Cathal Dunbar
{{Short description|Irish hurler}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2020}}
{{infobox Gaelic games player
|image =
|name = Cathal Dunbar
|irish =
|nickname =
|occupation = Student
|birth_date = 1996
|birth_place = Gorey, County Wexford, Ireland
|height =
|sport = Hurling
|code = Hurling
|county = Wexford
|province = Leinster
|club = Ballygarrett-Réalt na Mara
Naomh Éanna
|clyears =
|clposition =
|clapps(points) =
|clcounty = 1
|clprovince =
|clallireland =
|colleges = Institute of Technology, Carlow
|fitz = 0
|counties = Wexford
|icyears = 2016–present
|icposition = Right corner-forward
|icapps(points) = 10 (0-06)
|icprovince = 1
|icallireland = 0
|nhl = 0
|allstars = 0
|clupdate =
|icupdate = 19:55, 1 July 2019
}}
Cathal Dunbar (born 1996) is an Irish hurler who plays for Wexford Senior Championship club Naomh Éanna and at inter-county level with the Wexford senior hurling team.{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/six-players-to-watch-in-this-years-allianz-hurling-league-division-1b-63864|title=Six players to watch in this year's Allianz Hurling League Division 1B|publisher=joe.ie|date=7 February 2016|accessdate=4 February 2018|first=Kevin|last=McGillicuddy}} He usually lines out as a right corner-forward.
Playing career
=Gorey Community School=
Dunbar first came to prominence as a hurler with Gorey Community School. He played in every grade of hurling before eventually joining the college's senior hurling team and lined out in several Leinster Championship campaigns.{{cite web|url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/gaelic-games/92964/Gorey-dash-CBS-Leinster-title-hopes.html|title=Gorey dash CBS Leinster hopes|publisher=Leinster Express|date=18 December 2012|accessdate=14 February 2019|first=|last=}}
=Institute of Technology, Carlow=
As a student at the Institute of Technology, Carlow, Dunbar joined the senior hurling team during his second year. He lined out for the college in several Fitzgibbon Cup campaigns.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/kehoe-kingston-ucc-it-carlow-fitzgibbon-cup-quarter-final-match-report-4482833-Feb2019/|title=Kehoe and Kingston goals see UCC into last four after dogged battle with IT Carlow|publisher=The 42|date=7 February 2019|accessdate=14 February 2019|first=Denis|last=Hurley}}
=Naomh Éanna=
Dunbar joined the Ballygarrett-Réalt na Mara club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels before eventually joining the club's top adult team.
In January 2018, it was announced that Dunbar sought a transfer from his home club to Gorey town's Naomh Éanna.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/sport/gaa/dunbar-seeks-club-move-36491453.html|title=Dunbar seeks club move|publisher=New Ross Standard|date=20 January 2018|accessdate=1 July 2019|first=Brendan|last=Furlong}} The transfer was met with heavy opposition as Ballygarrett-Réalt na Mara club officials disputed the fact that Dunbar was living in Gorey.{{cite web|url=https://punditarena.com/gaa/jredmond/controversy-wexford-intercounty-hurler-transfer-nearby-club/|title=Controversy as Wexford hurler granted transfer to nearby club|publisher=Pundit Arena|date=6 March 2018|accessdate=1 July 2019|first=Jason|last=Redmond}} The transfer was eventually completed after two months.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/transfer-sagas-leave-bitter-imprint-36691672.html|title=Transfer sagas leave bitter imprint|publisher=Irish Independent|date=11 March 2018|accessdate=1 July 2019|first=Dermot|last=Crowe}} On 21 October 2018, Dunbar lined out at left corner-forward when Naomh Éanna reached the final of the Wexford Senior Championship. He scored 1-04 from play and ended the game with a winners' medal following the 2-11 to 0-13 defeat of St. Martin's.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/dunbar-on-song-as-naomh-anna-topple-champs-37443555.html|title=Dunbar on song as Naomh éanna topple champs|publisher=Irish Independent|date=22 October 2018|accessdate=1 July 2019|first=|last=}}
=Wexford=
==Minor and under-21==
Dunbar first lined out for Wexford as a member of the minor team during the 2013 Leinster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 4 May when he lined out at midfield in a 3-07 to 1-10 defeat by Kilkenny.
