Éamonn Young

Cmdt. Eamonn Young (1921–2007) was an Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with the Doheny’s, Collins and Army clubs and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1942 util 1953.^[1] Young is regarded as Cork’s greatest-ever player.

Playing career

Club

Young joined his local club Doheny's just as the club joined the senior ranks in 1939. Four years late rin 1943 he joined the Collin's club and enjoyed much success. Here he won senior county titles in 1949, 1951 and 1953. Young continued playing with Collins’ throughout the 1950s but returned to his native club, Doheny’s, in the 1960s with whom he finished his club career.

Inter-county

Young, ironically, first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor hurling team. He won a Munster medal at this level in 1938, and subsequently collected an All-Ireland. In 1939 the success continued and Young was a dual medal winner in Munster. He later won a second All-Ireland minor hurling medal in the company of the legendary Christy Ring. Young graduated onto the Cork junior football team in 1940 and won a Munster medal before joining the county senior team in 1943. He won a senior Munster title that year, however, Cork were later beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final. Two years later in 1945 Young won a second Munster medal before lining out in Croke Park for the All-Ireland final. On that day he won his only senior All-Ireland medal as Cork defeated Cavan. It was the Leesiders first championship title since 1911. Young won a third provincial title in 1949, however, Cork failed in the All-Ireland semi-final. Three years later in 1952 Young was captain of the Cork senior football team. That year he won a National Football League medal before collecting a fourth Munster title. Once again, however, Cork failed in the All-Ireland semi-final. Young retired from inter-county football in 1953.

Young also won Railway Cup medals with Munster in 1941, 1946 and 1949.

Retirement

In retirement from playing, Young served as a selector on various Cork football teams in the late 1950s. He died on August 3, 2007. Eamonn was an English and history teacher at Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh in Bishopstown, Cork City for many years after he feft the Irish army. He may not have been liked by all of his students but none will forget him. He was definitely a "one off" in every sense. God bless him.

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