Ned Courtney was an Irish footballer who played Gaelic football for Cork GAA and association football for Cork United, Cork Athletic and Ireland. Courtney, who played as a goalkeeper in both codes, was originally from Dublin and was a captain in the Irish Army. He won a Munster Senior Football Championship with Cork GAA before going onto win three League of Ireland titles. Between 1950–51 and 1952–53 he also played in three successive FAI Cup finals.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Edward Courtney | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 25 July 1997 | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Kickhams (Gaelic football) | |||
| Cork GAA (Gaelic football) | |||
| 1945–1948 | Cork United | ||
| 1948–195x | Cork Athletic | ||
| International career | |||
| 1946 | Ireland | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
editCork GAA
editIn 1943 Courtney was a member of the Cork GAA team that won the Munster Senior Football Championship. On 6 June 1943, in the semi-final stage, Cork drew 2–3 to 0–9 with Kerry at the Cork Athletic Grounds. On 11 July, in the replay at the same venue, Cork beat Kerry 1–5 to 1–4. In the final played in Fermoy, Cork beat Tipperary 1–7 to 1–4. Courtney also played for Cork in the 1943 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final at Croke Park against Cavan. However Cork lost 1–8 to 1–7. Among his teammates while playing for Cork GAA were Jack Lynch, Jim Ahern, Tadhgo Crowley, Éamonn Young and Nealie Duggan.[1][2]
Cork United
editCourtney signed for Cork United in 1945 and in the 1945–46 season he helped them win his first League of Ireland title. His United teammates included, among others, Bill Hayes, Jack O'Reilly, Florrie Burke, Owen Madden, Jackie O'Driscoll, Frank O'Farrell and Tommy Moroney.[3]
Cork Athletic
editWhile playing for Cork Athletic, Courtney won two more League of Ireland titles in 1949–50 and 1950–51. In 1950–51 he played in the first of three FAI Cup finals. Athletic beat Shelbourne 1–0 after a replay. In 1951–52 Athletic played Dundalk. Courtney played in a 0–0 draw, but missed the replay which Athletic lost 3–0. In 1952–53 they won the first all-Cork FAI Cup final, beating Evergreen United 2–1.[4][5]
Representative Honours
editIrish Army
editIn September 1944, the then Corporal Courtney participated in a 42 mile march that was later recognised as a world record for a speed march under peacetime conditions [6]
On 14 April 1946 Courtney played for an Irish Army XI that defeated an FAI XI 2–1. The Army team also included Con Martin, Willie Fallon and Tommy Moroney.[7]
Ireland
editIn June 1946 Courtney was included in the Ireland squad selected for an overseas tour featuring games against Portugal and Spain. However, he was only included in the squad after Hugh Kelly[8][9] withdrew. Courtney had to be driven from Cork to Dublin in an Irish Army lorry in order to join up with the squad in time. He made his one and only appearance for Ireland against Portugal on 16 June 1946 at the Estádio da Luz. It was a less than memorable debut however. After just twenty minutes, Courtney had conceded three goals with Araujo, Rogerio and Peyroteo all scoring. He was also injured trying to save Portugal's third goal and had to be replaced by Con Martin after only thirty minutes. Ireland eventually lost 3–1.[10][11]
Honours
edit- League of Ireland
- FAI Cup
- Winners: 1950–51, 1952–53
- Runners-up: 1951–52
References
edit- ^ Munster Senior Football Championship
- ^ www.gaacork.ie
- ^ McGarrigle, Stephen (1996). The Complete Who's Who of Irish International Football, 1945–96. Mainstream Publishing.
- ^ Graham, Alex. Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921-2005. Soccer Books Limited. ISBN 1-86223-135-4.
- ^ McGarrigle, Stephen (1996). The Complete Who's Who of Irish International Football, 1945–96. Mainstream Publishing.
- ^ O'Reilley, Terence (27 February 2020). "Quick march, into the record books: The night Cork soldiers made history". EchoLive.ie. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ David Needham: Ireland's First Real World Cup -The Story of the 1924 Ireland Olympic Football Team (2012, The Manuscript Publisher) ISBN 978-0-9571157-2-9
- ^ The Irish Times 22 May 1946
- ^ The Irish Times 8 June 1946
- ^ www.soccerscene.ie
- ^ www.fai.ie