Jim O'Regan

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Jim O’Regan
irish = Séamus Ó Riagáin
fullname = James O’Regan
nickname =
placeofbirth = Kinsale
countryofbirth = County Cork
dob =
dob =
height =
nickname =
county = Cork
province = Munster
club = Kinsale
clposition = Half-back
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Cork
icposition = Centre-back
icyears = 1926-1936
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 4
icallireland = 4
nhl = 2
clupdate =
icupdate =

Jim O’Regan (1901-c.1980s) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Kinsale in Cork and Garda in Dublin. He also played hurling with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1926 until 1936. O’Regan’s inclusion on the Cork Hurling Team of the Century marks him out as one of his county’s greatest-ever players.

Playing career

Club

O’Regan played his club hurling with his local club in Kinsale, however, he enjoyed little in the way of success. After moving to Dublin he joined the Garda club and won a senior county title in the 1920s.

Inter-county

O’Regan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with Cork in 1926. That year Cork won the inaugural National Hurling League competition giving O’Regan his first major hurling title. Later that year Cork played Tipperary in the Munster final, however, it took three games for the two sides to be separated. Cork won on the third occasion with O’Regan collecting his first Munster. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Kilkenny at a snow-covered Croke Park in October of that year. O’Regan’s side took the lead at half-time and held on to win by 4-6 to 2-0. It was Cork’s first championship title since 1919 and O’Regan’s first All-Ireland medal.

Cork retained their Munster title in 1927, however, O’Regan did not play any part in the provincial final. He returned to the team for the subsequent All-Ireland final against Dublin. Cork fell behind by 2-3 to 0-1 at half-time; however, they fought back in the second-half. In spite of this ‘the Dubs’ won the day.

In 1928 Cork faced Clare in the Munster final. That game ended in a draw, however, in the replay Cork triumphed with O’Regan collecting his second Munster title. Cork later defeated Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final before lining out against Galway in the championship decider. Galway got a bye into the final without picking up a hurley, however, the game turned into a rout. A score line of 6-12 to 1-0 gave Cork the victory and gave O’Regan a second All-Ireland medal.

In 1929 Cork retained their provincial dominance for a fourth consecutive year. A 4-6 to 2-3 defeat of Waterford gave O’Regan his third Munster title in four years. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a replay of the previous year’s game as Cork played Galway once again. Mick Ahern scored a goal for Cork after just 25 seconds to start another rout. Cork won the day by 4-9 to 1-3 giving O’Regan his third All-Ireland title.

O’Regan won a second National League title in 1930, however, Cork surrendered their provincial crown later that summer. The team bounced back in 1931 with O’Regan collecting a fourth Munster winners’ medal. Once again it took a replay for Cork and Waterford to be separated. The All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny for the first time since 1926. After a close game both sides finished level – 1-6 apiece. The replay of the final took place four weeks later and is regarded as a classic. Cork took the lead at half-time, however, Kilkenny fought back. Once again both sides finished level – 2-5 apiece. The first week of November saw the second replay of the All-Ireland final take place. At the third attempt Cork triumphed by 5-8 to 3-4 giving O’Regan his fourth All-Ireland medal.

In 1932 Cork set out to defend the Munster and All-Ireland titles, however, Clare defeated O’Regan’s side on that occasion. Cork went into decline following that defeat and failed to reach another Munster final until 1939. O’Regan retired from inter-county hurling in 1936.

Provincial

O’Regan also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He first played for his province in the inaugural year of the Railway Cup competition in 1927, however, Leinster were the victors on that occasion. O’Regan remained on the team and helped Munster to capture the next four title sin 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931. He last lined out for Munster in 1933.

Teams