Johnny Coen Explained

Johnny Coen
Irish:Seán Ó Comdhain
Nickname:Vacuum
Occupation:Secondary school teacher
Birth Date:19 March 1991
Birth Place:Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland
Height:1.830NaN0
Sport:Hurling
Code:Hurling
County:Galway
Province:Connacht
Club:Loughrea
Clyears:2008–2022
Clposition:Midfield
Clcounty:0
Colleges:University of Limerick
Fitz:0
Counties:Galway
Icyears:2011–2022
Icposition:Midfield
Icapps(Points):43 (2-11)
Icprovince:3
Icallireland:1
Nhl:2
Allstars:0
Icupdate:10:33, 22 December 2019

Johnny Coen (born 19 March 1991) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Loughrea and formerly with the Galway senior inter-county team.[1]

Playing career

Loughrea

Coen joined the Loughrea club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. On 8 November 2009, he was at full-back when Loughrea faced St. Thomas' in the Minor A Championship final. Coen was switched to midfield during the match and claimed a winners' medal after the 3–12 to 1–15 victory.[2]

On 15 November 2009, Coen was selected at left wing-forward when Loughrea qualified to play Portumna in the Galway Senior Championship final. He was held scoreless throughout and ended the game on the losing side after a 5–19 to 1–12 defeat.[3]

Coen lined out in a second successive final on 31 October 2010. Playing at left corner-forward, he scored a late goal from a penalty to secure a 1–14 to 2–11 draw with Clarinbridge.[4] Coen was switched to right wing-forward for the replay on 21 November 2010, however, he ended the game on the losing side after an 0–18 to 0–15 defeat.[5]

On 18 November 2012, Coen lined out at right wing-back when Loughrea faced first-time finalists St. Thomas' in the county final. For the third time in his club career, Coen ended the final on the losing side after a 3–11 to 2–11 defeat.[6]

For the fourth time in five championship seasons, Loughrea qualified for a county final appearance on 28 October 2013. Lining out at left wing-forward, Coen scored a point from a penalty in the 3–12 to 0–14 defeat by Portumna.[7]

Galway

Coen first played for Galway at minor level in 2009. It was a successful year for the young Tribesmen as they reached the All-Ireland final. Kilkenny provided the opposition, however, Galway won by 2–15 to 2-11 giving Coen an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal.[8]

The following year Coen joined the county under-21 team. Once again Galway reached the All-Ireland final where Tipperary provided the opposition. That game ended in a rout as Tipp won by 5–22 to 0–12.[9] In 2011, Coen was again a key member of the county Under 21 team which made up for the previous years defeat by winning the All-Ireland Under 21 Championship, defeating Dublin in the final.

Coen made his senior championship debut against Westmeath in the Leinster quarter-final in 2011. In 2012, Coen was part of the Galway team which won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship for an historic first time, defeating Kilkenny in the final. Coen played at left-corner back in that final and was an ever present member of the Galway team which reached the All-Ireland Final that September. After an enthralling 2–13 to 0–19 draw in the All-Ireland Final, Galway suffered a heavy defeat to Kilkenny in the replay. Coen's performances throughout the 2012 Championship were widely regarded as outstanding and he was rewarded with the 2012 Young Hurler of the Year Award in October 2012.

On 3 September 2017, Coen started for Galway as they won their first All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 29 years against Waterford, lifting the cup with his five siblings (Rōise, Justin, Jordan, Diane, and Kate) [10] [11]

On 20 December 2022, Coen announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.[12]

Career statistics

TeamYearNational LeagueLeinsterAll-IrelandTotal
DivisionAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Galway2011Division 170-0410-0010-0090-04
2012Division 1A70-0220-0030-00120-02
201360-0020-0010-0090-00
201470-0230-0110-00110-03
201560-0041-0030-00131-00
201610-0030-0020-0160-01
2017Division 1B81-0530-0220-03131-10
201860-0650-0030-02140-08
201930-0341-0271-05
Total511-22272-05160-06943-33

Honours

Inter-county
Club
Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coen and Daly debut for Tribesmen. Hogan Stand. 3 June 2011. 7 June 2011.
  2. Web site: Keary's late goal keeps Loughrea treble on the cards. Connacht Tribune. 12 November 2009. 22 December 2019. Bernie. Ní Fhlatharta.
  3. Web site: Galway SHC final: Three-in-a-row for Portumna. Hogan Stand. 16 November 2009. 22 December 2019.
  4. Web site: Both clubs survive to fight another day. 1 November 2010. Irish Times. 23 December 2015. Keith. Duggan.
  5. Web site: Forde seals dramatic extra-time 'Bridge victory. 22 November 2010. Irish Independent. 23 December 2015.
  6. Web site: Heavenly day for Burke's Saints. 19 November 2012. Irish Examiner. 18 December 2019. John. Fallon.
  7. Web site: Canning key as Portumna reign Evergreen Ollie shows he's not 'over the hill' after guiding team home. Irish Independent. 29 October 2013. 7 February 2019. John. Fallon.
  8. Web site: Cummins inspires Galway to glory. Irish Examiner. 9 September 2009. 26 June 2011.
  9. Web site: Superb Premier tap into feelgood factor. Irish Independent. 13 September 2010. 26 June 2011.
  10. Web site: Emotions run high as Tribe end agonising 29-year wait. 4 September 2017. Irish Examiner. 5 September 2017.
  11. Web site: Galway end 29 years of hurt as they lift All-Ireland crown with win over Waterford. 3 September 2017. The 42. 5 September 2017.
  12. Web site: All-Ireland winner Johnny Coen calls time on Galway career. 20 December 2022. RTE Sport. 21 December 2022.