Eighteen seasons, 32 goals and 683 points – Patrick Horgan retires as one of the greatest to play hurling, let alone to do in the red jersey of Cork.
The 37-year-old’s announcement on social media on Tuesday evening unfortunately means that he is likely to carry the tag of the best hurler never to win an All-Ireland, but sometimes these things are outside of one’s control.
But for a miracle point by Clare’s Domhnall O’Donovan in 2013, the Glen Rovers man would be known as the man who scored the winner in a decider. In any case, the absence of that one line from his CV will not detract from his many achievements.
The total scored by Horgan is a championship record, as is the 25-674 registered in the Allianz Hurling league. Four Munster SHC medals, one national league, four All-Star Awards – and that’s before his haul with the Glen is factored in, the highlights being county senior title triumphs in 2015 and 2016.
“After careful consideration having focused on playing for my club Glen Rovers in recent weeks, I have made the decision to step back from intercounty hurling,” Horgan wrote in a statement on Instagram.
Patrick Horgan scores a point for Cork against Clare late in the drawn 2013 All-Ireland SHC final. Picture: Barry Cregg/Sportsfile
“Firstly, I would like to thank my family for their love, support and encouragement over the years – my wife Ashley and son Jack, my father Pat, my mother Ann, sisters Ann Marie and Audrey, my brother Johnny, my nephews, niece and my in-laws. Without you all I wouldn’t be where I am today.
“A huge thank you to my friends and teammates past and present who have always had my back, and to my club Glen Rovers who have backed and supported me throughout the years.
“Thank you to my employer Dulux Paints Ireland, who have always been understanding and supportive of my hurling career. Thank you to Blackwater Motors also for their incredible support and generosity over the years.
“I would also like to thank Jimmy Barry-Murphy, Kieran Kingston, John Meyler and Pat Ryan in particular, as well as all the men and lifelong friends I played with in the red and white. I wish them and the new manager Ben O’Connor the very best in the coming season.
“I have worn the red jersey for 18 years and it has been the privilege of my life to represent the people of Cork during that time.
I will always be grateful for the support the Cork people have given our team in good times and bad. They are truly the greatest supporters in Ireland.
“Up the Rebels.”
Patrick Horgan on the attack against Limerick in the 2010 Munster SHC semi-final. Picture: Brian Lawless/Sportsfile
Given his debut by Gerald McCarthy during the 2008 season, Horgan soon established himself as a key starter in the Cork attack. He earned the first numerous All-Star nominations in 2010, when Denis Walsh’s Cork side were only denied a Munster championship win by a late equalising Cork goal, and he was named vice-captain of the team for 2012 – when skipper Dónal Óg Cusack suffered a season-ending injury in April, Horgan led the team as they reached the All-Ireland semi-finals.
The following year saw him win his first All-Star as Cork went so close to ending the wait for the Liam MacCarthy Cup – more would follow in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Horgan scored 2-41 across four games as Cork won Munster in 2014 and he was to the fore for the victories of 2017 and 2018 too. A fourth provincial medal took longer to come, but it arrived after Cork’s dramatic win over Limerick at TUS Gaelic Grounds in June.
Cork’s Patrick Horgan and his son Jack after defeating Dublin in this year’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final at Croke Park. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
While he will no longer grace the Croke Park, FBD Semple Stadium or SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh turf as a Cork hurler, he will continue to wear the green, black and gold of the Glen – four appearances in this year’s Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC have yielded five goals and 39 points, leaving him top of the scoring charts prior to the semi-final stage.
Glen chairperson Liam Martin paid tribute to the club’s star.
“Today is truly the end of an era,” he said, “and on behalf of the officers, members, and supporters of Glen Rovers I would like to convey our heartfelt appreciation to Patrick as one of our own.
“He leaves the inter-county stage having adorned the hurling fields of Ireland with no little skill, ability, and above all else, immense character which always shone like a beacon. We have as a club been immensely proud of all of his achievements in the Rebel Red from his earliest days as a three-year Cork minor.
“His legacy as an outstanding hurler is without question. We should also acknowledge Patrick’s wife Ashley, son Jack, and indeed not forgetting his parents Pat and Anne, who have been a constant support to Patrick throughout his hurling career.
“Finally, we are looking forward to many more years of Patrick’s active involvement in our club. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.”
Those view were echoed by Cork GAA top brass. County board chairperson Pat Horgan said: “This is a sad day for Cork supporters, coming so soon after the huge disappointment of the All-Ireland final.
“Patrick Horgan can justly lay claim to be one of the greats of Cork hurling. To him, and to his family who supported him over his career, I say, on behalf of the Cork GAA family, thank you for everything.”
Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan said: “Patrick Horgan became an icon for a new generation of Cork supporters in the 2000s, who flocked in their thousands to support the Cork hurlers. His commitment, dedication and pursuit of excellence saw him become an inspiration to so many. He is a credit to his family, club and county.”
We thank him for the wonderful memories.’