History of Cork's hurling All-Stars: Darragh Fitzgibbon moves up the list

Thu, 06 Nov, 2025 - 18:20

Eamonn Murphy

Cork's consistency this season was rewarded with four All-Stars, first-time awards for Seán O'Donoghue, Ciarán Joyce and Brian Hayes and a third for Darragh Fitzgibbon.

The Rebels got five last year, though they'd trade them all in for an All-Ireland of course. The All-Star haul from the last two campaigns atones for the ridiculous situation in 2021 when Cork became the only team to reach the final without getting a single award.

With Patrick Horgan, a four-time All-Star, retiring, Fitzgibbon and Seamus Harnedy are the most decorated Rebels on Ben O'Connor's squad for 2026. O'Connor was a two-time All-Star while selector Ronan Curran was picked three times.

Cork's Ronan Curran grasps possession from Waterford's Seamus Prendergast. Picture: Des Barry

The awards began in 1971, with St Finbarr's Tony Maher and Blackrock's Ray Cummins the first Rebels to make the cut.

Cork's most decorated All-Stars are Jimmy Barry-Murphy, Tony O'Sullivan and John Fenton, with five apiece, while Ger Cunningham, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Denis Coughlan and Patrick Horgan each received four.

Tony O'Sullivan in action for the Cork hurlers in 1990 against Antrim, a season he was picked as Hurler of the Year. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Na Piarsaigh icon Tony O'Sullivan secured his fifth bauble in 1992, having been picked as Texaco Hurler of the Year in '90, while Midleton midfield maestro John Fenton won a remarkable five in a row from 1982 to '86. In 1984, he was Cork captain, the championship's top scorer and Hurler of the Year.

Overall, 13 Leesiders made the All-Star team three times: Ray Cummins, Martin O'Doherty, Charlie McCarthy, Tom Cashman, John Horgan, Brian Corcoran, Dermot McCurtain, Seanie O'Leary, Jerry O'Connor, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Ronan Curran, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Seamus Harnedy.

Corcoran was picked in three different positions, at corner-back, centre-back and full-forward, and the All-Star Hurler the Year in '99 and Texaco Hurler of the Year in '92. Jerry O'Connor won three successive awards from 2004 to '06, along with Hurler of the Year in 2005.

Brian Corcoran in his pomp. Picture: Eddie O'Hare.

Other Hurler of the Year selections from Cork include Cunningham in 1986 and Ó hAilpín in 2004. There was also a separate GPA Hurler of the Year prize for a period, which went to Ó hAilpín in '04 and John Gardiner the following season.

Christy Ring (1959), Justin McCarthy ('66), Pat McDonnell (1970), Denis Coughlan ('77) and John Horgan ('78) also won the Texaco Hurler of the Year, which predated the All-Stars and ran until 2012.

CORK HURLING ALL-STAR WINNERS SINCE 1996:

1999 (6): Donal Óg Cusack, Fergal Ryan, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Brian Corcoran, Seanie McGrath, Joe Deane.

2000 (2): Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Joe Deane.

2003 (4): Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Ronan Curran, Setanta Ó hAilpín, Joe Deane.

2004 (7): Wayne Sherlock, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Ronan Curran, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Jerry O'Connor, Niall McCarthy, Brian Corcoran.

2005 (6): Pat Mulcahy, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, John Gardiner, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Jerry O'Connor, Ben O'Connor.

2006 (4): Donal Óg Cusack, Brian Murphy, Ronan Curran, Jerry O'Connor.

2008 (1): Ben O'Connor.

2012 (1): Anthony Nash.

2013 (3): Anthony Nash, Seamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan.

2017 (2): Mark Coleman, Patrick Horgan.

2018 (3): Darragh Fitzgibbon, Seamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan.