Nicholas O'Shea
Encyclopedia
Nicholas O’Shea was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Kickham’s and was a member of the Dublin
inter-county team from 1888 until 1890. O'Shea captained Dublin to their very first All-Ireland
title in 1889.
, County Tipperary
in 1862. Born of farming stock, he received a brief education at the local national school before moving to Dublin. After working in the capital city for some time O'Shea accumulated enough money in 1893 to buy a pub in Clonskeagh
. As of 2009 the pub is still in existence and is still in the ownership of the O'Shea family.
Nicholas O'Shea died at the young age of forty-six in 1908.
team to represent the county in 1888. That year 'the Metropolitans' reached the final of the very first Leinster Championship
with Kilkenny
providing the opposition. A low-scoring game developed over the course of the hour, with victory going to 'the Cats' by 0-7 to 0-3.
In 1889 O'Shea was appointed captain of the Dublin senior hurling team. That year his team only had to play one game to be declared provincial champions. After defeating Wexford
O'Shea's team were give a walkover by Laois
in the Leinster final. Dublin's next game was an All-Ireland final meeting with Clare
. All did not go to plan as O'Shea's side trailed by 1-5 to 1-0 at the interval. Heavy rain spoiled the meatch and made the surface very slippery as the Clare men played in their bare feet. Dublin fought back in the second-half with three goals by W.J. Spain
. A full-time score of 5-1 to 1-6 gave Dublin the title and gave O'Shea a coveted All-Ireland
winners' medal.
O'Shea played with Dublin again in 1890 as his team set out to retain their title. 'The Dubs', however, made an early exit from the provincial championship.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
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 Kickham’s and was a member of the Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
inter-county team from 1888 until 1890. O'Shea captained Dublin to their very first 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....
title in 1889.
Biography
Nicholas O'Shea was born in Tullohea, South Lodge just outside Carrick-on-SuirCarrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. As the name – meaning "the rock of the Suir" – suggests, the town is situated on the River Suir. The of the town gives the population as 5,906 and shows that it has grown by 5.7% since 2002...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in 1862. Born of farming stock, he received a brief education at the local national school before moving to Dublin. After working in the capital city for some time O'Shea accumulated enough money in 1893 to buy a pub in Clonskeagh
Clonskeagh
Clonskeagh or Clonskea , is a southern suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The district straddles the River Dodder.-Location and access:Whilst located fully within the traditional County Dublin, Clonskeagh lies partially within the administrative area of Dublin City Council but mostly in that of Dun...
. As of 2009 the pub is still in existence and is still in the ownership of the O'Shea family.
Nicholas O'Shea died at the young age of forty-six in 1908.
Club
After moving to Dublin O'Shea started hurling with the Kickham’s club and enjoyed much success. In 1889 he won a coveted county senior championship title as Kickham's emerged as the top club in the capital. O'Shea added a second county title to his collection in 1890 when Kickham's retained their county champions status.Inter-county
O'Shea was a key member of the very first DublinDublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
team to represent the county in 1888. That year 'the Metropolitans' reached the final of the very first Leinster Championship
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster 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 Leinster in Ireland....
with 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...
providing the opposition. A low-scoring game developed over the course of the hour, with victory going to 'the Cats' by 0-7 to 0-3.
In 1889 O'Shea was appointed captain of the Dublin senior hurling team. That year his team only had to play one game to be declared provincial champions. After defeating Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
O'Shea's team were give a walkover by Laois
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
in the Leinster final. Dublin's next game was an All-Ireland final meeting with Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
. All did not go to plan as O'Shea's side trailed by 1-5 to 1-0 at the interval. Heavy rain spoiled the meatch and made the surface very slippery as the Clare men played in their bare feet. Dublin fought back in the second-half with three goals by W.J. Spain
W.J. Spain
William J. Spain was a famous Irish dual player. He played Gaelic football with his local club Commercials and with the Limerick senior inter-county team in the 1880s...
. A full-time score of 5-1 to 1-6 gave Dublin the title and gave O'Shea a coveted 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....
winners' medal.
O'Shea played with Dublin again in 1890 as his team set out to retain their title. 'The Dubs', however, made an early exit from the provincial championship.