Damian Casey

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| code= Hurling

| sport = Hurling

| image =

| name = Damian Casey

| irish = Damán Ó Casthasaigh

| fullname =

| feet =

| inches =

| nickname =

| occupation = Sales

| county = Tyrone

| province = Ulster

| club = Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon

| clposition =

| clubs =

| clyears =

| clapps(points) =

| clcounty = 4

| clprovince=

| clallireland =

| counties = Tyrone

| colyears =

| colleges = Ulster University

| colapps(points) =

| fitz =

| sig =

| icposition = Full-forward

| icyears = 2012–2022

| icapps(points) = 101 (39–908)

| icprovince =

| icallireland =

| nhl = 2

| allstars =

| icupdate = 16:37, 6 March 2018

| birth_date = 1993

| birth_place = Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

| death_date = {{death date|2022|6|17|1993|df=y}} (age 29)

| death_place = Spain

}}

Damian Casey (1993 – 17 June 2022) was an Irish hurler who played for the Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon, club and at senior level for the Tyrone county team. Regarded as his county's greatest ever hurler who—at the time of his death—was "at the peak of his powers", Casey played as a full-forward.

He scored in every game he played for Tyrone at senior level. He was a former captain of his county, including for its first Nicky Rackard Cup win in 2014, when he was 21 years of age. He won the Nicky Rackard Cup again in 2022 in what was his final game for his county, shortly before his death at the age of 29.

Early life

Casey played hurling since he was "four or five". He was the son of Sean, a past chairman of the Dungannon Clarkes club. He was also the son of Susan and had two sisters.

Casey was educated at St Patrick's Academy in Dungannon. He attended, and graduated from, Ulster University, and represented it in the Fitzgibbon Cup. He later lived in the English city of Liverpool.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/tyrone-hurler-damian-casey-3819989-Jan2018/|title=Flying home for club and county! The Tyrone hurler and the weekly commute from Liverpool|publisher=The42.ie|first=Sinead|last=Farrell|date=28 January 2018|access-date=6 March 2018}}

Career

Casey first emerged as a hurler at juvenile and underage levels with the Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon club in Dungannon. He advanced onto the club's senior team and was involved in four Tyrone SHC title-winning teams.{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/303697|title=Tyrone SHC final: Eoghan Ruadh retain crown|work=Hogan Stand|date=8 September 2019|access-date=9 September 2019}}

Casey made his first appearance on the inter-county scene when he was selected for the Tyrone under-16 hurling team. An All-Ireland medal winner in this grade, he later won an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal as a member of the Tyrone team. He then joined the under-21 team, before making his senior debut during the 2012 National League. He became a regular member of the starting fifteen and went on to win Nicky Rackard Cup and Lory Meagher Cup titles.{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/170849|title=Lory Meagher final: Tyrone win thriller in extra time|work=Hogan Stand|date=9 June 2012|access-date=11 June 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/217865|title=Nicky Rackard Cup: Tyrone edge Fingal|work=Hogan Stand|date=7 June 2014|access-date=11 June 2014}}

In 2014, Casey captained the first Tyrone team to win a Nicky Rackard Cup. In the final at Croke Park, he scored eight points against Fingal. He was 21 years of age.

In his last league game (2022 National Hurling League, 2 April), he scored 1–10 as part of a three-point win against Armagh that gave Tyrone promotion to Division 2B.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2022/0402/1289969-casey-fires-tyrone-to-promotion-after-armagh-thriller/|title=Damian Casey fires Tyrone to promotion after Armagh thriller|publisher=RTÉ|date=2 April 2022}}

Casey scored fourteen points (including nine from frees and two 65s) from Tyrone's total of 1–27 in the 2022 Nicky Rackard Cup final eleven-point win against Roscommon at Croke Park on 21 May. In the previous game (semi-final) he scored 1–12, enough to see him past the 400-point total in championship games.

His league and championship total was 39 goals and 908 points (a total of 1,025 points). His statistics compare favorably with Patrick Horgan, the Cork hurler who is the record scorer at senior level, with Horgan's point average per game at the time of Casey's death being about 8.4, while Casey's ultimate point average per game was 10.01.

