Éamonn Fitzpatrick

Éamonn Fitzpatrick (1951 – 11 August 2024) was an Irish hurler and coach. At club level he played with St Finbarr's and University College Cork and was also a member of the Cork senior hurling teams on a number of occasions.^[1]

Éamonn Fitzpatrick

Personal information
Irish name	Éamonn Mac Giolla Pádraig
Sport	Hurling
Position	Left wing-forward
Born	1951 (1951) Togher, Cork, Ireland
Died	11 August 2024 (aged 73) Togher, Cork, Ireland
Nickname	Fitzy
Occupation	Postman
Club(s)
Years	Club
1969–1989 1970–1972	St Finbarr's → University College Cork
Club titles
	Football	Hurling
Cork titles	2	8
Munster titles	0	3
All-Ireland titles	0	2
Colleges(s)
Years	College
1969-1972	University College Cork
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles	2
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County	Apps (scores)
1972–1975	Cork	0 (0-00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	0
All-Irelands	0
NHL	0
All Stars	0

Career

Born in Cork, Fitzpatrick first came to prominence at colleges level with Coláiste Chríost Rí. After winning provincial colleges titles in both codes in 1968, he subsequently won a Hogan Cup title. Fitzpatrick simultaneously made his first appearances on the club scene, winning a Cork MFC title with St Finbarr's in 1968, before progressing to adult level as a dual player.

The "college rule" resulted in Fitzpatrick transferring to University College Cork in 1970. He won a Cork SHC medal as a panel member in his first season, however, he missed the final as he was recuperating after operations for appendicitis and a pelvic abscess.^[2] He also won consecutive Fitzgibbon Cup medals during his time with college.^[3]

On resuming his club career with St Finbarr's, Fitzpatrick won an All-Ireland Club SHC medal in 1975.^[4] He claimed a second All-Ireland winners' medal in 1978.^[5] Fitzpatrick's other St. Finbarr's honours include three Munster Club SHC medals and a club record of seven Cork SHC medals.^[6] He also won a Cork SFC medal in 1976.^[7]

Fitzpatrick first appeared on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor football team that beat Derry in the 1969 All-Ireland minor final.^[8] He later became a dual player at under-21 level, winning consecutive All-Ireland U21FC medals in 1970 and 1971, as well as an All-Ireland U21HC medal in 1971.^[9][10] Fitzpatrick made a number of National Hurling League appearances for the senior team.

Coaching career

In retirement from playing, Fitzpatrick remained involved with St Finbarr's as a coach at all levels. He was assistant coach, under Charlie McCarthy, when the club's senior team beat Carbery in the 1993 final.^[11]

Death

Fitzpatrick died on 11 August 2024, at the age of 73.^[12]

Honours

Player

Coláiste Chríost Rí

• Hogan Cup: 1968
• Dr Harty Cup: 1968
• Corn Uí Mhuirí: 1968
• Dr O'Callaghan Cup: 1968, 1969
• Dr Browne Cup: 1968 (c)

University College Cork

• Fitzgibbon Cup: 1971, 1972
• Cork Senior Hurling Championship: 1970

St Finbarr's

• All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1975, 1978
• Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1975, 1978, 1980
• Cork Senior Football Championship: 1976
• Cork Senior Hurling Championship: 1974, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988
• Cork Minor Football Championship: 1968

Cork

• All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship: 1971
• All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship: 1970, 1971
• Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship: 1971
• Munster Under-21 Football Championship: 1970, 1971
• All-Ireland Minor Football Championship: 1969
• Munster Minor Football Championship: 1969

Management

St Finbarr's

• Cork Senior Hurling Championship: 1993