Robert Downey (hurler) explained

Robert Downey
Irish:Riobeard Ó Dúnaigh
Nickname:Rob
Occupation:Administration assistant
Birth Date:21 September 1999
Birth Place:Ballyvolane, Cork, Ireland
Feet:6
Inches:5
Sport:Hurling
Code:Hurling
County:Cork
Province:Munster
Club:Glen Rovers
Clyears:2016-present
Clapps(Points):28 (1-05)
Clcounty:1
Colleges:University College Cork
Fitz:1
Colyears:2018-2021
Counties:Cork
Icyears:2018-present
Icposition:Full-back
Icapps(Points):8 (0-00)
Icprovince:0
Icallireland:0
Nhl:0
Allstars:0
Clupdate:22:39, 9 July 2024
Icupdate:21:52, 31 July 2021

Robert Downey (born 21 September 1999) is an Irish hurler. At club level he plays with Glen Rovers and at inter-county level with the Cork senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a full-back or half-back.

Early life

Born and raised in Cork, Downey first played hurling to a high standard as a student at Christian Brothers College, Cork. He progressed through the various age grades before beginning a three-year tenure with the school's senior team in 2015.[1] [2] Downey later studied at University College Cork and was added to their Fitzgibbon Cup panel in 2020, having earlier lined out with the freshers' team. He won a Fitzgibbon Cup winners' medal that year after lining out at full-back in UCC's 0-18 to 2-11 defeat of the Institute of Technology, Carlow in the final.[3]

Club career

Downey began his club career at juvenile and underage levels with the Glen Rovers club on the northside of Cork city. He had success in the minor grade in 2017 when the Glen won the Cork Premier 1 MHC title after beating Midleton in the final.[4]

Downey was still eligible for the minor grade when he joined the Glen's senior team. He was an unused substitute when Glen Rovers won the Cork SHC title after beating Erin's Own by 0-19 to 2-10 in the 2016 final.[5] Downey subsequently became a regular member of the team and moved between the half-back line and full-back line for the Glen's defeats by Imokilly, Blackrock and Midleton in the respective 2019, 2020 and 2021 finals.[6] [7] [8]

Inter-county career

Downey first appeared on the inter-county scene with Cork as a member of the minor team in 2017.[9] He won a Munster MHC that year after scoring 1-02 in Cork's 4-21 to 0-16 defeat of Clare in the final.[10] He later lined out at full-forward for Cork's 2017 All-Ireland minor final defeat by Galway.[11] Downey made his first appearance for Cork's inaugural under-20 team two years later.[12] He ended the season without success, as Cork were beaten by Tipperary in the Munster and All-Ireland finals.[13] [14]

Downey made his first appearance for the senior team in a pre-season Munster SHL game against Clare in December 2018.[15] [16] Debuts in the National Hurling League and Munster SHC followed later that season.[17] [18] Downey was at full-back when Cork suffered a 3-32 to 1-22 defeat by Limerick in the 2021 All-Ireland final.[19] He was at left wing-back when Cork lost the 2022 National League final to Waterford.[20]

Personal life

Downey's younger brother Eoin is also a hurler.[21]

Career statistics

Club

TeamYearCork PSHCMunsterTotal
AppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Glen Rovers201600-0000-00
201720-0020-00
201820-0120-01
201950-0110-0060-00
202051-0251-02
202160-0060-00
202240-0040-00
202340-0140-01
Total281-0510-00291-05
YearCork SAHCMunsterTotal
AppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
202400-0000-00
Total00-0000-00
Career total281-0510-00291-05

Inter-county

TeamYearNational LeagueMunsterAll-IrelandTotal
DivisionAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Cork2019Division 1A20-0030-0000-0050-00
202040-0010-0020-0070-00
202140-0100-0040-0080-01
202250-0340-0020-00110-01
202330-0140-0370-04
202440-0541-0230-01111-08
Career total220-10161-05110-01491-16

Honours

University College Cork

2020

Glen Rovers

2016

Cork

2017

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Impressive Christians back in style with first win in 97 years. Irish Examiner. 15 October 2015. 8 July 2024. Denis. Hurley.
  2. Web site: CBC Cork reach Dr Harty Cup semi-finals after surging finish. Irish Examiner. 10 January 2018. 16 February 2019.
  3. Web site: 14-man UCC come from 6 points down to win Fitzgibbon Cup final against IT Carlow. The 42. 12 February 2020. 13 February 2020. Sinéad. Farrell.
  4. Web site: Great night for Inniscarra club as the Glen also celebrate minor success. Evening Echo. 12 September 2017. 16 February 2019. Éamonn. Murphy.
  5. Web site: Glen Rovers retain Cork SHC final crown. 9 October 2016. Irish Examiner. 29 January 2019. Eoghan. Cormican.
  6. Web site: Imokilly hurlers hold off Glen comeback to complete three in a row. 20 October 2019. Echo Live. 16 November 2019.
  7. Web site: Alan Connolly leads the charge as Blackrock secure first Cork title in 18 years. Irish Examiner. 4 October 2020. 4 October 2020. John. Fogarty.
  8. Web site: Premier SHC final: Midleton are the county champions again. Echo Live. 21 November 2021. 21 November 2021. Denis. Hurley.
  9. Web site: Cork minors easily overcome Waterford to advance to Munster hurling last four. The 42. 3 May 2017. 23 February 2019. Tomás. McCarthy.
  10. Web site: 17-point win for Cork delivers first Munster minor hurling title since 2008 in style. The 42. 9 July 2017. 16 February 2019. Fintan. O'Toole.
  11. Web site: Canning man-of-the-match as Galway lift All-Ireland minor title with win over Cork. The 42. 3 September 2017. 16 February 2019. Fintan. O'Toole.
  12. Web site: Cork take aim at Clare after proving too strong for Limerick. 3 July 2019. The 42. 4 July 2019. Denis. Hurley.
  13. Web site: Bowe and Morris star as Tipperary claim U20 Munster glory. 23 July 2019. The 42. 23 July 2019. Shane. Brophy.
  14. Web site: Early Tipp goals power them past Cork to seal All-Ireland hurling glory. 24 August 2019. The 42. 25 August 2019. Fintan. O'Toole.
  15. Web site: Harnedy retains Cork captaincy as Meyler freshens up squad. 30 November 2018. Hogan Stand. 30 November 2018.
  16. Web site: Clare strike late to secure victory over Cork in the Munster Hurling League. Irish Independent. 29 December 2018. 16 February 2019. Gerry. Quinn.
  17. Web site: 1-9 for Horgan as Cork bring Limerick's winning hurling league run to an end. The 42. 24 February 2019. 28 February 2019. Daragh. Small.
  18. Web site: Cork bounce back as they claim impressive win against All-Ireland champs Limerick. The 42. 19 May 2019. 20 May 2019. Fintan. O'Toole.
  19. Web site: Will record-breaking All-Ireland victory over Cork be Limerick's high water mark? Don't bet on it. 22 August 2021. Irish Examiner. 25 August 2023. John. Fogarty.
  20. Web site: Stephen Bennett leads Waterford to emphatic Allianz NHL Division 1 final win over Cork. 2 April 2022. Irish Independent. 25 August 2023. John. Fogarty.
  21. Web site: Family ties and schools hurling in Christians key to Downey development. Echo Live. 30 May 2024. 8 July 2024.