Casey made 101 appearances for his senior county team. Forty of those appearances were in the championship. From his debut in 2012 until his death in 2022, he started in every game and scored in every game. Casey's appearance record contrasted with that of Galway hurler David Burke, who at 32 years of age, became that county's appearance record holder (63) against Cork, on the day after Casey's death.

The Belfast Telegraph interviewed him shortly before his death, with the player commenting on his scoring record, and in particular his free-taking routine:

It's about taking your deep breaths, taking a step back from the ball and having a look at the ball, taking a look at the posts. A couple of steps forward, another couple of breaths... Opposition teams are going to be shouting and roaring, opposition fans are going to be on your back. But it is about having that set routine, going through it every time and it's repetition then... It should all be flowing and natural.

On 18 June 2022, it was announced that Casey had died the previous day in Spain, where he had planned to attend a wedding as a groomsman.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2022/0617/1305589-tyrone-hurling-star-damian-casey-dies-aged-29/|title=Tyrone hurling star Damian Casey dies aged 29|publisher=RTÉ News and Current Affairs|date=18 June 2022|accessdate=18 June 2022|quote=The Dungannon man, regarded as possibly the county's greatest hurler of all time, made his inter-county debut in 2012.}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/news/a-magician-of-rare-skill-tributes-paid-to-tyrone-hurling-star-damian-casey-who-died-in-tragic-swimming-pool-accident-in-spain-41765713.html|title='A magician of rare skill'—tributes paid to Tyrone hurling star Damian Casey who died in tragic swimming pool accident in Spain|publisher=Independent.ie|date=18 June 2022|quote=Considered Tyrone's greatest ever hurler, Damian Casey had helped his home county to Nicky Rackard Cup glory only last month… Mr Casey first lined-out for the Tyrone seniors in 2012. The full-forward started his county's first game that season and amazingly he started every game for Tyrone since then—100 outings in total.}}{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/damian-casey-5793896-Jun2022/|title=Tyrone hurling star Damian Casey dies aged 29|publisher=The42.ie|date=8 June 2022|quote=The Dungannon man passed away in a tragic swimming-pool accident in Spain on Friday… Eoghan Ruadh forward Casey was widely regarded as Tyrone's greatest hurler of all time... Indeed, across all competitions, Casey started and scored in every one of Tyrone's 101 fixtures since his senior inter-county bow in 2012, amassing an overall tally of 39 goals and 908 points—or 1,025 total points.}}{{cite news |last1=Rutherford |first1=Adrian |last2=Preston |first2=Allan |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/damian-casey-on-earth-you-were-a-star-managers-poignant-tribute-to-tyrone-hurler-killed-in-spanish-pool-accident-41765651.html |title=Damian Casey: 'On earth you were a star'—manager's poignant tribute to Tyrone hurler killed in Spanish pool accident |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=belfasttelegraph |date=18 June 2022}} Vigils occurred following his death.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2022/06/20/news/vigils-take-place-to-support-family-of-damian-casey-following-tyrone-hurler-s-tragic-death-2747896/|title=Vigils take place to support family of Damian Casey following Tyrone hurler's tragic death|work=The Irish News|date=20 June 2022}} Those in attendance recited the Hurler's Prayer.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2022/06/20/news/tyrone-community-gather-to-support-hurler-damian-casey-s-devastated-family-at-vigil-2747880/|title=Tyrone community gather to support hurler Damian Casey's devastated family at vigil|work=The Irish News|first=Paul|last=Ainsworth|date=20 June 2022}} Ahead of the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals, which took place at Semple Stadium the day after Casey's death, a minute's silence was held, with RTÉ pundit Anthony Daly stating: "He scored 14 points in Croke Park just a few weeks ago. It's just such a loss".{{cite news|url=https://extra.ie/2022/06/19/news/body-of-hurling-star-to-be-brought-home|title=Body of tragic hurling star Damian Casey to be brought home after post mortem|first=Arthur|last=Parashar|date=19 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/TheSundayGame/status/1538138968734171137|title=Anthony Daly reflects on the tragic passing of Tyrone hurler Damian Casey|work=The Saturday Game|first=Anthony|last=Daly|date=18 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://extra.ie/2022/06/18/sport/gaa-tributes-tyrone-damian-casey-death|title='He was blessed with a modesty beyond belief'—GAA united in grief over death of Damian Casey|first=Barry|last=Arnold|date=18 June 2022}}

