player for Galway. He won two All-Ireland medals. He also won three Connacht medals and three National Hurling League medals. He played in four All-Ireland finals where his team finished as runners-up.

For his club, Sarsfields, Joe won two All-Ireland medals. He also won three Connacht medals and five county championship medals.

Joe's brother, Jimmy, also won an All-Ireland medal with Galway. His son, Joseph, also played for Galway.

Joe Cooney scored 10 goals and 102 points in his career. This makes him Galway's fifth highest championship scorer ever. He played in 35 championship games. He stopped playing inter-county hurling on January 24, 2001.

During his playing days, Joe won five All-Star awards. He was also named Texaco Hurler of the Year in 1987. He is often called one of the greatest hurlers of all time. He was chosen for the Galway Hurling Team of the Millennium. In 2009, he was picked as one of the 125 greatest hurlers ever.

In May 2020, the Irish Independent newspaper listed Joe Cooney as the eleventh best hurler in Ireland over the past 50 years.

Joe Cooney's Early Life

Joe Cooney was born in Bullaun, County Galway, in 1965. He was the tenth of fourteen children in his family. He went to school locally and then to St. Raphael's secondary school in Loughrea. His amazing hurling skills were noticed there. Soon, he was picked by the Galway county selectors.

Joe Cooney's Hurling Career

Playing for His Club: Sarsfields

Joe Cooney played club hurling for his local team, Sarsfields. He first won a county under-21 title in 1984. Five years later, in 1989, Joe won his first senior county title. After that, he won a Connacht club title.

In the All-Ireland semi-final that year, Sarsfields played Ballyhale Shamrocks. It was a special game because five Cooney brothers played against seven Fennelly brothers! Unfortunately for Joe, the Fennellys' team won that day.

In 1992, Joe won a second county title. He then won another Connacht club title. After that, he played in his first All-Ireland club final against Kilmallock. The game was very close. With only five minutes left, Joe scored a long-range free kick into the net. This won Sarsfields the All-Ireland club medal!

Sarsfields won their county and provincial club titles again in 1993. Joe played in his second All-Ireland final in a row. He was a hero in this game too. A goal in the 65th minute, set up by Joe, gave Sarsfields the win over Toomevara. This meant Joe won his second All-Ireland club medal! Joe added a fourth and fifth county and Connacht club medal in 1995 and 1997.

Playing for His County: Galway

Joe Cooney first became well-known playing for the Galway minor hurling team in the early 1980s. He won an All-Ireland medal in this age group in 1983. Galway beat a Dublin team that included a young Niall Quinn. Three years later, in 1986, Joe won an All-Ireland medal with the Galway under-21 team. They beat Wexford in that final.

By this time, Joe was also playing for the Galway senior hurling team. He made his debut in 1985 and played in his first senior All-Ireland final. Offaly was the other team. It was a close and exciting game. Joe scored a goal near the end, but it was not allowed. Offaly won the game 2–11 to 1–12. Even though Galway lost, Joe received his first All-Star award.

In 1986, Joe played in his second All-Ireland final. Cork was the opponent. Galway was expected to win easily. But after an exciting game, Cork won 4–13 to 2–15. Even though Galway lost again, Joe's great playing earned him a second All-Star award.

In 1987, Joe won his first National Hurling League title. Then he played in his third All-Ireland final in a row. After a low-scoring game against Kilkenny, Galway finally won 1–12 to 0-9. Joe won his first senior All-Ireland medal! He also received his third All-Star award.

In 1988, Joe played in his fourth All-Ireland final in a row. Tipperary was the other team. Noel Lane, who scored a key goal in the previous year's final, scored again at an important moment. This gave Galway the win. Joe won his second All-Ireland medal in a row!

In 1989, Joe won a second National League title. Galway looked like they might win a third championship in a row. But their star player, Tony Keady, was not allowed to play for a year. This made things difficult for Galway. They lost to Tipperary in a tough All-Ireland semi-final. Even though they lost, Joe still got his fourth All-Star award.

In 1990, Joe Cooney became the captain of the Galway team. That year, his team reached their fifth championship final in six seasons. Like in 1986, Cork was the other team. Again, Galway was expected to win easily. Joe played brilliantly in the first half, and Galway was seven points ahead at one point. But Cork fought back and won the game 5–15 to 2-21. It was a very disappointing loss for Joe. However, he still received his fifth All-Star award.

The next few years were not as successful for Galway. The team did reach the All-Ireland final in 1993, but Kilkenny won that game. The great Galway team from the 1980s was changing. Joe kept playing and won a third National League medal in 1996. But he did not have much other success. He retired from playing for Galway in 2000.

Playing for His Province: Connacht

Joe Cooney also played for Connacht in the Railway Cup competition. He won his first medal in this competition in 1986 when Connacht beat Munster. Joe won more provincial honors in 1987, 1989, and 1991.

Joe Cooney's Family Life

Joe's oldest son, Joseph, was part of the successful Galway minor hurling team in 2009. He played as a wing-back in that game. Joseph was also on the Galway under-21 team in 2010, which lost the final to Tipperary. Joseph also won an All-Ireland vocational school title with St. Brigids of Loughrea. He is currently a member of the Galway senior panel. He won the All-Ireland with Galway in 2017.

Joe Cooney's Awards and Achievements

Player Awards

Sarsfields

• Galway Senior Hurling Championship (5 wins): 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997
• Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship (5 wins): 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997
• All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship (2 wins): 1993, 1994

Galway

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2 wins): 1987, 1988
• Connacht Senior Hurling Championship (5 wins): 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
• National Hurling League (3 wins): 1986-87, 1988-89, 1995-96
• All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (1 win): 1986
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1 win): 1983

Connacht

• Railway Cup (4 wins): 1986, 1987, 1989 (as captain), 1991

Individual Awards

• Texaco Hurler of the Year (1 win): 1987
• All-Star (5 wins): 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990
• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Top Scorer (1 win): 1990
• Galway Hurling Team of the Millennium
• Club Hurling Silver Jubilee Team (1971–1996)