Martin Óg Morrissey
Encyclopedia
Martin Óg Morrissey was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Mount Sion and with the Waterford
senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.
in 1933. He was educated locally at the famous Mount Sion School where his hurling
skills were first developed. Morrissey captained the Mount Sion school team to win the Dr. Harty Cup
in 1953.
in the late 1940s. Morrissey later joined the senior team where he captured his first county title in 1951. Morrissey later played a key role as Mount Sion went on to capture nine county titles in-a-row between 1953 and 1961. The club captured four more county championship victories in the 1960s.
minor hurling team in the late 1940s. He played a key role at right corner-back as the men from ‘the Deise’ captured the Munster
minor title for the first time since 1929. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Morrissey’s team taking on Kilkenny
. A 3-8 to 4-2 victory gave Morrissey a coveted All-Ireland
minor medal.
Morrissey subsequently joined the Waterford senior hurling team and enjoyed further successes. In 1957 Waterford reached the Munster final for the first time in almost a decade. Cork provided the opposition on that occasion and were widely tipped to take the title. Waterford, however, outplayed ‘the Rebels’ and took the title giving Morrissey his first Munster
senior medal. Waterford later defeated Galway
in the All-Ireland semi-final, setting up a championship decider with Kilkenny. With fifteen minutes left in the game Morrissey’s side were leading ‘the Cats’ by six points, however, Kilkenny fought back to win the game by a point on a score line of 4-10 to 3-12. In 1958 Waterford were classed as one season wonders as they were trounced by Tipperary
in the provincial championship. Morrissey’s side bounced back in 1959 by reaching the final of the National Hurling League
. Once again, Tipp had the upper hand and defeated Waterford. In spite of this Waterford went on to defeat Cork in the provincial final, giving Morrissey a second Munster medal. This victory allowed Waterford to advance to the All-Ireland final where Kilkenny provided the opposition once again. The game is regarded as one of the all-time classics. Waterford led by five points at the break; however, Kilkenny came back and led by a goal with time running out. Just then Waterford’s Séamus Power
scored a goal for Waterford and the game ended in a draw. The replay four weeks later bagan badly for Morrissey’s side, however, Waterford came back into the game and outclassed Kilkenny. The score line of 3-12 to 1-10 resulted in Morrissey collecting his first senior All-Ireland
medal. Waterford surrendered their provincial title the following year and went into declined. In 1963 Morrissey’s side defeated Munster rivals Tipperary and the exiles of New York
to take the National league title. The 'home final' of the league turned out to be the provincial final, with Waterford defeating Tipperary in a low-scoring game giving Morrissey his third Munster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Waterford square up to Kilkenny for the third time in seven years. Once again, the game was regarded as a classic with 35 scores being recorded during the sixty minutes of play. Waterford trailed at half-time; however, they fought back in the second-half. The brillinace of Kilkenny’s Ollie Walsh
denied Waterford some more goals as Eddie Keher
scored a record 0-14. The final score of 4-17 to 6-8 gave Kilkenny the victory and brought an end to Waterford’s greatest hurling era. Morrissey retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured Railway Cup medals in 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1961.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Mount Sion and with the Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.
Early life
Martin Óg Morrissey was born in WaterfordWaterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
in 1933. He was educated locally at the famous Mount Sion School where his hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
skills were first developed. Morrissey captained the Mount Sion school team to win the Dr. Harty Cup
Dr. Harty Cup
The Dr. Harty Cup is a hurling competition for schools in the province of Munster in Ireland. The cup is presented to the winners of the Munster Colleges Senior "A" Hurling Championship. Players have to be under the age of 19 to compete. The winning team represents Munster in the Dr. Croke Cup...
in 1953.
Club
Morrissey played his club hurling with the famous Mount Sion club and enjoyed much success. He first came to prominence on the team that captured six minor county titlesWaterford Minor Hurling Championship
The Waterford Minor Hurling Championship is a hurling competition played by GAA teams in Waterford in Ireland. All players have to be under the age of 18 in the year in which they take part here. The competition is organized by the two divisions of Waterford GAA county board - East Division and...
in the late 1940s. Morrissey later joined the senior team where he captured his first county title in 1951. Morrissey later played a key role as Mount Sion went on to capture nine county titles in-a-row between 1953 and 1961. The club captured four more county championship victories in the 1960s.
Inter-county
Morrissey first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the WaterfordWaterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
minor hurling team in the late 1940s. He played a key role at right corner-back as the men from ‘the Deise’ captured the Munster
Munster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
minor title for the first time since 1929. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Morrissey’s team taking on Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. A 3-8 to 4-2 victory gave Morrissey a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
minor medal.
Morrissey subsequently joined the Waterford senior hurling team and enjoyed further successes. In 1957 Waterford reached the Munster final for the first time in almost a decade. Cork provided the opposition on that occasion and were widely tipped to take the title. Waterford, however, outplayed ‘the Rebels’ and took the title giving Morrissey his first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
senior medal. Waterford later defeated Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in the All-Ireland semi-final, setting up a championship decider with Kilkenny. With fifteen minutes left in the game Morrissey’s side were leading ‘the Cats’ by six points, however, Kilkenny fought back to win the game by a point on a score line of 4-10 to 3-12. In 1958 Waterford were classed as one season wonders as they were trounced by Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
in the provincial championship. Morrissey’s side bounced back in 1959 by reaching the final of the National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
. Once again, Tipp had the upper hand and defeated Waterford. In spite of this Waterford went on to defeat Cork in the provincial final, giving Morrissey a second Munster medal. This victory allowed Waterford to advance to the All-Ireland final where Kilkenny provided the opposition once again. The game is regarded as one of the all-time classics. Waterford led by five points at the break; however, Kilkenny came back and led by a goal with time running out. Just then Waterford’s Séamus Power
Séamus Power
Séamus Power is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Mount Sion and was a member of the Waterford senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.-References:...
scored a goal for Waterford and the game ended in a draw. The replay four weeks later bagan badly for Morrissey’s side, however, Waterford came back into the game and outclassed Kilkenny. The score line of 3-12 to 1-10 resulted in Morrissey collecting his first senior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal. Waterford surrendered their provincial title the following year and went into declined. In 1963 Morrissey’s side defeated Munster rivals Tipperary and the exiles of New York
New York GAA
The New York County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or New York GAA, is one of the county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in the New York metropolitan area...
to take the National league title. The 'home final' of the league turned out to be the provincial final, with Waterford defeating Tipperary in a low-scoring game giving Morrissey his third Munster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Waterford square up to Kilkenny for the third time in seven years. Once again, the game was regarded as a classic with 35 scores being recorded during the sixty minutes of play. Waterford trailed at half-time; however, they fought back in the second-half. The brillinace of Kilkenny’s Ollie Walsh
Ollie Walsh
Patrick Oliver Walsh , better known as Ollie Walsh, was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1956 until 1972 and subsequently served as manager of the team from 1990 until 1995...
denied Waterford some more goals as Eddie Keher
Eddie Keher
Edward Peter Keher , better known as Eddie Keher, is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game....
scored a record 0-14. The final score of 4-17 to 6-8 gave Kilkenny the victory and brought an end to Waterford’s greatest hurling era. Morrissey retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.
Provincial
Morrissey also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured Railway Cup medals in 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1961.