Kevin Downes (born 14 October 1991) is an Irish hurler who plays for Limerick Senior Championship club Na Piarsaigh and at inter-county level with the Limerick senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a full-forward.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Caoimhín Ó Dubháin | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Full-forward | ||
| Born |
14 October 1991 Coonagh, County Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Occupation | Account manager | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
2009-present | Na Piarsaigh | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Limerick titles | 8 | ||
| Munster titles | 4 | ||
| All-Ireland Titles | 1 | ||
| Colleges(s) | |||
| Years | College | ||
2010-2014 | NUI Galway | ||
| College titles | |||
| Fitzgibbon titles | 0 | ||
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
2011-present | Limerick | 21 (3-22) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 1 | ||
| All-Irelands | 1 | ||
| NHL | 0 | ||
| All Stars | 0 | ||
| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 23:17, 24 August 2018. | |||
Playing career
editArdscoil Rís
editDownes first came to prominence as a hurler with Ardscoil Rís in Limerick. Having played in every grade as a hurler, he was full-forward on the college's senior hurling team. On 11 March 2010, Downes scored 1-02 from play when Ardscoil Rís defeated Thurles CBS in the final of the Harty Cup.[1] On 3 April, he was switched to left wing-forward for the All-Ireland final against St. Kieran's College. Downes was held scoreless in the 2-11 to 2-08 defeat.[2]
NUI Galway
editDuring his studies at NUI Galway, Downes was selected for the college's senior hurling team.[3] He was a regular member of the starting fifteen during the Fitzgibbon Cup and also served as chairman of the club.[citation needed]
Na Piarsaigh
editDownes joined the Na Piarsaigh club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels, enjoying championship success in the under-21 grades as a dual player before eventually joining the club's top adult teams.
On 2 October 2011, Downes scored 1-01 from full-forward in Na Piarsaigh's 2-18 to 0-13 defeat of Adare to win their very first Limerick Championship title.[4] On 4 December 2012, he won a Munster Championship medal following a 1-13 to 0-09 defeat of Crusheen in the final.[5]
After surrendering their titles the following year, Downes won a second Limerick Championship medal after lining out at centre-forward when Na Piarsaigh defeated Adare by 0-14 to 0-12 on 6 October 2013.[6] He was retained at centre-forward for the subsequent Munster Championship, which culminated on 24 November 2014 with him winning a second provincial medal after scoring a goal in the 4-14 to 0-08 defeat of Sixmilebridge in the final.[7]
Downes won a third Limerick Championship medal on 11 October 2015 after a 1-22 to 4-12 defeat of Patrickswell in the final. He top scored with 1-05 and ended the game as man of the match.[8] Downes missed Na Piarsaigh's subsequent Munster Championship final defeat of Ballygunner due to a concussion.[9] On 17 March 2016, he won an All-Ireland Championship medal after scoring 1-02 in Na Piarsaigh's 2-25 to 2-14 defeat of Ruairí Óg in the final.[10]
On 15 October 2017, Downes won a fourth Limerick Championship medal when Na Piarsaigh defeated Kilmallock by 1-22 to 2-14 in the final.[11] He won a third Munster Championship medal on 19 November when Na Piarsaigh defeated Ballygunner by 3-15 to 2-10 in the final.[12] On 17 March 2018, Downes was named at full-forward by played much of the match at left corner-forward when Na Piarsaigh suffered a 2-17 to 1-17 defeat by Cuala in the All-Ireland final.[13]
On 27 October 2018, Downes won a fifth Limerick Championship medal following Na Piarsaigh's 2-22 to 3-10 defeat of Doon in the final.[14]
Limerick
editMinor and under-21
editDownes first played for Limerick when he was selected for the minor team in advance of the 2008 Munster Championship.[15] He made his first appearance on 30 April when he scored seven points in a 3-21 to 1-12 defeat by Tipperary. Limerick's championship ended with a defeat by Cork in a play-ff, however, Downes ended the season as Limerick's top scorer.
Downes was eligible for the minor grade again the following year. After a second consecutive defeat to Tipperary at the quarter-final stage, he played his last game for Limerick on 5 June 2009 in a 4-08 to 1-14 defeat by Waterford in a play-off.
After progressing onto the Limerick under-21 team, he made his first appearance on 14 July 2010 when he came on as a substitute and scored two points in Limerick's 1-15 to 1-12 defeat by Clare in the Munster Championship.
