Christopher Joyce (hurler)

Christopher Joyce

Personal information
Irish name	Cristóir Seoighe
Sport	Hurling
Position	Centre Back
Born	4 January 1992 Cork, Ireland
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Club(s)
Years	Club
2009-	Na Piarsaigh
Inter-county(ies)*
Years	County	Apps (scores)
2012-	Cork	11 (0-1)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	1
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 17 July 2014.

Christopher Joyce (born 4 January 1992) is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a left wing-back for the Cork senior team.^[1][2]

Born in Cork, Joyce first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Cork minor team, before later lining out with the under-21 side. He made his senior debut in the 2012 championship.^[3] Joyce has since gone on to play a key part in defence for Cork, and has won one Munster medal. He has been an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At club level Joyce plays hurling and Gaelic football with Na Piarsaigh.

Playing career

Club

In 2013 Joyce enjoyed his first major success with the Na Piarsaigh senior hurling team. A 0-20 to 2-9 defeat of Sarsfield's gave him a Hurling League medal.^[4]

Inter-county

Joyce first played for Cork with the minor and under-21 teams, however, he enjoyed little success in these grades.

On 7 July 2012 Joyce made his senior championship debut in a 1-26 to 2-16 defeat of Offaly in the All-Ireland qualifiers. He became Cork's first choice centre-back for the championship the following year, lining out in his first Munster decider, however, Cork faced a 0-24 to 0-15 defeat by Limerick.^[5] On 8 September 2013 Joyce lined out against Clare in his first All-Ireland final. Three second-half goals through Conor Lehane, Anthony Nash and Pa Cronin, and a tenth point of the game from Patrick Horgan gave Cork a one-point lead as injury time came to an end. A last-gasp point from corner-back Domhnall O'Donovan earned Clare a 0-25 to 3-16 draw.^[6] The replay on 28 September was regarded as one of the best in recent years. Clare's Shane O'Donnell was a late addition to the team, and went on to score a hat-trick of goals in the first nineteen minutes of the game. Patrick Horgan top scored for Cork, however, further goals from Conor McGrath and Darach Honan secured a 5-16 to 3-16 victory for Clare.^[7]

In 2014 Joyce won his first Munster medal as goals by Séamus Harnedy and Paudie O'Sullivan gave Cork a 2-24 to 0-24 victory over Limerick in the provincial decider.^[8]

Honours

Team

Na Piarsaigh

• Cork Senior Hurling League (1): 2013

Cork

• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2014

References

1. "Player profiles: Christopher Joyce". Cork GAA website. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
2. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (12 July 2014). "Maturing Joyce at the heart of Rebel evolution". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
3. "Cork hurlers make two changes for qualifier against Offaly". RTÉ Sport. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
4. O'Callaghan, Therese (9 December 2013). "Battling Piarsaigh bounce back". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
5. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (15 July 2013). "Day of joy sends tremor through Treaty". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
6. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 September 2013). "An emotional, riveting roller-coaster". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
7. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (30 September 2013). "A day borrowed from the hurling gods". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
8. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (14 July 2014). "Irrepressible Rebels rule Munster again". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 July 2014.