Claus Dunne

Nicholas "Claus" Dunne
Personal information
Irish name Nioclás Ó Duinn
Sport Hurling and Soccer
Position Centre-forward
Born 1944
Mooncoin, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Died 27 March 2015 (aged 70)
Newrath, County Waterford, Ireland
Nickname Claus
Occupation Irish Shell driver
Club(s)
Years Club
Mooncoin
Club titles
Kilkenny titles 1
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
1965-1973 Kilkenny 12 (1-19)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 2
All-Irelands 2
NHL 1
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 13:11, 29 March 2015.

Nicholas "Claus" Dunne (1944 - 27 March 2015) was an Irish hurler who played as a centre-forward for Kilkenny.[1][2]

Born in Mooncoin, County Kilkenny, Dunne first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty when he first linked up with the Kilkenny under-21. He made his senior debut during the 1964-65 league. Dunne went on to enjoy a successful career with Kilkenny and won two All-Ireland medals, two Leinster medals and one National Hurling League medal. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.

As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team, Dunne won one Railway Cup medal. At club level he was a one-time championship medallist with Mooncoin.

Dunne made 12 championship appearances. He retired from inter-county hurling following the conclusion of the 1973 championship.

Playing career

Club

In 1965 Dunne was wing-forward on the Mooncoin team that faced Bennettsbridge in the final of the Kilkenny senior championship. A narrow 2-8 to 1-8 victory gave Dunne a coveted championship medal.[3][4][5]

Inter-county

Dunne joined the Kilkenny senior team during the 1964-65 league, a campaign which eventually saw Kilkenny lose out to Tipperary in the home decider. He was later included on the Kilkenny panel for the championship, making his debut on 27 June 1965 in a 1-20 to 3-8 Leinster semi-final defeat of Dublin.

After reaching a second successive league decider in 1966, Dunne collected a National Hurling League medal following an aggregate 10-15 to 2-15 defeat of New York. He later won a first Leinster medal following a 1-15 to 2-6 defeat of Wexford. The subsequent All-Ireland final on 4 September 1966 pitted Kilkenny against Cork for the first time in nineteen years. Kilkenny were the favourites, however, a hat-trick of goals by Colm Sheehan gave Cork a merited 3-9 to 1-10 victory.[6]

Kilkenny retained their provincial crown in 1967, with Dunne adding a second Leinster medal to his collection following a 4-10 to 1-12 defeat of Wexford after a scare in the opening half. On 3 September 1967 Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider. Tipp looked like continuing their hoodoo over their near rivals as they took a 2-6 to 1-3 lead at half-time. Goalkeeper Ollie Walsh was the hero for Kilkenny as he made a series of spectacular saves, however, the team lost Eddie Keher and Tom Walsh to injury in the second half. In spite of this, Kilkenny laid to rest a bogey that Tipperary had over the team since 1922, and a 3-8 to 2-7 victory gave Dunne a first All-Ireland medal.[7] He later won a fourth Cú Chulainn award.

Wexford put an end to Kilkenny's hopes of retaining the title in 1968, however, the Noresiders bounced back the following year with Dunne missing the provincial final defeat of Offaly. On 7 September 1969 Kilkenny lined out against Cork in the All-Ireland decider, with Dunne returning to the starting fifteen at right wing-forward. The Leesiders got into their stride following an early goal by Charlie McCarthy and led by six points coming up to half time when Kilkenny raised a green flag themselves. Kilkenny upped their performance after the interval and ran out winners on a 2-15 to 2-9 scoreline.[8] The victory gave Dunne a second All-Ireland medal.

Dunne retired from the Kilkenny panel in 1969. However, they recalled him 1973 after Eddie Keher became injured, to help Kilkenny against Limerick in the All-Ireland final on 2 September 1973, however, their plans were hampered as a result of injuries and emigration. In spite of this, the game hung in the balance for the first-half, however, eight minutes after the restart Mossie Dowling got a vital goal for Limerick. Shortly after this Richie Bennis spearheaded a rampant Limerick attack which resulted in a 1-21 to 1-14 victory for Limerick.[9]

Inter-provincial

In 1967 Dunne was at left wing-forward on the Leinster team that faced Munster in the inter-provincial decider. A 2-14 to 3-5 victory gave Dunne a coveted Railway Cup medal.

Honours

Team

Mooncoin
Kilkenny
Leinster

References

  1. ↑ "Cats mourn passing of two time All-Ireland winner". Hogan Stand. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Breheny, Martin (28 March 2015). "Kilkenny mourns deaths of two hurling greats". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "The ’Bridge and St Patrick’s look good". Kilkenny People. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Gentleman Jimmy played with and against the best and he never made an enemy". Kilkenny People. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "With caring Billy it is all about the love of Mooncoin and things Mooncoin". Kilkenny People. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Crowe, Dermot (5 January 2014). "Kings for a day find it hard to repeat trick". Irish Independent. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Stapleton, Shane (3 September 2010). "Famous Five: Tipperary-Kilkenny All Ireland finals". Eircom Sports website. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Cork v Kilkenny Classics: 1969 SHC final". RTÉ Sport. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Whooley, Declan (14 June 2007). "Puc Fado: a look back Limerick’s last All-Ireland success in 1973". Joe.ie website. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
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