1979 Croke Cup

1979 Croke Cup

Dates	31 March - 29 April 1979
Teams	3
Champions	St Flannan's College (7th title) Gerry McInerney (captain) Séamus Gardiner (manager)
Runners-up	Presentation College, Birr Joe Verney (captain) Brother Denis (manager)
Tournament statistics
Matches played	2
Goals scored	10 (5 per match)
Points scored	34 (17 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Tom Howard (2-06)
← 1978 (Previous) (Next) 1980 →

The 1979 Croke Cup was the 28th staging of the Croke Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1944. The competition ran from 31 March to 29 April 1979.

Templemore CBS were the defending champions, however, they were beaten by St Flannan's College in the Harty Cup semi-final.^[1][2][3]

The final was played on 29 April 1979 at Semple Stadium in Thurles, between St Flannan's College and Presentation College, Birr, in what was their first ever meeting in the final.^[4] St Flannan's College won the match by 3–15 to 2–03 to claim a record-equalling seventh Croke Cup title and a first title in three years.^[5][6][7]

Tom Howard was the top scorer with 2-06.

Qualification

Province	Champions
Connacht	St Mary's College
Leinster	Presentation College, Birr
Munster	St Flannan's College

Results

Semi-final

St Flannan's College v St Mary's College

31 March 1979 Semi-final	St Flannan's College	4-15 - 1-01	St Mary's College	MacDonagh Park
	R Colleran 2-3, P Colleran 1-2, T Howard 0-5, J Morey 1-0, G Corry 0-3, G McInerney 0-1, M O'Grady 0-1.		P Burke 1-0, G Kilcommins 0-1.

Final

St Flannan's College v Presentation College, Birr

29 April 1979 Final	St Flannan's College	3-15 - 2-03	Presentation College, Birr	Semple Stadium
	T Howard 2-1, G McInerney 0-7, M O'Grady 1-0, R Colleran 0-2, P Colleran 0-2, S McMahon 0-1, G Corry 0-1.		J Verney 1-0, A Rosney 1-0, P Corrigan 0-2, J McLoughlin 0-1.

Statistics

Top scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Tom Howard	St Flannan's College	2-06	12	2	6.00
2	Ray Colleran	St Flannan's College	2-05	11	2	5.50
3	Gerry McInerney	St Flannan's College	0-08	8	2	4.00

References

1. Doran, Liam (12 February 2000). "Templemore looks to bridge 22 year gap in Harty". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
2. "From 1978 Harty Cup final goal poacher to All-Ireland hurling winning coach". The 42. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
3. "Our Lady's Templemore claim Harty Cup". GAA website. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
4. "Pres Athenry Defeats Kilkenny CBS In Croke Cup Hurling Semi-Final". Galway Bay FM. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
5. "Reunion of 1979 and 1980 Birr school teams". Offaly Independent. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
6. "Former Clare hurler Moroney to be honoured". Hogan Stand. 20 December 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
7. Ó Muircheartaigh, Joe (14 February 2020). "Bishop Willie Walsh: 'To me the Harty players were giants of men'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 June 2023.