John McGovern (7 March 1932 – 24 February 2022) was an Irish hurler who played at club level with Bennettsbridge and at inter-county level with the Kilkenny senior hurling team. He usually lined out as a wing-back.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Seán Mac Shabhráin | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Left wing-back | ||
| Born |
7 March 1932 Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, Ireland | ||
| Died |
24 February 2022 (aged 89) Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Occupation | Oil company employee | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
1950–1971 | Bennettsbridge | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Kilkenny titles | 11 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
1952–1964 | Kilkenny | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 6 | ||
| All-Irelands | 2 | ||
| NHL | 1 | ||
Playing career
editMcGovern first came to prominence as a hurler at club level with Bennettsbridge. In a career that spanned 21 years, he won a record eleven Kilkenny SHC titles. McGovern first appeared on the inter-county scene during a two-year stint with the Kilkenny minor hurling team and ended his time in that grade with a defeat of Tipperary in the 1950 All-Ireland minor final. McGovern subsequently earned inclusion on the Kilkenny senior hurling team and served as team captain in his debut season in 1953. His senior career brought All-Ireland triumphs over Waterford in 1957 and 1963.[1][2] McGovern's other inter-county honours included six Leinster Championships and a National League title.[3] He won a Railway Cup medal as captain of Leinster in 1954.
Management career
editIn retirement from inter-county hurling, McGovern joined the selection committee of the Kilkenny senior hurling team in 1967. His eleven-year association with the team yielded five All-Ireland Championships, numerous Leinster Championships and a National League title.
Personal life and death
editMcGovern was born in Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny in March 1932.[4] He began his working life with Bennettsbridge Creamery before later working with Esso. McGovern died in Bennettsbridge on 24 February 2022, at the age of 89.[5][6]
Honours
editPlayer
edit- Bennettsbridge
- Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship: 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971
- Kilkenny
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: 1957, 1963
- Leinster Senior Hurling Championship: 1953 (c), 1957, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1964
- National Hurling League: 1961–62
- All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship: 1950
- Leinster Minor Hurling Championship: 1949, 1950
- Leinster
- Railway Cup: 1954 (c)
Selector
edit- Kilkenny
References
edit- ^ Commins, Michael (26 August 2008). "Hurling and the Hollywood link". The Mayo News. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ^ "Kilkenny cause major upset". Irish Times. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "Leinster Senior Hurling Finalists" (PDF). Leinster GAA website. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ O'Sullivan, P. M. (27 October 2018). "Johnny McGovern a lifetime at the heart of Bennettsbridge". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ Cribbin, Robert (25 February 2022). "Former Kilkenny hurler Johnny McGovern has passed away". Kilkenny People. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "Johnny McGovern RIP". Kilkenny GAA website. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.