Pat Fleury
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Irish name | Pádraig Ó Fíobhra | ||
Sport | Hurling | ||
Position | Left corner-back | ||
Born |
Drumcullen, County Offaly, Ireland | 18 May 1956||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
Occupation | Secondary school teacher | ||
Club(s) | |||
Years | Club | ||
Drumcullen | |||
Club titles | |||
Offaly titles | 0 | ||
Inter-county(ies)* | |||
Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1975–1986 | Offaly | 31 (0-00) | |
Inter-county titles | |||
Leinster titles | 4 | ||
All-Irelands | 2 | ||
NHL | 0 | ||
All Stars | 2 | ||
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 21:13, 1 April 2015. |
Patrick "Pat" Fleury (born 18 May 1956) is an Irish former hurler who played as a right corner-back for the Offaly senior hurling team.
Born in Drumcullen, County Offaly, Fleury first played competitive hurling during his schooling at Presentation Brothers College in Birr. He arrived on the inter-county scene when he first linked up with the Offaly minor team before later joining the under-21 side. He made his senior debut during the 1975 championship. Fleury later became a regular member of the starting fifteen and won two All-Ireland medals and four Leinster medals. The All-Ireland-winning captain of 1985, Fleury was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.
As a member of the
Throughout his career Fleury made 31 championship appearances. He retired from inter-county hurling following the conclusion of the 1986 championship.
In retirement from playing Fleury became involved in team management and punditry. He managed the Offaly senior hurling team for one season while he is a regular contributor as a hurling analyst and co-commentator on GAA Beo.
Playing career
Colleges
During his schooling at the Presentation College in Birr, Fleury established himself as a key member of the senior hurling team. In 1973 he won an All-Ireland colleges medal in the "B" grade.
University
During his studies at
Club
Fleury played his club hurling with Drumcullen. In 1974 he was just out of the minor grade when he won a championship medal in the junior grade.
Inter-county
Fleury first came to prominence on the inter-county scene for Offaly at both minor and under-21 levels, however, he had little success in either of these grades.
After making some appearances in the pre-season Walsh Cup, Fleury made his senior championship debut in a 6–6 to 4–12 Leinster quarter-final draw with Kildare. He was a regular starter in the league over the next few seasons, however, it wasn't until 1977 that he established himself as a member of the championship team.
In 1980 Offaly emerged from the doldrums to qualify for only their second provincial decider in fifty years. Reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkenny provided the opposition, however, a remarkable 3–17 to 5–10 victory gave Fleury his first Leinster medal. Offaly's dream season came to an end with a defeat by eventual champions Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Offaly proved that their success was more than a flash in the pan by reaching the provincial final again in 1981. Fleury collected his second Leinster medal that year as Offaly defeated Wexford by 3–12 to 2–13. This win allowed Offaly to advance to a very first All-Ireland final with reigning champions Galway. After fourteen minutes Pat Carroll scored the opening goal of the game for Offaly, however, neither side built up a strong lead. Straight after the interval goalkeeper Damien Martin was doing great work when he batted out an almost certain Galway goal. With just over twenty minutes left in the game Galway led by six points, however, the team failed to score for the rest of the match. Offaly, on the other hand, ate into this lead. Johnny Flaherty's controversial hand-passed goal with three minutes was the deciding score of the game. At the full-time whistle Offaly were the winners by 2–12 to 0–15. It was a first All-Ireland medal for Fleury.[3]
After suffering back-to-back Leinster final defeats to Kilkenny, Offaly triumphed once again in 1984. A 1–15 to 2–11 defeat of Wexford gave Fleury a third Leinster medal. Offaly subsequently advanced to the centenary All-Ireland final at Semple Stadium in Thurles. On the day, however, Cork were far too strong for Fleury's team. Although far from being a classic game Offaly were defeated by 3–16 to 1–12.
Offaly retained their Leinster title in 1985 with Fleury adding a fourth provincial memento to this collection following a 5–15 to 0–17 trouncing of
In 1986 Offaly lined out in an impressive seventh Leinster decider in-a-row. Kilkenny were the opponents on that occasion, however, Offaly were now a team in decline. A 4–10 to 1–11 score line gave victory to "the Cats" and knocked Offaly out of the championship. Fleury retired from inter-county hurling following this defeat.
Inter-provincial
Fleury also lined out with
Managerial career
University College Galway
Fleury first became involved in coaching during his university days in University College Galway. During his second year in the college he coached the first year team to both league and championship successes.
CBS Sexton Street
As a teacher at
Success was slow in coming, however, Sexton Street reached the Harty decider again in 1993. A 5–5 to 1–12 defeat of
Offaly
Fleury was appointed manager of the Offaly senior team on 6 October 1999.
Personal life
Born in Drumcullen, County Offaly, Fleury was educated at the local national school before later completing his Leaving Certificate at the Presentation College in Birr. He subsequently completed a Bachelor of Arts at University College Galway, before qualifying as a secondary school teacher.
Quotes
- "What happened us last year has finally been buried and thanks be to God." – Fleury's speech after accepting the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 1985.
References
- ^ "The Cups that Cheered". Higher Education GAA website. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ^ Moran, Seán (15 February 2017). "Degrees of neglect: the impossible world of third-level GAA: The compromising of UCD's Fitzgibbon Cup bid another result of current fixture chaos". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
The late Joe McDonagh is to be commemorated at the end of this month when his alma mater NUI Galway, formerly UCG, hosts the Fitzgibbon Cup weekend. There will be a dinner on Friday week at which contemporaries from the 1977 Fitzgibbon will honour the memory of the former GAA president, who represented his college in both football and hurling. Publicity for the event includes the information that four members of that UCG side, including McDonagh himself, went on to lead their counties around Croke Park on All-Ireland final day; three of them, Conor Hayes and Pat Fleury who would also manage finalists, and Joe Connolly lifted the Liam MacCarthy. Another member of the team was Cyril Farrell, who managed Galway to back-to-back titles.
- ^ "Offaly: The glory years". Irish Independent. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ^ "Galway aim to avoid a not so magnificent 7". Irish Independent. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ^ "Fleury named as Offaly coach". RTÉ Sport. 6 October 1999. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ^ Breheny, Martin (11 September 2000). "Goal hungry Kilkenny play Cat and mouse with Offaly". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ "Fleury steps down as Offaly boss". RTÉ Sport. 18 October 2000. Retrieved 11 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Crowe, Dermot (22 October 2000). "Fleury flees from Offaly cross-fire". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 April 2015.