Séamus Looney
Encyclopedia
Séamus Looney is an Irish
retired sportsperson. A dual player
at the highest levels, he played hurling
and Gaelic football
with his local club St. Finbarr's
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county teams in both codes from 1969 until 1977.
at minor level with Cork. He first tasted success with the Cork Gaelic football
ers who won both Munster and All-Ireland
honours in 1967. This feat was repeated in 1968 with Looney playing a key role on the full-back line as he captured another pair of provincial and All-Ireland medals. 1968 also saw Looney come to the fore with the county’s minor hurling team, as he won a Munster title but lost out on an All-Ireland
medal.
Looney subsequently moved on to the under-21 grades in both hurling and football. It was the beginning of a hugely successful period for the county. In 1969 Looney won his first set of Munster and All-Ireland
under-21 hurling titles. He also captured a Munster under-21 football title for good measure. 1970 saw the success continue with Looney winning a second consecutive set of provincial and All-Ireland medals in hurling. That year he also added both Munster and All-Ireland
under-21 football medals to his ever-growing collection of honours. In 1971 Looney completed a famous three-in-a-row with the under-21 hurlers when they captured the Munster and All-Ireland titles for a third successive year. Not to be outdone the Cork under-21 footballers also retained their Munster and All-Ireland honours, making it two-in-a-row.
title, before later collecting his very first senior Munster
title. Cork later beat Wexford
in the first 80-minute championship decider, giving Looney his first All-Ireland
medal. By 1971 Looney was also lining out for the county’s senior football team. He won a Munster
title that year, however, the team was knocked out in the All-Ireland semi-final. 1972 saw Looney add a second National Hurling League medal to his collection, as well as a second Munster hurling title. Cork were later defeated by Kilkenny
in a thrilling All-Ireland final.
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...
retired sportsperson. A dual player
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
at the highest levels, 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...
and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with his local club St. Finbarr's
St. Finbarr's GAA
St. Finbarr's National Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Togher area of Cork city, County Cork, Ireland....
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county teams in both codes from 1969 until 1977.
Minor & under-21
Looney first came to prominence as a dual playerDual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
at minor level with Cork. He first tasted success with the Cork Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
ers who won both Munster and All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
honours in 1967. This feat was repeated in 1968 with Looney playing a key role on the full-back line as he captured another pair of provincial and All-Ireland medals. 1968 also saw Looney come to the fore with the county’s minor hurling team, as he won a Munster title but lost out on an 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...
medal.
Looney subsequently moved on to the under-21 grades in both hurling and football. It was the beginning of a hugely successful period for the county. In 1969 Looney won his first set of Munster and All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
under-21 hurling titles. He also captured a Munster under-21 football title for good measure. 1970 saw the success continue with Looney winning a second consecutive set of provincial and All-Ireland medals in hurling. That year he also added both Munster and All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months...
under-21 football medals to his ever-growing collection of honours. In 1971 Looney completed a famous three-in-a-row with the under-21 hurlers when they captured the Munster and All-Ireland titles for a third successive year. Not to be outdone the Cork under-21 footballers also retained their Munster and All-Ireland honours, making it two-in-a-row.
Senior
By 1970 Looney was a key player on the Cork senior hurling team. He began that year by winning his first National Hurling LeagueNational 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, before later collecting his very first senior 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 beat 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...
in the first 80-minute championship decider, giving Looney his 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....
medal. By 1971 Looney was also lining out for the county’s senior football team. He won a Munster
Munster Senior Football Championship
The Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
title that year, however, the team was knocked out in the All-Ireland semi-final. 1972 saw Looney add a second National Hurling League medal to his collection, as well as a second Munster hurling title. Cork were later defeated by 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...
in a thrilling All-Ireland final.