Timmy McCarthy

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Timmy McCarthy
irish = Tadgh Mac Cárthaigh
fullname = Timmy McCarthy
placeofbirth = Castlelyons
countryofbirth = County Cork
bday=7
bmonth=9
byear= 1977
dyear=
dday=
dmonth=
height =
nickname =
county = Cork
province = Munster
club = Castlelyons
clposition = Forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Cork
icposition = Forward
icyears = 1999-present
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 5
icallireland = 3
allstars =
clupdate=
icupdate=

Timmy McCarthy (born 7 September, 1977) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Castlelyons and with the Cork senior inter-county team.

Early & private life

Timmy McCarthy was born in Castlelyons, County Cork in 1977. He grew up on the family farm and currently works as a farmer. McCarthy was educated locally and later attended the famous St. Colman's College in Fermoy. Here his hurling skills were first developed. He won two Ryan Cup medal and later captained the college hurling team to win the Harty Cup – the most prestigious trophy in college hurling.

Playing career

Club

McCarthy plays his club hurling with his local Castlelyons club and has enjoyed much success. He won a junior county title in 1997, a victory which saw the club promoted to the next grade. A remarkable run of success in 1998 culminated in McCarthy winning an intermediate county title. This win saw the club secure promotion to the senior championship for the first time in history. Castlelyons did not have much success at senior level, however, McCarthy also lined out with Imokilly. He won a senior county title with the divisional side in 1997. He won a second senior county medal in 1998.

Inter-county

McCarthy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor hurling team in the early 1990s. He won a Munster title in this grade in 1995 before later lining out in the championship decider. Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion; however, a Cork victory gave McCarthy his first All-Ireland medal. He later joined the Cork under-21 team and won a Munster medal in this grade in 1997. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final with Galway, the reigning champions, providing the opposition. Cork won on that occasion, giving McCarthy an All-Ireland medal in that grade. In 1998 he won a second consecutive Munster under-21 medal. McCarthy later collected a second All-Ireland under-21 medal following a second consecutive defeat of Galway.

McCarthy subsequently joined the Cork senior inter-county team. He won his first senior Munster title in 1999 following a victory over Clare. McCarthy’s side later qualified to play in the All-Ireland final. Arch-rivals Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion and were regarded as the favourites. Following a dour, rain-soaked game Cork emerged victorious by a single point, giving McCarthy his first senior All-Ireland medal. In 2000 he added a second consecutive Munster medal to his collection and Cork looked on course to retain their All-Ireland title. However, in the All-Ireland semi-final Offaly ambushed Cork and knocked them out of the championship. The next few years proved difficult for Cork, culminating in a strike by the senior hurling team in 2002. The team bounced back from this low point by reaching the Munster final in 2003. On that occasion Cork defeated Waterford following a memorable encounter between the two sides. McCarthy captured his third Munster medal that day. Following a great display by McCarthy in the qualifier game against Tipperary he later lined out in his second All-Ireland final. In a close and exciting game Kilkenny emerged as the victors by a goal.

The following year Cork reached the provincial decider once again. After one of the greatest Munster finals of all-time Cork lost their provincial crown by a single point. In spite of this McCarthy’s team later qualified for the All-Ireland final via the ‘backdoor system.’ Once again Kilkenny, who were bidding for a third championship title in-a-row, provided the opposition. Just like in 1999 the game was a dour one and was played on a rain-soaked afternoon. Once again the result was similar with Cork claiming victory and McCarthy capturing a second All-Ireland medal. In 2005 Cork regained their provincial crown, giving McCarthy a fourth Munster winners’ medal. While all the pundits predicted a third successive show-down between Cork and Kilkenny, it was Galway who provided the opposition in the championship decider. After an open and exciting game Cork retained their status as All-Ireland champions, giving McCarthy a third championship winners’ medal. In 2006 Cork launched an all-out bid to win a third successive championship title. Things got off to a good start when McCarthy captured his fifth Munster title following a second consecutive defeat of Tipperary. Cork later made it to their fourth consecutive All-Ireland final, with Kilkenny providing the opposition. Unfortunately, Cork were defeated by 'the Cats' on that occasion.

Cork’s hurlers had a poor year in 2007. The team lost to Waterford and Tipperary and were eventually knocked out of the All-Ireland series in a quarter-final replay with Waterford.

Provincial

Curran has also lined out with Munster in the Railway Cup inter-provincial competition. He captured a winners’ medal in this competition in 2007 as Munster defeated Connacht.

Teams