Ciarán Sheehan (dual player)

Early and personal life

Born in Farran, County Cork, Sheehan was educated at Scoil Naomh Mhuire Fearann in the village before later attending Coachford Community College for 3 years and then Coláiste Choilm in nearby Ballincollig. Here he played on the school football team, winning Cork colleges and Munster honours in all grades. Sheehan later attended Cork Institute of Technology, where he studied services engineering. As of 2022, Sheehan was working for a renewable energy research company in Cork.

Playing career

Club

Sheehan has played his club hurling and football with the Éire Óg club. After progressing through various juvenile grades, he played as a dual player for the club in the minor grades. In 2006, he won a Cork Minor A Football Championship with the club, following a victory over Mitchelstown GAA.

Two years later, Sheehan added a Cork Minor A Hurling Championship medal to his collection after defeating Erin's Own in the final.

By 2008, Sheehan had become a key forward on the Éire Óg's junior football team. He won a Mid Cork title that year following a one-goal victory over Dripsey. Sheehan's side later claimed the Cork Junior Football Championship following a 1–8 to 1–5 defeat of Ballygarvan.

In 2019, he won a Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship after his return from Australia.

Minor, Under-21 and Junior

Sheehan first played for Cork with the county's minor football team in 2007. That year he won a Munster Minor Football Championship title following a 1–16 to 2–8 defeat of Kerry.

By 2008, Sheehan had made it onto the Cork minor hurling team. He added a Munster Minor Hurling Championship title to his collection following a one-point defeat of Tipperary.

Sheehan subsequently joined the Cork under-21 panels in both codes. In 2009, he won a Munster Under-21 Football Championship title following a 1–9 to 2–5 defeat of Tipperary. Cork later played Down in an All-Ireland final. It took a late goal from Colm O'Driscoll to secure a 1–13 to 2–9 victory for Cork and an All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship medal for Sheehan.

In 2009, Sheehan won a Munster Junior Football Championship title, following a 1–21 to 0–13 defeat of Clare. Sheehan, however, did not play any part in Cork's subsequent All-Ireland Junior Football Championship victory.

After a quiet season in 2010, Sheehan secured a second Munster under-21 football title in 2011 following a 2–24 to 0–8 win over Kerry. Cork were subsequently installed as the favourites to take the All-Ireland title once again, however, Sheehan's side were defeated by Galway.

Senior

Sheehan made his senior debut for Cork when he came on as a substitute against Dublin in a National League game in 2010. By the end of the campaign he had established himself at full-forward and went on to win a National League title with a 1–17 to 0–12 defeat of Mayo in the final. Sheehan later made his championship debut in a drawn Munster semi-final with Kerry. Cork lost the replay but qualified for the All-Ireland final via the qualifiers. Down provided the opposition and a tight game developed on a wet day. Sheehan chipped in with a point as Cork won by 0–16 to 0–15. It was Sheehan's first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winners' medal and Cork's first championship title in twenty years.

In 2011, Cork retained their status as National League champions following a 0–21 to 2–14 defeat of Dublin in the final. It was Sheehan's second winners' medal in that competition. He later lined out in his first Munster final, however, Kerry retained their provincial title with a 1–15 to 1–12 victory. Sheehan's season came to an end in that game as he tore his cruciate ligament early in the second half.

International rules

He played twice for Ireland against Australia in the 2013 International Rules Series. Sheehan was awarded the Player of the Series title for his efforts in the Irish record victory.

Move to AFL

In November 2013, Sheehan signed to play Australian rules football for professional Australian Football League club Carlton, on a two-year contract from January 2014. Sheehan had previously trialed with Carlton during 2009 without signing a contract, but re-opened discussions with the club following the 2013 International Rules series. Sheehan joined fellow Gaelic footballers Zach Tuohy of Laois and Ciarán Byrne of Louth, both at Carlton. However, recurring hamstring injuries hampered the rest of his career, and he managed only two more senior games over the next three years before being delisted at the end of 2017.

Return to Ireland

Sheehan returned to Ireland and the Cork senior football team in 2020. He retired from inter-county football in 2021. As of 2021, he was still playing club football with Éire Óg, and he was named a selector for Cork's U20 football team in 2022.

While playing football with Éire Óg, Sheehan "switched" to Russell Rovers for club hurling in 2023. He was captain of the Russell Rovers team that won the 2024 Cork Premier Junior Hurling Championship.

Statistics

: Statistics are correct to round 19 of the 2017 season |- style="background-color: #EAEAEA" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2014 | | 47 || 4 || 0 || 1 || 33 || 17 || 50 || 9 || 6 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 8.3 || 4.3 || 12.5 || 2.3 || 1.5 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015 | | 47 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016 | | 21 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017 | | 21 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 8 || 19 || 5 || 2 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 5.5 || 4.0 || 9.5 || 2.5 || 1.0 |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan=3| Career ! 6 ! 0 ! 1 ! 44 ! 25 ! 69 ! 14 ! 8 ! 0.0 ! 0.2 ! 7.3 ! 4.2 ! 11.5 ! 2.3 ! 1.3 |}

References

References

1. "Player profile: Ciarán Sheehan". Cork GAA website.
2. (11 September 2009). "Sheehan focused on final as AFL chance drops to the bench". [[Irish Examiner]].
3. (7 May 2022). "Ciarán Sheehan: Cork football still in search of its identity". Irish Examiner.
4. "Muskerry Junior Football – 2008". Cork GAA Results website.
5. "Munster Minor Football". Munster GAA website.
6. "Munster Minor Hurling". Munster GAA website.
7. "Munster Under-21 Football". Munster GAA website.
8. (4 May 2009). "Brave Rebels refuse to buckle". [[Irish Examiner]].
9. "Munster Junior Football". Munster GAA website.
10. (25 April 2010). "RTÉ Sport: Cork 1–17 Mayo 0–12". [[RTÉ Sport]].
11. (19 September 2010). "As it Happened – Cork 0–16 Down 0–15". [[RTÉ Sport]].
12. (24 April 2011). "RTÉ Sport: Cork 0–21 Dublin 2–14". [[RTÉ Sport]].
13. (3 July 2011). "RTÉ Sport: Kerry 1–15 Cork 1–12". [[RTÉ Sport]].
14. (4 July 2011). "Sheehan suffers torn cruciate". [[Irish Times]].
15. (19 October 2013). "Ireland 57–35 Australia". RTÉ.
16. (26 October 2013). "Ireland 116–37 Australia". RTÉ.
17. [http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=225277 Murphy available for Oz mission]
18. (6 November 2013). "Fresh blow for Cork football as Ciaran Sheehan signs two-year deal with AFL club Carlton Blues". Irish Independent.
19. Jesse Hogan. (6 August 2014). "Irish recruit to make Carlton debut". The Courier.
20. Loretta Johns. (17 September 2014). "Gibbs wins 2014 John Nicholls Medal". Carlton Football Club.
21. Navaratnam, Dinny. (20 October 2017). "Blues chop trio, including three-club veteran". Bigpond.
22. Leen, Tony. (20 June 2021). "Knee problems force Ciarán Sheehan to retire from inter-county football". Irish Examiner.
23. Denis Hurley. (7 April 2022). "Ciarán Sheehan appointed as Cork U20 football selector". The Echo.
24. Hurley, Denis. (9 February 2023). "Ciarán Sheehan switches from Éire Óg to Russell Rovers for hurling".
25. O'Mahony, Barry. (28 November 2024). "Ciarán Sheehan eyes more success with Russell Rovers".
26. "Ciarán Sheehan Stats". AFL Tables.