Stephen O'Keeffe

{{infobox Gaelic games player

|image =

|name = Stephen O'Keeffe

|irish = Stiofán Ó Cuív

|nickname =

|occupation = Bank Official

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|4|29|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Waterford, Ireland

|height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

|sport = Hurling

|code = Hurling

|county = Waterford

|province = Munster

|club = Ballygunner

|clyears = 2009–

|clposition = Goalkeeper

|clapps(points) =

|clcounty = 8

|clprovince = 1

|clallireland =

|colleges = Waterford Institute of Technology

|fitz = 1

|colyears = 2010–2014

|counties = Waterford

|icyears = 2011–2021

|icposition = Goalkeeper

|icapps(points) = 31 (0-00)

|icprovince = 0

|icallireland = 0

|nhl = 1

|allstars = 1

|clupdate =

|icupdate = 15:07, 15 June 2019

}}

Stephen O'Keeffe (born 29 April 1991) is an Irish hurler who plays for Waterford Senior Championship club Ballygunner and formerly at inter-county level with the Waterford county hurling team. He usually lines out as a goalkeeper.

Playing career

=De La Salle College=

O'Keeffe first came to prominence as a hurler with De La Salle College in Waterford. He played in every grade before eventually joining the college's senior team. On 11 March 2007, he won a Harty Cup medal after lining out in goal for De La Salle's 2-07 to 0-11 defeat of St. Flannan's College.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/de-la-salle-power-to-harty-title-26270036.html|title=De La Salle Power to Harty title|publisher=Irish Independent|date=12 March 2007|access-date=14 February 2019}} O'Keeffe retained his position in goal when De La Salle faced Kilkenny CBS in the All-Ireland final on 22 April 2007. He ended the game with a winners' medal following the 0-13 to 1-09 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/power-base-sees-de-la-salle-land-first-title-26266955.html|title=Power base sees De La Salle land first title|publisher=Irish Independent|date=23 April 2007|access-date=14 February 2019}}

On 8 March 2008, O'Keeffe won a second successive Harty Cup medal following a 1-11 to 0-07 defeat of Thurles CBS in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/mcgrath-puts-harty-joy-down-to-team-spirit-26429159.html|title=McGrath puts Harty joy down to team spirit|publisher=Irish Independent|date=10 March 2008|access-date=14 February 2019}} On 19 April 2008, he won a second successive All-Ireland medal following De La Salle's 2-09 to 2-08 defeat of Thurles CBS in a final replay.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/match-reports/de-la-salle-hold-their-nerve-60765.html|title=De La Salle hold their nerve|date=21 April 2008|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=2 January 2019}}

=Waterford Institute of Technology=

O'Keeffe studied at the Waterford Institute of Technology and joined the senior hurling team in his second year at the institute. On 1 March 2014, he lined out in goal when Waterford IT defeated the Cork Institute of Technology by 0-17 to 0-12 to win the Fitzgibbon Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/magnificent-waterford-it-cup-kings-again-260603.html|title=Magnificent Waterford IT cup kings again|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=3 March 2014|access-date=14 February 2019|first=Eoghan|last=Cormican}}

=Ballygunner=

==Minor==

O'Keeffe joined the Ballygunner club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. On 12 November 2006, he was just 15-years-old when he lined out in goal when Ballygunner defeated Cappoquin by 2-12 to 2-05 to win the Waterford Minor Championship title.

On 30 September 2007, O'Keeffe lined out in goal in a second successive Waterford Minor Championship final. A 3-24 to 2-09 defeat of Dungarvan secured a second successive winners' medal.

Three titles in-a-row proved beyond the Ballygunner minor team, however, on 8 November 2009 Ballygunner lined out in a third final in four seasons. O'Keeffe collected a third winners' medal after a 2-17 to 0-10 defeat of Dunhill-Fenor.

==Senior==

On 11 October 2009, O'Keeffe was just 18-years-old when he lined out in goal in his first Waterford Senior Championship final. Lismore were the opponents, however, the game ended in a 4-12 to 2-18 draw.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/118916|title=Waterford SHC: Flynn rescues replay for Ballygunner|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=12 October 2009|access-date=14 February 2019}} The replay a week later saw O'Keeffe claim his first winners' medal following a 1-17 to 0-19 victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/gaa-hurling/mighty-moloney-swings-it/|title=Mighty Moloney swings it|publisher=The Munster Express|date=20 October 2009|access-date=14 February 2019}} On 29 November 2009, he was in goal when Ballygunner suffered a 2-11 to 0-09 defeat by Newtownshandrum in the Munster final.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/resolute-newtown-turn-tide-106753.html|title=Resolute Newtown turn tide|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=30 November 2009|access-date=14 February 2019|first=Michael|last=Moynihan}}

