The Canon O'Brien Cup is an annual hurling match contested by Cork and University College Cork. The match, usually played in January at the Mardyke Sports Ground, is often regarded as a pre-season warm-up game for the two participants.
Organised by the Cork County Board, admission to the match is free; however, those attending the game are asked to make a donation to volunteer collectors on the day, with all proceeds going to the Irish Alzheimer's Society. The fixture was first played in 2013.
The current holders (2020) are University College Cork.
History The Canon O'Brien Cup was launched in 2013 by GAA President Liam O'Neill. The Cup was planned to be an annual challenge match between Cork and University College Cork. Canon Michael O'Brien, who was heavily involved as a coach with both teams, led UCC to eight consecutive Fitzgibbon Cup titles between 1981 and 1988 and led Cork to the 1990 All-Ireland title.
Cup The cup was donated by the O’Brien family and is a replica of the Fitzgibbon Cup. It was presented to Canon O'Brien in 1983 by the UCC hurling squad after he had helped them to win three Fitzgibbon Cup titles in-a-row.
List of finals YearWinnersScoreRunners-upScoreVenueWinning CaptainWinning team2013Cork3-20University College Cork1-16The MardykePa CroninA Nash; S O'Neill, C Spillane, S McDonnell; T Kenny, C Joyce, S White; D Kearney, P Cronin; B Corry, C McCarthy, S Moylan; P Horgan, M Cussen, P O'Sullivan.Subs: R O'Shea, M O'Sullivan.2014Cork2-19University College Cork1-14The MardykeAnthony NashA Nash; C Joyce, S O’Neill, K Murphy; E Keane, M Ellis, W Egan; P Haughney, L McLoughlin; B Lawton, C McCarthy, M O’Sullivan; S Moylan, P Horgan, J Coughlan.Subs: L O’Farrell, D Kearney, S White, A Ryan, S O’Farrell. 2015Cork1-26University College Cork2-12The MardykeAnthony NashA Nash; C Joyce, C Barry, W Kearney; A Walsh, L McLoughlin, C Murphy; D Kearney, P Cronin; S Harnedy, B Cooper, B Lawton; D McCarthy, P O’Sullivan, P Horgan.Subs: C McCarthy, S Moylan, W Kearney, L O’Farrell, P Haughney. 2016Cork2-12University College Cork0-13The MardykeShane O'NeillA Nash; C O’Sullivan, P O’Mahony, A Dennehy; S O’Neill, W Egan, N Cashman; P Haughney, D Kearney; P O’Sullivan, W Leahy, S Moylan; L Meade, P Cronin, D Lee.Subs: D Browne, D Fitzgibbon, M Coleman, C Buckley.2017University College Cork0-22Cork1-13The MardykeD Desmond; I Kenny, C Spillane, S Roche; N Motherway, C Gleeson, R Cahalane; J Barron, R O’Shea; M O’Brien, B McCarthy, S Hegarty; A Cadogan, J O’Flynn, A Spillane.Subs: J Barry, G O’Brien, D Hannon, N Cashman, C Browne, D O’Brien, B O’Sullivan.2018No competition2019Cork1-24University College Cork1-23The MardykeP Collins; S O’Donoghue, D Cahalane, C O’Callaghan; C Joyce, P Leopold, W Kearney; D Kearney, C Murphy; S Kennefick, P Horgan, C Walsh; J Coughlan, D Dalton, C Beausang.Subs: R Downey, S Condon, T O’Connell, C Power, C O’Brien.2020University College Cork2-18Cork1-20The MardykeEoghan MurphyS Hurley; D Lowney, E Murphy, S Roche; B Hennessy, N O’Leary, P O’Loughlin; A Casey, R Connolly; D Fitzgibbon, S Kingston, C Boylan; J O’Sullivan, S Conway, M O’Halloran.Subs: J Cashman, S Roche, N Montgomery, B Sheehan, S Hayes, W Henn.2021No competition2022Cork1-17University College Cork1-15The MardykeG Collins; D Cahalane, G Millerick, S O'Donoghue; J O'Flynn, M Coleman, T O'Mahony; D Fitzgibbon, C Joyce; M Keane, S Harnedy, C Lehane; S Kingston, A Cadogan, L Meade.Subs: P Power, R O'Flynn, C O'Brien, S Twomey, L Meade.2023Cork0-25University College Cork1-15The MardykeG Connolly; C O’Callaghan, S O’Leary-Hayes, S O’Donoghue; E Downey, T O’Connell, R Downey; S Quirke, B O’Sullivan; B Keating, C Lehane, L Meade; C Walsh, D Dalton, B Hayes.Subs: D Harrington, A Walsh-Barry, D Healy, M Kelly, K Moynihan, J Cashman, J O’Carroll, A Myers.
Records Scoring All time top scorers +RankPlayerTeamScoresTallyGamesEraAverage1Patrick Horgan Cork3-233232013-201510.662Willie Griffin U.C.C.2-152122013-201410.503Paudie O'Sullivan Cork3-071632013-20165.334Rob O'Shea Cork U.C.C.0-131352013-present2.605Stephen Moylan Cork1-091242013-20163.006Anthony Spillane U.C.C.1-06932015-present3.007Paul Haughney Cork0-08842014-20162.008Conor Lehane Cork U.C.C.0-07722013-present3.509Séamus Harnedy Cork U.C.C.0-05522013-20152.50Cian McCarthy Cork0-05542013-20161.20
Top scorers in a single game SeasonTop scorerTeamScoreTotal2013Patrick Horgan Cork2-08162014Patrick Horgan Cork1-09122015Anthony Spillane U.C.C.1-0472016Paudie O'Sullivan Cork1-047Rob O'Shea U.C.C.0-772017Alan Cadogan U.C.C.0-07720182019Patrick Horgan Cork0-099
Miscellaneous Daniel Kearney of Cork holds the record for playing in five Canon O'Brien Cup-winning teams. Colm Spillane won Canon O'Brien Cup titles as a member of both the Cork (2013) and University College Cork (2017) teams.
References