Christopher "Christy" O'Brien (11 March 1933 – 7 March 2022) was an Irish
hurler who played as a full-forward for the
Laois
County Laois ( ; gle, Contae Laoise) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It was known as Queen's County from 1556 ...
senior team.
Born in
Borris-in-Ossory
Borris-in-Ossory (, or the ' Burgage of Osraige') is a village in west County Laois, Ireland. Bypassed by the M7 motorway on 28 May 2010, the village is situated on the R445 road close to the County Tipperary border between the towns of Mountr ...
,
County Laois, O'Brien first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Laois minor team. He joined the senior panel during the
1952 championship. O'Brien later became a regular member of the starting fifteen, however, he ended his playing days without any Tier1 silverware, although he did win two NHL Div2 titles - 1960 & 1965.
As a member of the
Leinster
Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...
inter-provincial team on a number of occasions he won three
Railway Cup
The GAA Interprovincial Championship ( ga, An Corn Idir-Chúigeach) or Railway Cup (''Corn an Iarnróid'') is the name of two annual Gaelic football and hurling competitions held between the provinces of Ireland. The Connacht, Leinster, Munster ...
medals. At club level he was a five-time
championship
In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.
Championship systems
Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship.
Title match system
In this system ...
medallist with
Borris-in-Ossory
Borris-in-Ossory (, or the ' Burgage of Osraige') is a village in west County Laois, Ireland. Bypassed by the M7 motorway on 28 May 2010, the village is situated on the R445 road close to the County Tipperary border between the towns of Mountr ...
.
Throughout his career O'Brien made 24 championship appearances. He retired following the conclusion of the
1970 championship.
O'Brien was regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. He has often been voted onto teams made up of the sport's greats, including at full-forward on a special Hurling Team of the Century made up of players never to have won an
All-Ireland
All-Ireland (sometimes All-Island) refers to all of Ireland, as opposed to the separate jurisdictions of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. "All-Ireland" is most frequently used to refer to sporting teams or events for the entire islan ...
medal.
O'Brien died on 7 March 2022, at the age of 88.
Playing career
Club
O’Brien played his club hurling with his local
Borris-in-Ossory
Borris-in-Ossory (, or the ' Burgage of Osraige') is a village in west County Laois, Ireland. Bypassed by the M7 motorway on 28 May 2010, the village is situated on the R445 road close to the County Tipperary border between the towns of Mountr ...
club and enjoyed much success. He was a key member of the club’s team when Borris-in-Ossory won its first senior
county title in 1956. It was the first of three consecutive county titles for O’Brien and his club. He added two more county medals to his collection in 1960 and 1961.
Inter-county
O’Brien first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with the
Laois
County Laois ( ; gle, Contae Laoise) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It was known as Queen's County from 1556 ...
minor hurling team. He had little success in this grade and made his senior debut in 1952. O’Brien’s senior inter-county career was a frustrating one as Laois were down the pecking order in terms of the hurling standard in
Leinster
Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...
. In spite of winning the provincial title in 1949, Laois never appeared in another Leinster final. O’Brien continued playing with the county until 1970.
Christy played his only Walsh Cup game in 1956 - then called the Leinster Council Senior Hurling Accident Fund Tournament - in Laois' first ever Walsh Cup game (against Kilkenny). O'Brien started in goals, but moved outfield for the second half.
He played a total of 66 times for Laois (24 SHC, 41 NHL & 1 Walsh Cup). At the time of his retirement, his 41 league appearances were only behind
Harry Gray (44) and
Paddy Lalor
Patrick Joseph Lalor (19 July 1926 – 29 July 2016) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and former hurling player for Laois. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for Laois–Offaly between 1961 and 1981, and a government minister on two separate occa ...
(43) in terms of Laois records.
Championship appearances
Inter-provincial
O’Brien also lined out with
Leinster
Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He won his first
Railway Cup
The GAA Interprovincial Championship ( ga, An Corn Idir-Chúigeach) or Railway Cup (''Corn an Iarnróid'') is the name of two annual Gaelic football and hurling competitions held between the provinces of Ireland. The Connacht, Leinster, Munster ...
medal in 1962 as Leinster defeated
Munster
Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following th ...
. O’Brien won further Railway Cup medals in 1964 and 1965.
Honours
Player
;Borris-in-Ossory
*
Laois Senior Hurling Championship
The Laois Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition contested by top-tier Laois GAA clubs. The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association has organised it since 1888.
Clough–Ballacolla (incl Ballygeehan) are the ...
(5): 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1972
;Leinster
*
Railway Cup
The GAA Interprovincial Championship ( ga, An Corn Idir-Chúigeach) or Railway Cup (''Corn an Iarnróid'') is the name of two annual Gaelic football and hurling competitions held between the provinces of Ireland. The Connacht, Leinster, Munster ...
(3): 1962, 1964, 1965
*Leinster Hall of Fame 2019
*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, Christy
1933 births
2022 deaths
Borris-in-Ossory hurlers
Laois inter-county hurlers
Leinster inter-provincial hurlers