He was posthumously selected for the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Team of the Year, announced on 18 October 2022 and, three days later, was announced as Nicky Rackard Cup Hurler of the Year.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2022/1018/1329903-late-casey-named-in-ring-rackard-and-meagher-team-xv/|title=Deceased Casey named in Ring, Rackard and Meagher Team of the Year|publisher=RTÉ|date=18 October 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/gaelic-games/63303616|title=Damian Casey: Late Tyrone hurler named in Ring, Rackard and Meagher team of the year|publisher=BBC|date=18 October 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2022/1021/1330699-damian-casey-named-rackard-cup-hurler-of-the-year/|title=Damian Casey named Rackard Cup hurler of the year|publisher=RTÉ|date=21 October 2022}} He was also posthumously selected as Ulster GAA Hurler of the Year in November 2022.{{cite news|url= https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/325861|title=The late Damian Casey named Ulster GAA Hurler of The Year|work=Hogan Stand|date=26 November 2022}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Year !colspan="3"\|National League !colspan="2"\|Meagher Cup !colspan="2"\|Rackard Cup !colspan="2"\|Ulster Shield !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Division	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
rowspan="11"\|Tyrone \|2012 \|rowspan="2"\|Division 3A \|5	0–22	3	1–16	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	8	1–38
2013 \|6	0–46	colspan=2\|—	3	0–25	colspan=2\|—	9	0–71
2014 \|rowspan="1"\|Division 3B \|4	0–29	colspan=2\|—	3	0–29	colspan=2\|—	7	0–58
2015 \|rowspan="8"\|Division 3A \|6	4–70	colspan=2\|—	4	1–34	colspan=2\|—	10	5–104
2016 \|6	2–67	colspan=2\|—	3	2–40	colspan=2\|—	9	4–107
2017 \|6	5–41	colspan=2\|—	3	2–23	2	1–21	11	8–85
2018 \|4	2–45	colspan=2\|—	3	1–18	colspan=2\|—	7	3–63
2019 \|5	4–45	colspan=2\|—	4	4–46	colspan=2\|—	9	8–91
2020 \|5	2–59	colspan=2\|—	3	0–30	colspan=2\|—	8	2–89
2021 \|4	2–34	colspan=2\|—	3	0–30	colspan=2\|—	7	2–64
2022 \|4	1–37	colspan=2\|—	0	0–00	colspan=2\|—	4	1–37
colspan="3"\|Total \|55\|\|22–495\|\|3\|\|1–16\|\|29\|\|10–275\|\|2\|\|1–21\|\|89\|\|34–807

Honours

; Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon

Tyrone Senior Hurling Championship: 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019

; Tyrone

Nicky Rackard Cup: 2014 (c.), 2022
Lory Meagher Cup: 2012
National Hurling League Division 3A: 2015 (c.),{{cite news|url=https://tyronegaa.ie/2015/04/ahl-division-3a-final-tyrone-0-18-monaghan-1-11/|title=AHL Division 3A Final Tyrone 0–18 Monaghan 1–11|date=6 April 2015}} 2022{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/322801|title=Tyrone hold off Armagh fight back for Division 3A crown|work=Hogan Stand|date=2 April 2022}}
National Hurling League Division 3B: 2014 (c.){{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/213453|title=Team news: Tyrone name hurling team to face Leitrim|work=Hogan Stand|date=4 April 2014}}

; Awards

GAA/GPA Champion 15: 2019,{{cite news|url=https://www.gaa.ie/news-archive/news/ring-rackard-meagher-champion-15-announced/|title=Ring, Rackard, Meagher Champion 15 announced|date=1 November 2019}} 2020,{{cite news|url=https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/nine-counties-represented-in-gaa-gpa-champion-15-selection/|title=Nine Counties represented in GAA/GPA Champion 15 selection|date=15 February 2021}} 2021{{cite news|url=https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/eight-counties-represented-in-2021-champion-15-selection/|title=Eight counties represented in 2021 Champion 15 selection|date=6 December 2021}}
Nicky Rackard Cup Champion 15: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016{{cite news|url=https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/ring-rackard-and-meagher-champions-announced/|title=Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Cup Champions 15 announced|date=1 November 2016}}