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Only Player To Win All Ireland Senior Medals In Same Year

In 1986 with Cork getting ready for the challenge of Galway in the All Ireland senior hurling final few rebel fans expected to see the name of 22 years old Teddy McCarthy lining out in the N0.10 shirt. The Sarsfields hurler would, just 4 years later in 1990, write himself into the history books as Ireland’s only player to win All Ireland senior hurling and football medals in the same year. He created a statistic that may never be emulated. He won both medals on the field of play and his Cork hurling colleague of 1990, Denis Walsh, also created history as a substitute on the football panel.

Teddy claimed 2 All Ireland senior hurling medals (1986 and 1990) and 2 All Ireland senior football medals (1989 and 1990) in a 14 year inter county career. A talented dual player, McCarthy joined the Cork senior football team in 1985 and the senior hurlers in 1986. In Cork he hurled with Sarsfields, a senior club and played his football with sister club, Glanmire intermediate footballers. Teddy also lined out with his divisional football  team, Imokilly, winning two Cork senior football titles.

Primarily a midfielder in both codes, he also played at wing forward on many occasions and spectators in hurling and football reveled in his spectacular high fielding. In the inter county under 21 football grade he won a remarkable three in a row All Ireland titles in 1984/85/86  and his promotion to senior inter county grades was eagerly anticipated. Prior to 1987 Kerry had almost total dominance in Munster senior football from 1975 to 1986 and it was the appointment of Billy Morgan, and inheriting such great material from Cork’s under 21’s successes, that enabled Cork to take over from Kerry.

Teddy was now an established dual player and a vital member of both squads, but it was with the footballers from 1987 to 1990 that the Glanmire athlete really hit the high notes. His involvement with Cork hurling and football teams lasted from 1983 right up to 1996. 1990 proved to a historic year for Teddy as Cork were considered rank outsiders to beat Galway in the All Ireland senior hurling final.

Galway had outsmarted Kilkenny in the semi final by playing just two players in their last line of attack. They repeated the formula in the final and Cork won a glorious title. Two weeks later bogey side Meath would again take on Cork in the football decider after dismissing them in 1987 and 1988.

The dismissal of Colm O’Neill in the 1990 final didn’t bother the rebels and Teddy McCarthy stormed to make himself into a famous sporting icon. Winning two All Ireland senior medals in the same year had never been accomplished. Teddy continued to play both codes for several more years and in 1996 after cameo appearances as a substitute, he left the inter county arena, simply because his services were no longer needed.

He began coaching hurling with his own club and would also take on the mantle of coaching Bandon and duly won the 2011 Cork intermediate hurling title. He also coached Tallow senior hurlers in Waterford. Laois county hurling board came calling in 2012, but after a short spell, Teddy decided to depart.

Inter county Roll Of Honour - FOOTBALL

All Ireland Senior Football Medals: 1986/90

Munster Senior Football Medals:  1987/88/89/93/94/95

All Ireland U21 Football Medals: 1984/85/86

Munster U21 Football Medal: 1985/86

All Ireland Junior Football Medal: 1984/85/

Munster Junior Football Medal: 1984

Cork Co. Senior Football Medals: 198486  (Imokilly)

Munster Minor Football Medal: 1983

National Football League: 1989

Texaco Footballer Of The Year: 1989

All Star Footballer:  1989

Cork Co. Intermediate Football Medal: 1987

Inter county Roll Of Honour - HURLING

All Ireland Senior Hurling Medals: 1986/90

Munster Senior Hurling Medals:  1986/ 1992/1993?

National Hurling League: 1993   

Derry JF Doody