Dunbar was eligible for the minor grade again during the 2014 Leinster Championship. He played his last game in the grade on 21 June 2014 when he scored a point from midfield in a 0-17 to 0-16 defeat by Dublin.{{cite web|url=http://hoganstand.com/county/wexford/article/index/218805|title=Leinster MHC semi-final: Super sub O Conghaile sinks Wexford|date=21 June 2014|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=2 July 2019|first=|last=}}
Dunbar was drafted onto the Wexford under-21 team for the 20135Leinster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 27 May 2015 when he came on as a 41st-minute substitute in Wexford's 0-23 to 0-14 defeat of Kildare.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/conor-mcdonald-inspires-wexford-to-victory-over-kildare-in-under-21-hurling-clash-1.2228375|title=Conor McDonald inspires Wexford to victory over Kildare in Under-21 hurling clash|date=27 May 2015|publisher=Irish Times|accessdate=2 July 2019|first=|last=}} On 8 July 2015, Dunbar won a Leinster Championship medal after scoring 1-01 from right corner-forward in the 4-17 to 1-09 defeat of Kilkenny in the final.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/240694|title=Leinster U21 HC final: Magical Model maul Cats for three-in-a-row|date=8 July 2015|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=1 July 2019|first=|last=}} He retained his position at right corner-forward for the All-Ireland final against Limerick on 12 September 2015. Dunbar scored a point from play but ended the game on the losing side following a 0-26 to 1-07 defeat.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/limerick-ease-past-wexford-to-claim-u21-hurling-title-695616.html|title=Limerick ease past Wexford to claim U21 hurling title|date=12 December 2015|publisher=Irish Examiner|accessdate=1 July 2019|first=Eoghan|last=Cormican}}
Dunbar was eligible for the under-21 grade for a third and final season in 2017. On 5 July, O'Connor he two points from right corner-forward when Wexford suffered a 0-30 to 1-15 defeat by Kilkenny in the Leinster final.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/kilkenny-wexford-u21-2-3480994-Jul2017/|title=Kilkenny land 30 points en route to completing U21 and minor Leinster hurling double|date=5 July 2017|publisher=The 42|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=Kevin|last=O'Brien}}
==Senior==
Dunbar was added to the Wexford senior team in advance of the 2016 National League. He made his first appearance for the team on 13 February 2016 when he was selected at right corner-forward but lined out at left wing-forward in Wexford's 2-23 to 0-15 defeat by Limerick.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/limerick-wexford-match-report-2603297-Feb2016/|title=Second-half Limerick goals kill off Wexford's comeback hopes|date=13 February 2016|publisher=The 42|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=John|last=Fallon}} Dunbar made his first Leinster Championship appearance on 21 May 2016 when he was introduced as a half-time substitute for Andrew Kenny in a 2-19 to 0-12 defeat by Dublin.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/dublin-wexford-leinster-hurling-report-2781896-May2016/|title=Dublin hurlers cruise past dismal Wexford to book Leinster semi-final clash with Kilkenny|date=21 May 2016|publisher=The 42|accessdate=15 December 2018|first=Jackie|last=Cahill}}
On 2 July 2017, Dunbar was named on the bench when Wexford qualified for their first Leinster final in nine years. He came on as a 53rd-minute substitute for Harry Kehoe and scored a point in the 0-29 to 1-17 defeat by Galway.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/galway-wexford-report-3474778-Jul2017/|title=Conor Cooney masterclass leads Galway past Wexford to their first Leinster title since 2012|publisher=The 42|date=2 July 2017|accessdate=23 February 2019|first=Kevin|last=O'Brien }}
On 20 January 2018, Dunbar lined out at left wing-forward when Wexford faced Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup final. He scored a point from play in the 1-24 apiece draw. Wexford won the subsequent free-taking shoot-out, with Dunbar claiming his first silverware at senior level with Wexford.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/goreyguardian/sport/gaa/fanning-hits-winner-in-historic-shootout-36518563.html|title=Fanning hits winner in historic shoot-out|publisher=Gorey Guardian|date=27 January 2018|accessdate=23 February 2019|first=Alan|last=Aherne }}
Wexford reached a second Leinster final in three years on 30 June 2019. Dunbar was selected at right corner-forward but started the game on the bench after a series of late changes. He came on as a 59th-minute substitute for Paul Morris and collected a winners' medal following the 1-23 to 0-23 defeat of Kilkenny.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/wexford-kilkenny-leinster-shc-final-report-4703931-Jun2019/|title=Wexford land first Leinster title in 15 years with thrilling victory over Kilkenny|publisher=The 42|date=30 June 2019|accessdate=1 July 2019|first=Kevin|last=O'Brien}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 30 June 2019.}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Year !colspan="3"|National League !colspan="2"|Leinster !colspan="2"|All-Ireland !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score |
| rowspan="4"|Wexford
|2016 |rowspan="2"|Division 1B |3 | 0-01 | 1 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 6 | 0-01 | |
| 2017
|0 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-01 | 0 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-01 | |
| 2018
|rowspan="2"|Division 1A |6 | 0-03 | 1 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 7 | 0-03 | |
| 2019
|6 | 1-07 | 5 | 0-05 | 0 | 0-00 | 11 | 1-12 | |
| colspan="3"|Total
!15 | 1-11 | 8 | 0-06 | 2 | 0-00 | 25 | 1-17 |
Honours
;Naomh Éanna
;Wexford
References
{{reflist}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Cathal Dunbar navigation boxes
|list1=
{{Wexford Under-21 Hurling Team 2015}}
{{2020 GAA Rising Stars Hurling Team}}
}}
{{Wexford Hurling Team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunbar, Cathal}}