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Donal Hurley (1936 – 21 January 2022) was an Irish Gaelic footballer, hurler and coach. At club level played with club sides Lees, Erin's Hope and St Finbarr's, and at inter-county level with the Cork senior football team.

Playing career

Hurley first played Gaelic football for Cork as full-forward on the minor team during the unsuccessful 1954 Munster MFC campaign. A year later, he was part of the St Finbarr's team that won the Cork SHC title after beating Glen Rovers in the final. Hurley added a Cork SFC medal to his collection in 1956, while he also had the distinction of winning a Dublin SFC title with Erin's Hope the same year, as his teacher-training studies in the capital made him eligible to play with the club.

After returning to Cork, Hurley resumed his club career with St Finbarr's in 1957. He won a second Cork SFC title that year, before claiming a third winners' medal as team captain in 1959. By that stage, Hurley had joined the Cork senior football team. He served as team captain in 1960.

Coaching career

In retirement from playing, Hurley became involved in team management and coaching. He was a selector when St Finbarr's beat St Michael's to win the Cork SFC in 1976. He was also a selector when St Finbarr's became All-Ireland Club SFC champions in 1987.

Personal life and death

Hurley spent his entire working life as a teacher at the North Monastery Primary School in Cork. He died on 21 January 2022, at the age of 85. Hurley was posthumously honoured when the cup for the newly created Cork PJFC was named in his honour.

Honours

Player

Erin's Hope

• Dublin Senior Football Championship: 1956

St Finbarr's

• Cork Senior Hurling Championship: 1955
• Cork Senior Football Championship: 1956, 1957, 1959 (c)

Management

St Finbarr's

• All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship: 1987
• Munster Senior Club Football Championship: 1986
• Cork Senior Football Championship: 1976

References

1. "Cork minor football teams: 1929-1969" (PDF). Cork GAA website. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
2. "The Barrs - a History". St Finbarr's GAA website. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
3. "New trophy is a fitting tribute to a Barrs legend". Echo Live. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
4. "Club Titles - Cork". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
5. "Cork senior football teams: 1960-1969" (PDF). Cork GAA website. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
6. "St Michael's have a point to prove after previous county final disappointments". Echo Live. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
7. Woods, Mark (10 November 2018). "The Barrs have had some great adventures in the All-Ireland club championships". The Echo. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
8. "Remembering lessons learnt as chalk dust settles on teacher's career". Irish Examiner. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
9. "The death has occurred of DONAL HURLEY". RIP website. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
10. Coleman, John (30 October 2023). "Barrs honour Hurley by reclaiming junior title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 November 2023.

• 1936 births
• 2022 deaths
• Lees Gaelic footballers
• Erin's Hope Gaelic footballers
• St Finbarr's Gaelic footballers
• St Finbarr's hurlers
• Cork inter-county Gaelic footballers
• Gaelic football selectors
• 20th-century Irish sportsmen