Tomás Mulcahy

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Tomás Mulcahy
irish = Tomás Ó Maolcatha
fullname = Tomás Mulcahy
placeofbirth = Blackpool
countryofbirth = Cork
bday=26
bmonth=6
byear= 1963
height = 6'2"
nickname = Mul
county = Cork
province = Munster
club = Glen Rovers
clposition = Forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Cork
icposition = Right corner-forward
icyears = 1983-1995
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 5
icallireland = 3
nhl = 1
allstars = 2
clupdate =
icupdate =

Tomás Mulcahy (born 26 June, 1963 in Blackpool, Cork) is an Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1983 until 1995. Mulcahy is currently the manager of the Glen Rovers senior hurling team and a pundit with "The Sunday Game".

Early & private life

Tomás Mulcahy was born in Blackpool, Cork in 1963. He was born into a family that was heavily involved in Gaelic games. His father, Gerald Mulcahy, was a staunch member of the famous Glen Rovers club. His sons all followed their father by becoming members of the club made famous by Christy Ring and Jack Lynch among others. Mulcahy was educated locally and later attended the North Monastery, a famed hurling academy in Cork, where he had much success. In 1980 he won a Dean Ryan Cup medal in junior hurling and a Frewen Cup medal in junior football. Mulcahy also won Dr. Harty Cup and All-Ireland Colleges’ titles with the school’s senior hurling team.

Mulcahy currently runs his own finance company in Wandesford Quay in Cork. He is married to Martina and they have four children - Darragh, Eimear, Saordha and Diarmuid who are twins. He lives in Glanmire.

Playing career

Club

Mulcahy played his club hurling with the famous Glen Rovers club in Blackpool. He also played Gaelic football with the Glen’s sister club, St. Nick’s. Mulcahy had much underage success with the Glen and had the honour of captaining the club to the Cork county championship title in 1989. It was Glen Rovers’ first county title since 1976 and the club hasn’t won one since.

Inter-county

Mulcahy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a dual player at minor level. He had little success in either [hurling or Gaelic football. By 1982 he had graduated onto the Cork under-21 hurling team. He came on as a substitute to capture a Munster title in that grafe as cork defeated Limerick in the provincial final. Mulcahy made a cameo appearance again in the championship decider and picked up a coveted All-Ireland medal following Cork’s victory over Galway.

Mulcahy quickly joined the Cork senior hurling panel and made his debut in a challenge game against Waterford in a full-forward line that included Jimmy Barry-Murphy and Seánie O'Leary, two of the legends of Cork hurling. By the time the 1983 championship began Mulcahy was a full member of the Cork starting fifteen. He won his first senior Munster title that year following Cork’s nineteen-point defeat of Waterford. A defeat of Galway in the next game set up an All-Ireland final meeting with arch rivals Kilkenny. ‘The Cats’ used a stromg wind to dominate the first-half; however, Cork came back into the game in the second. Goals by Mulcahy and Seánie O’Leary narrowed the gap; however, Kilkenny still won the game by two points. 1984 saw Cork continue their provincial dominance. Mulcahy picked up a second Munster medal following a defeat of Tipperary in a thrilling game. A victory over Antrim in the next game allowed Cork to advance directly to the centenary All-Ireland final. As a gesture to Thurles, the cradle town of the GAA, the final was held at Semple Stadium in the town. Offaly provided Cork’s opposition on that occasion and, in spite of celebrating one hundred years, it was the first meeting of these two counties in the history of the championship. The game itself failed to match the exciting occasion, however, Cork sealed the victory with second-half goals and Mulcahy was presented with his first senior All-Ireland medal. His excellent performance in the championship also earned him his first All-Star award.

In 1985 Mulcahy won a third successive Munster title following another exciting game with Tipperary. Cork, however, were caught napping in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final as Galway defeated Mulcahy’s side. By this stage he was also a member of the Cork senior football team. He came on as a substitute in the Munster final against Kerry as Páidí Ó Sé’s opposite number. Cork lost on the day and Mulcahy gave up football shortly afterwards in favour of the small ball game. 1986 saw Mulcahy add a fourth Munster medal to his collection following a 2-18 to 3-12 victory over Clare. Antrim fell once again in the semi-final, setting up an All-Ireland final meeting of Cork and Galway. The men from the West were beaten in the 1985 final and were the red-hot favourites going into the game. The game was a close affair, however, goals by John Fenton, Kevin Hennessy and two by Mulcahy sealed the victory for Cork and a second All-Ireland medal for Mulcahy. He was once again presented with an All-Star award. Cork went into decline following this game as Tipperary dominated the Munster championship for the next three seasons. Cork reclaimed their provincial crown in 1990, however, Mulcahy, in spite of being the team captain, missed the game through injury. He was fit enough to make a return in Cork’s All-Ireland final clash with Galway. Once again, Galway were the favourites and wer eout to capture a third All-Ireland title in four seasons. Shortly after half-time Galway were up by seven points and were cruising to victory. Mulcahy, however, played a captain’s role and scored a crucial goal that revitalised the Cork attack. The final score of 5-15 to 2-21 gave Cork the victory in one of the most open hurling finals in years and gave Mulcahy a third All-Ireland medal.Two years later in 1992 he won another Munster title, however, Kilkenny were victorious in the All-Ireland final.

Tipp wrested the Munster title from Cork again in 1991, however, Mulcahy won his fifth Munster medla on the field of pay in 1992 as Limerick fell to ‘the Rebels.’ After a defeat of Down, Cork advanced to the All-Ireland final where Kilkenny provided the opposition. It was the two sides’ first meeting in the championship in nine years. Kilkenny played into a strong wind in the first-half and were two points in arrears at half-time. ‘The Cats’ fought back and defeated their arch rivals by 3-10 to 1-12. For the next few years Cork hurling went into decline. Mulcahy did win a National Hurling League medal in 1993 following a three-game sage with Wexford, but he was dropped from the team on a number of occasions in the championship. He retired from inter-county hurling in 1995.

Provincial

Mulcahy also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured Railway Cup medals in 1984 and 1985.

Post-playing career

In retirement from playing Mulcahy has maintained a strong interest in the game. He has built up a close partnership with Cyril Farrell as two of the chief hurling pundits on RTÉ’s "The Sunday Game".

Even in retirement from playing Mulcahy has been described as one of the most popular players to have ever played hurling for Cork. He has served as a selector with the Cork under-21 hurling team and his name is frequently touted as being a future manager of the county’s senior hurling team. Mulcahy is currently the manager of the Glen Rovers senior hurling team.

Teams

References

* Brendan Fullum, "Captains of the Ash," (Wolfhound Press, 2002)