Eoin Downey

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| code = Hurling

| sport = Hurling

| image =

| name = Eoin Downey

| irish = Eoin Ó Dúnaigh

| fullname =

| feet = 6

| inches = 4{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41063840.html|title=Pat Ryan goes for power and height to bridge gap to Limerick|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=4 February 2023|access-date=7 February 2024|first=|last=}}

| occupation = Student

| county = Cork

| province = Munster

| club = Glen Rovers

| clposition =

| clubs =

| clyears = 2021-present

| clapps(points) = 14 (1-08)

| clcounty = 0

| clprovince=

| clallireland =

| colleges = University College Cork

| colyears = 2022-present

| fitz = 0

| counties = Cork

| icposition = Full-back

| icyears = 2022-present

| icapps(points) = 8 (0-00)

| icprovince = 0

| icallireland = 0

| nhl = 1

| allstars = 1

| clupdate = 21:03, 9 July 2024

| icupdate = 23:30, 8 July 2024

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|5|17|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Ballyvolane, Cork, Ireland

}}

Eoin Downey (born 17 May 2003) is an Irish hurler. At club level he plays with Glen Rovers and at inter-county level with the Cork senior hurling team.

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 joining the school's senior team in 2019. Downey's first year as a senior ended with defeat by St Flannan's College in the 2020 Harty Cup final.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-30985008.html|title=St Flannan’s hold out against Christians in Harty Cup final|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=1 March 2020|access-date=8 July 2024|first=Therese|last=O'Callaghan}} He captained CBC to the Dr O'Callaghan Cup title after a 3–13 to 1–12 defeat of Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistir Thuaidh in March 2022, in what was his last game for the school.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40835144.html|title=Sun and scores rain down as clinical CBC claim O'Callaghan Cup glory|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=22 March 2022|access-date=8 July 2024|first=Therese|last=O'Callaghan}} Downey later studied at University College Cork and was added to their Fitzgibbon Cup panel in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41327056.html|title=Fitzgibbon Cup: UCC exit competition as holders UL pull away in second half|publisher=Echo Live|date=7 February 2024|access-date=8 July 2024|first=|last=}}

Club career

Downey began his club career at juvenile and underage levels with the Glen Rovers club on the northside of Cork city.{{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40108856.html|title=Minor hurling: Glen dig deep to see off the Rockies and reach the last four|publisher=Echo Live|date=5 August 2020|access-date=8 July 2024|first=|last=}} He had success in the under-21 grade in 2023 when the Glen won the Cork Premier 1 U21HC title.{{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41267716.html|title=Glen Rovers hold off Douglas comeback to lift City Division U21 title|publisher=Echo Live|date=11 November 2023|access-date=8 July 2024|first=|last=}} Downey won a Seandún U21B FC title with the Glen's sister club St Nick's in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41341424.html|title=St Nicks take the bragging rights as they beat Na Piarsaigh in Seandun U21B football championship final|publisher=Echo Live|date=2 March 2024|access-date=8 July 2024|first=|last=}}

Downey made his senior team debut at midfield in the Glen's 0–24 to 1–10 defeat by Douglas in September 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40696301.html|title=Cork club hurling: Douglas deliver in 11-point rout of Glen Rovers|publisher=Echo Live|date=11 September 2021|access-date=8 July 2024|first=|last=}} He ended his debut championship season with a 0–24 to 1–18 defeat by Midleton in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40749447.html|title=Premier SHC final: Midleton are the county champions again|publisher=Echo Live|date=21 November 2021|access-date=21 November 2021|first=Denis|last=Hurley}}

Inter-county career

Downey first appeared on the inter-county scene with Cork as a member of the minor team in 2019, before being named team captain in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://gaacork.ie/2020/12/11/cork-minor-hurling-team-announced-2/|title=Cork minor hurling team announced|publisher=Cork GAA website|date=11 December 2020|access-date=21 November 2021|first=|last=}} His minor career ended without success, however, he immediately progressed to the under-20 team. Success in this grade was immediate with Downey claiming Munster and All-Ireland U20HC medals in 2021 after respective defeats of Limerick and Galway.{{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40347887.html|title=Cork dig deep to retain Munster U20 hurling title|date=28 July 2021|publisher=GAA website|access-date=18 August 2021|first=|last=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/impressive-cork-crowned-bge-all-ireland-u-20-hurling-champions/|title=Impressive Cork crowned BGE All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Champions|date=18 August 2021|publisher=GAA website|access-date=18 August 2021|first=|last=}} After surrendering their titles the following year, Downey claimed a second Munster U20HC medal after a two-point defeat of Clare in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41139988.html|title=Cork claim Munster U20 hurling title after thrilling win over Clare|date=15 May 2023|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=18 August 2023|first=Eoghan|last=Cormican}} His last game in the grade saw him claim a second winners' medal after a defeat of Offaly in the 2023 All-Ireland U20 final.{{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41154928.html|title=Cork v Offaly: All-Ireland U20 hurling glory for Rebels|date=4 June 2023|publisher=Echo Live|access-date=5 June 2023|first=|last=}}

Downey was still a school student when he was called into the Cork senior hurling team by manager Kieran Kingston in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40837034.html|title=The project is ongoing but the production line in Cork is certainly rolling again |publisher=Irish Examiner|date=26 March 2022|access-date=7 February 2023|first=Christy|last=O'Connor}} He made his debut in a 2–17 to 0–22 defeat of Limerick in round 1 of the 2023 National Hurling League.{{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41064503.html|title=Shane Kingston scores the winner as Cork come back to beat Limerick|publisher=Echo Live|date=4 February 2023|access-date=7 February 2023|first=|last=}}

He and his brother Robert won an All Star at the end of the 2024 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41508434.html|title=Cork's Downey brothers make history with All-Star awards while Shane O'Donnell named top hurler|work=Irish Examiner|first=John|last=Fogarty|date=1 November 2024|accessdate=1 November 2024}}{{cite news|title=Conroy and O'Donnell scoop Player of the Year awards|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/1101/1478693-conroy-and-odonnell-scoop-player-of-the-year-awards/|work=RTÉ News|date=1 November 2024|access-date=2 November 2024}}

Personal life

Downey's older brother Robert is also a hurler.{{cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41404232.html|title=Family ties and schools hurling in Christians key to Downey development|publisher=Echo Live|date=30 May 2024|access-date=8 July 2024|first=|last=}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Year !colspan="2"\|Cork PSHC
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Apps	Score
rowspan="8"\|Glen Rovers \|2021	6	0-01
2022	4	0-06
2023	4	1-01
Total !14	1-08
rowspan=2\|Year !colspan=2\|Cork SAHC
Apps	Score
2024	0	0-00
Total !0	0-00
colspan="2"\|Career total !14	1-08

=Inter-county=

rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Year !colspan="3"\|National League !colspan="2"\|Munster !colspan="2"\|All-Ireland !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Division	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
rowspan="3"\|Cork \|2022 \|rowspan="3"\|Division 1A	0	0-00	0	0-00	0	0-00	0	0-00
2023	4	0-01	1	0-00	colspan=2\|—	5	0-01
2024	4	0-01	4	0-00	3	0-00	11	0-01
colspan="3"\|Career total !8	0-02	5	0-00	3	0-00	16	0-02