Pat Goggin, one of Cork's favourite soccer sons passes away 

Pat Goggin, regarded as one of Cork’s favourite soccer players, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday at the Cork University Hospital. 

Pat enjoyed a long distinguished career spanning four decades beginning with the classy Glasheen in 1957. 

He then transferred his allegiance to St Michael’s in the AUL league where he had to contend with the most difficult conditions. 

Those days on the domestic scene were poor, players had to contend with uncomfortable high boots and cumbersome studs, laced footballs and uneven nettle infested playing pitches. 

Sometimes a stream or a roadside cold water pump (if you were lucky) was all that was available to wash the cow-dung off at the end of mud slogs. 

Nonetheless, good teams and great players were produced. And, Pat was one of those. Luckily, he was spotted by Cork Hibs and on his debut season in 1960-61 he helped them to a very rare Munster Senior League Championship success. 

Pat scored on his League of Ireland debut in Hibs 4-3 win over Shelbourne. He spent the first five years of the sixties in their colours, playing alongside their most colourful personalities including Charlie Tully, Four Goal McCole and Tommy Eglinton and has bitter sweet memories of Hibs FAI Cup semi-final defeat by St Patrick’s in 1961 when he replaced Tully. 

When Hibs won their first League of Ireland trophy in 1965 by beating Dundalk 3-1 in a thrilling Dublin City Cup final Pat was on the scoresheet. And a little bit of trivia for historians Pat became Hibs first ever substitute when he came off the bench against Drums in 1966. 

In 1966-67, he commenced a career spanning 11 seasons with Tramore Athletic. 

Pat’s departure from Hibs may have been premature as he his consistently brilliant displays helped Tramore win their first Championship. 

He also guided them to the Intermediate Cup final in 1967 in which they were defeated 2-1 by Home Farm at Dalymount. 

Pat, an unerring penalty kick specialist, scored Tramore’s goal from the spot. 

Pat, a gifted midfielder, was regularly chosen on the MSL Representative team for the tournament and challenge matches. 

He was forty when he moved on from Tramore but couldn’t control the bug which magnetically linked him with Blackpool Celtic. 

And they were not his last club – the player who couldn’t say no had celebrated his 43rd birthday when he answered a call to sign for Hillington.