Peter O'Grady
Encyclopedia
Peter ‘Hawker’ O’Grady, brother of the famous Hugo O'Grady was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Blackrock
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1920s and 1930s.
with the famous Blackrock
club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county titles
in 1924 and 1925, however, St. Finbarr’s caught Blackrock in the final of 1926. The following year O’Grady won his third county medal. Blackrock failed to reach the final in 1928, however, in 1929 he won his fourth county title. It was the first of three-in-a-row for O’Grady, bringing his county medal tally to six. The 1931 final victory was O’Grady’s last big occasion with Blackrock. The club would not win another county title until 1956.
in the Munster final for the second year in-a-row. That game ended in a draw, however, in the replay Cork triumphed with O’Grady collecting his first 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’Grady a coveted 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’Grady his second Munster title. 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’Grady his second All-Ireland title.
In 1930 O’Grady added a National Hurling League
title to his collection; however, Cork surrendered their provincial crown later that summer. The team bounced back in 1931 with O’Grady collecting a third 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. Eudie Coughlan
played a captain’s role in that game as he scored a point from his knees to level the scores. 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. After this game officials pressed for extra time, however, this was rejected. It was also suggested at a meeting of the GAA
’s Central Council that both counties be declared joint champions and that half an All-Ireland medal by given to each player. This motion was later defeated. 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’Grady his third and final All-Ireland medal.
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 Blackrock
Blackrock GAA
Blackrock National Hurling Club is a G.A.A. club located on the southside of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-History:...
and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1920s and 1930s.
Playing career
Club
O’Grady played his club hurlingHurling
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 the famous Blackrock
Blackrock GAA
Blackrock National Hurling Club is a G.A.A. club located on the southside of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-History:...
club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county titles
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
in 1924 and 1925, however, St. Finbarr’s caught Blackrock in the final of 1926. The following year O’Grady won his third county medal. Blackrock failed to reach the final in 1928, however, in 1929 he won his fourth county title. It was the first of three-in-a-row for O’Grady, bringing his county medal tally to six. The 1931 final victory was O’Grady’s last big occasion with Blackrock. The club would not win another county title until 1956.
Inter-county
O’Grady first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with Cork in the late 1920s. He made his debut in 1928 as Cork faced ClareClare 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....
in the Munster final for the second year in-a-row. That game ended in a draw, however, in the replay Cork triumphed with O’Grady collecting 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....
title. Cork later defeated 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...
in the All-Ireland semi-final before lining out against 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 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’Grady 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....
medal.
In 1929 Cork retained their provincial dominance for a fourth consecutive year. A 4-6 to 2-3 defeat of 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...
gave O’Grady his second Munster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a replay of the previous year’s game as Cork played Galway once again. Mick Ahern
Mick Ahern
Mick ‘Gah’ Ahern was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1925 until 1932.-Early life:...
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’Grady his second All-Ireland title.
In 1930 O’Grady added a 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...
title to his collection; however, Cork surrendered their provincial crown later that summer. The team bounced back in 1931 with O’Grady collecting a third 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
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...
for the first time since 1926. After a close game both sides finished level – 1-6 apiece. Eudie Coughlan
Eudie Coughlan
Eugene 'Eudie' Coughlan was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1919 until 1931. Coughlan captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 1931...
played a captain’s role in that game as he scored a point from his knees to level the scores. 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. After this game officials pressed for extra time, however, this was rejected. It was also suggested at a meeting of the GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
’s Central Council that both counties be declared joint champions and that half an All-Ireland medal by given to each player. This motion was later defeated. 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’Grady his third and final All-Ireland medal.