Downes broke onto the starting fifteen of the Limerick under-21 team during the 2011 Munster Championship and was appointed captain of the team. On 3 August, he scored a point from full-forward when Limerick defeated Cork by 4-20 to 1-27 after extra-time to win the Munster Championship.[16]
Downes played his last game for the Limerick under-21 team on 18 July 2012. He scored two points from full-forward in a 1-16 to 1-11 defeat by Tipperary in the Munster Championship semi-final.[17]
Senior
editOn 13 February 2011, Downes made his first appearance for the Limerick senior team. He scored a point in Limerick's 2-09 to 0-06 defeat of Clare in the National League.[18] On 30 April, he scored 1-02 from play when Limerick defeated Clare by 4-12 to 2-13 to win the Division 2 title.[19] Downes made his first championship appearance on 12 June. He top scored for Limerick 2-01 in the 3-15 to 3-14 defeat by Waterford.[20]
On 14 July 2013, Downes lined out in his first Munster Championship final. He started the game on the bench but was introduced as a 65th-minute substitute and scored two points in Limerick's 0-24 to 0-15 defeat of Cork and a first title in 17 years.[21]
On 2 August 2016, Downes tore his cruciate in a club football game.[22] The injury ruled him out of Limerick's 2017 league and championship campaigns.[23]
Downes rejoined the Limerick senior panel in 2018.[24] On 19 August 2018, he was an unused substitute when Limerick won their first All-Ireland title in 45 years after a 3-16 to 2-18 defeat of Galway in the final.[25]
On 2 February 2019, Downes made his first appearance for Limerick in over 30 months when he lined out at full-forward in Limerick's 1-21 to 1-14 defeat of Clare in the National League.[26]
Career statistics
editInter-county
edit- As of match played 24 March 2019.
| Team | Year | National League | Munster | All-Ireland | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
| Limerick | 2011 | Division 2 | 7 | 5-07 | 1 | 2-01 | 3 | 0-04 | 11 | 7-12 |
| 2012 | Division 1B | 4 | 0-02 | 1 | 0-02 | 2 | 0-02 | 7 | 0-06 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 0-11 | 2 | 0-02 | 1 | 0-01 | 9 | 0-14 | ||
| 2014 | 5 | 0-07 | 2 | 0-03 | 2 | 0-00 | 9 | 0-10 | ||
| 2015 | 0 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 2 | 1-03 | 4 | 1-03 | ||
| 2016 | 2 | 1-02 | 1 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-04 | 5 | 1-06 | ||
| 2017 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2018 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | ||
| 2019 | Division 1A | 1 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | |
| Career total | 25 | 6-29 | 9 | 2-08 | 12 | 1-14 | 46 | 9-51 | ||
Honours
edit- Na Piarsaigh
- All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2016
- Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship (4): 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017
- Limerick Senior Hurling Championship (8): 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023
- Limerick Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2010
- Limerick Under-21 Football B Championship (1): 2011
- Limerick Under-21 Football All County Championship (1): 2011
- Limerick
References
edit- ^ "Ard Scoil Rís end Harty Cup marathon with historic victory". Irish Examiner. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ "Brennan's strike foils Ardscoil bid". Irish Independent. 4 April 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (31 January 2013). "Here's your 2013 Fitzgibbon Cup Guide: Part 2". The 42. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Keyes, Colm (3 October 2011). "Dowling fires Na Piarsaigh to promised land". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (5 December 2011). "Piarsaigh young guns come of age". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ Boyle, Donnchadh (7 October 2013). "Downes sets the tone for Na Piarsaigh to grind it out". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (25 November 2013). "Powerful Piarsaigh's blistering pace too much for tired Bridge". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Boyle, Donnchadh (12 October 2015). "Downes restores Na Piarsaigh as Limerick leaders". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Cahill, Jackie (23 November 2015). "Dowling goal puts seal on Na Piarsaigh glory trail". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Moynihan, Michael (18 March 2015). "Immortality for Na Piarsaigh as Cushendall rue big-day flop". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ "Na Piarsaigh see off Kilmallock to secure Limerick hurling crown". Irish Independent. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Keys, Colm (19 November 2017). "Late Na Piarsaigh surge sweeps aside Ballygunner in scrappy Munster final". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Keys, Colm (18 March 2018). "Cuala finish with four late points to finally see off Na Piarsaigh challenge and retain All-Ireland title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Small, Darragh (29 October 2018). "Boss Beary points to experience of troops as Na Piarsaigh impress again". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ "Minor side named". Hogan Stand. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ Rooney, Declan (4 August 2011). "Hannon on the mark to edge thriller". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (19 July 2012). "Maher ends Treaty defence". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ "Limerick step up to the plate for O'Grady". Irish Independent. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ O'Connor, Christy (2 May 2011). "Limerick on the rise". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ Kelly, Niall (12 June 2011). "GAA Mop-up: Mullane's late winner keeps Waterford alive". The 42. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (15 July 2011). "Day of joy sends tremor through Treaty". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (20 November 2017). "From torn cruciate in club football game to Munster hurling champion in the space of 15 months". The 42. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ "Kevin Downes counting his blessings after cruciate woe". GAA website. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (16 November 2017). "Downes back from cruciate, Reidy back from Kildare and U21 winners added to Limerick panel". The 42. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ McGoldrick, Seán (19 August 2018). "Limerick are All Ireland hurling champions for the first time in 45 years following epic victory over Galway". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Fallon, John (2 February 2019). "Impressive Limerick come from behind to see off Tipperary". The 42. Retrieved 24 March 2019.