Peter O'Sullivan (hurler)

Peter O'Sullivan (born 1943) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a goalkeeper for the Tipperary senior team.

Peter O'Sullivan

Personal information
Irish name	Peadar Ó Súilleabháin
Sport	Hurling
Position	Goalkeeper
Born	1943 Cashel, County Tipperary
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Cashel King Cormacs GAA
Club titles
Tipperary titles	0
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County	Apps (scores)
1963-1972	Tipperary GAA	7 (0-0)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	1
All-Irelands	1
NHL	0
All Stars	0

O'Sullivan joined the team as substitute goalkeeper during the 1963 championship, and took over as first-choice goalkeeper at the end of the decade. He retained that position until his retirement after the 1972 championship. During that time he won one All-Ireland medal and one Munster medal.[1][2]

At club level O'Sullivan enjoyed a lengthy career with Cashel King Cormacs GAA.

Playing career

Club

O'Sullivan played his club hurling with his local Cashel club.

Inter-county

O'Sullivan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary minor hurling team in the early 1960s. He won a Munster title in this grade in 1961, following a 7-11 to 1-6 trouncing of fierce rivals Cork.[3] Tipp subsequently lined out against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland minor decider. A high-scoring game developed over the hour, however, O'Sullivan let in three goals and Kilkenny emerged victorious by 3-13 to 0-15.[4]

O'Sullivan later joined the county under-21 team. Here he won a Munster title in the inaugural year of the competition in 1964, following an 8-9 to 3-1 thrashing of Waterford.[5] An All-Ireland final appearance beckoned, with Wexford providing the opposition. That game also turned into a rout, as Tipp won easily by 8-9 to 3-1.[6] The victory gave O'Sullivan's an All-Ireland under-21 winners' medal.

O'Sullivan subsequently joined the Tipperary senior inter-county team, making his debut as a substitute in the Munster final defeat by Cork in 1970. He became the first-choice goalkeeper on the team in 1971 and it proved to be a successful year. That year he started in his first full Munster final against Limerick. An exciting game developed, however, at the full-time whistle Tipp were the 4-16 to 3-18 winners.[7] Kilkenny provided the opposition against Tipperary in the subsequent All-Ireland final, the first to be broadcast in colour by Telfis Éireann. In an exciting and high-scoring game Tipp relied on two freak goals to capture a 5-17 to 5-14 victory. The game itself is still remembered for the image of Babs Keating discarding his worn-out boots and playing the last few minutes of the match in his bare feet. The victory gave O'Sullivan a senior All-Ireland winners' medal in the senior grade.[8]

Tipperary quickly surrendered their Munster and All-Ireland titles in 1972, and O'Sullivan was replaced as goalkeeper in 1973.

Inter-provincial

O'Sullivan also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling championship. He played in the Railway Cup final of 1972, however, Leinster won the title by 3-12 to 1-10.[9]

References

1. "County profile: Tipperary". Hogan Stand website. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
2. "Munster Senior Hurling". Munster GAA website. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
3. Des, Donegan (2005). The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games. DBA Publications. p. 39.
4. The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games p. 29
5. The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games p. 48
6. The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games p. 42
7. The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games p. 26
8. Corry, Eoghan (2005). The GAA Book of Lists. Hodder Headline Ireland. p. 357.
9. The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games p. 82

Teams