Cyril Daunt - one of the best and well known hockey coaches has passed away

One of the best Hockey coaches of all time - Cyril Daunt passed away this week.  He was one of the most respected coaches in the country, winning numerous league titles, cup titles and developing international hockey players over his 50 year coaching career.  

HERE, we reproduce a profile piece on Cyril Daunt that was written and published by sports historian Plunkett Carter back in 2017.

Last year, 2016, renowned hockey coach Cyril Daunt celebrated his 90th birthday at Mount Mercy College which acknowledged his contribution to the school for the previous 40 years.

Cyril was then still coaching the girls from St Catherine’s — the feeder school for Mount Mercy. 

He defies medical opinion by continuing such a long life, as in his childhood he developed a very serious life threatening illness and a doctor told his father that he would require great care and was unlikely to live for long.

Cyril was too sick to attend primary school and was educated at home by his mother. 

His chosen secondary school was Cork Grammar School (now Ashton) a famous hockey academy where, tiring of watching his classmate play, he ignored the medical opinions and joined the action in 1940.

He took to hockey like a duck to water and within a year captained the team.

After leaving school, he joined Cork Wanderers, whose notable players were Donal Goggin, Paddy O’Brien and Donie Murphy.

When they disbanded around 1960 Cyril joined C of I for a few years. 

Prompted by brother-in-law Denis Eager he transferred to Harlequins in the era of Billy Carpenter and George Fitch.

Success Cyril had the pleasure of coaching every team in Harlequins over the years with great success, most notably the men’s second team who got to a Junior Irish Cup Final which they very narrowly lost.

And the ladies, too, had many victories in Munster Cups and Leagues. In acknowledgement of his vast contribution to Quins he was honoured with the presidency between 1972-76.

Cyril Daunt was to hockey what Matt Busby was to soccer. what Cyril Daunt was to hockey. 

When he left Quins a chapter closed, but a new one opened and his massive contribution to hockey accelerated further.

Church of Ireland, Belvedere and Ashton all benefited from his vast knowledge of the game.

If you’ve ever played or trained under a great coach you already understand how vast their influence can be.

Some of the tributes penned by those who were influenced by Cyril in their careers were: “He set and maintained high personal standards; “kept raising the bar so others could follow suit”; “recognized the unrealized potential in young players and more importantly helped them see it for themselves."

Cyril came from a farming background and after one horrendous year during which they lost crops and all cattle he got an idea to operate his own coach-hire company. 

He drove school hockey teams to matches and his own introduction to coaching came when on one such trip he was asked by Scoil Mhuire to be their coach.

Over the next five years the school enjoyed major success including inter provincial championships. 

Cyril, then well established, was lured to the western suburbs to take charge of the Mount Mercy teams.

Retired He remained with Mount Mercy for the rest of his lengthy career and under his guidance they won 25 Munster and two All-Irelands before he retired from senior coaching in 2003.

In 2003 Cyril (77) announced it would be his last season coaching senior hockey at Mount Mercy. 

He had been coaching hockey in Cork for 50 years and he had been coach at Mount Mercy for the previous 30 years during which time he helped the hockey academy to an All-Ireland Kate Russell trophy, seven Munster Senior Cups and 11 Senior League titles.

Cyril had a coach hire company which was very popular with clubs, particularly hockey clubs, and he was given a unique assignment in 1963 when contracted to transport part of American president JFK’s security entourage to Wexford.

In an article written for the 50th anniversary of the historic visit he penned an article titled, ‘The Luck of the Irish’.

“The Kennedy presidential party boarded our two coaches for the journey into New Ross. The last people to board my coaches were two security men.

“One of them came up to me and instructed that I was not to stop anywhere on the journey at all for security reasons. 

"As we approached the town I had to stop at a red traffic light.

“The security men didn’t look a bit happy but I said that as a coach driver in Ireland the law forbade me to go through a red light and that no one in Ireland would ever harm President Kennedy or his party.

“The light then changed to green, but I discovered to my horror that the engine had stalled. 

"This was really scary!

“My co-driver in the following coach, Donie O’Brien, (now deceased) spotted that I was in trouble so he gently nudged the rear of my coach and that re-started the engine. 

"He probably ‘saved’ my life.

“We proceeded into New Ross where President Kennedy was received with rapturous applause and addressed the crowd with very well-chosen words.

"After this, we proceeded to Dunganstown to the Ryan residence. Tea was served here and there was a heavily laden table of sandwiches, cakes, etc., for all the guests.

“Donie and I were standing some distance away beside our coaches. 

"President Kennedy noticed that we had not been served any refreshments and he beckoned us over and made sure that we had plenty to eat and drink.

“We were really impressed. 

"We were so happy to be taking part in the welcome for this extraordinary man and were so proud of his Irish heritage.

“An interesting sequel to all of this occurred when I was returning to my home. 

"Suddenly, there was a loud bang and a conn-rod blew out the side of my engine resulting in an extremely loud bang. I was literally transfixed with shock!

“If that bang had taken place earlier in the journey the security men would have presumed someone was firing at the president or, at the very least, that there was some threat to his safety. I was such a lucky man!"

Cyril had the pleasure of coaching every team in Harlequins over the years with great success at both Munster and national level.