O'Keeffe lined out in his second Waterford Senior Championship final on 24 October 2010, with Ballygunner hoping to retain the title for the first time in 12 years. He ended on the losing side following a 3-13 to 1-11 defeat by De La Salle.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/mullane-magic-helps-shoot-down-gunner-26692819.html|title=Mullane magic helps shoot down 'Gunner|publisher=Irish Independent|date=25 October 2010|access-date=14 February 2019}}

Ballygunner qualified for a third successive Waterford Senior Championship final on 16 October 2011, with O'Keeffe lining out in goal once again. He collected a second winners' medal following a 1-19 to 0-06 defeat of Tallow.{{cite web|url=http://hoganstand.com/article/index/156602|title=Waterford SHC: Ballygunner stroll to 12th title|publisher=Hogan Stand|date=17 October 2011|access-date=14 February 2019}}

Four final appearances in succession proved beyond Ballygunner, however, the club reached a fourth final in five seasons on 13 October 2013. O'Keeffe ended on the losing side for the second time in his career following a 3-16 to 3-13 defeat by first-time champions Passage.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/passage-dream-comes-true-246228.html|title=Passage dream comes true|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=14 October 2013|access-date=14 February 2019}}

O'Keeffe lined out in goal in a fifth Waterford Senior Championship final on 5 October 2014. Ballygunner defeated Mount Sion by 2-16 to 0-09, with O'Keeffe collecting a third winners' medal.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/redemption-for-gallant-gunners-290007.html|title=Redemption for gallant Gunners|date=6 October 2014|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=31 July 2018|first=Michael|last=Moynihan}}

On 18 October 2015, O'Keeffe won a fourth Waterford Senior Championship medal following a 0-16 to 0-12 defeat of Tallow in the final.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/245665|title=Waterford SHC final: Gunners grind out victory|date=18 October 2015|publisher=Hogan Stand|access-date=31 July 2018}} He later lined out in a second Munster final on 19 November 2015. O'Keeffe ended the game on the losing following a 2-18 to 2-11 defeat by Na Piarsaigh.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/late-na-piarsaigh-surge-sweeps-aside-ballygunner-in-scrappy-munster-final-36333884.html|title=Late Na Piarsaigh surge sweeps aside Ballygunner in scrappy Munster final|date=19 November 2015|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=31 July 2018|first=Colm|last=Keys}}

On 23 October 2016, O'Keeffe lined out in a fourth successive Waterford Championship final and his seventh overall. He collected a fifth winners' medal at the end of the game after a 4-20 to 1-12 defeat of Passage.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/pauric-mahonys-magic-drives-ballygunner-as-pat-flynn-is-honoured-427218.html|title=Pauric Mahony's magic drives Ballygunner as Pat Flynn is honoured|date=24 October 2016|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=31 July 2018|first=John|last=Fogarty}}

On 22 October 2017, O'Keeffe won a sixth Waterford Senior Championship medal in goal when Ballygunner defeated De La Salle by 2-18 to 0-16 in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/ballygunner-2-3659096-Oct2017/|title=Ballygunner capture historic fourth title in a row after dominating eastern rivals|date=22 October 2017|publisher=The 42|access-date=31 July 2018|first=Tomás|last=McCarthy}} On 19 November 2017, he lined out in a third Munster final, however, he ended on the losing side once again following a 3-15 to 2-10 defeat by Na Piarsaigh.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/late-na-piarsaigh-surge-sweeps-aside-ballygunner-in-scrappy-munster-final-36333884.html|title=Late Na Piarsaigh surge sweeps aside Ballygunner in scrappy Munster final|date=19 November 2017|publisher=The 42|access-date=31 July 2018|first=Colm|last=Keys}}

O'Keeffe won a seventh Waterford Senior Championship title on 7 October 2018 when Ballygunner defeated Abbeyside by 2-19 to 0-13 to secure a fifth successive title.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/ballygunner-abbeyside-waterford-shc-final-4272996-Oct2018/|title=Deise star Pauric Mahony fires over 0-13 to mastermind five-in-a-row for Gunners|date=7 October 2018|publisher=The 42|access-date=31 March 2019|first=Tomás|last=McCarthy}} He was again in goal on 18 November when Ballygunner defeated Na Piarsaigh by 2-14 to 2-08 to win the Munster Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/ballygunner-win-historic-first-munster-hurling-club-title-886149.html|title=Ballygunner win first Munster hurling club title since 2001|date=18 November 2018|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=31 March 2019|first=Michael|last=Moynihan}}

On 13 October 2019, O'Keeffe was again in goal when Ballygunner faced De La Salle in the Waterford Senior Championship final. He ended the game on the winning side and collected an eighth winners' medal following the 1-24 to 1-15 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/ballygunner-waterford-hurling-de-la-salle-4849561-Oct2019/|title=Hutchinson stars as Munster hurling champs complete 6-in-a-row in Waterford|publisher=The 42|date=13 October 2019|access-date=13 October 2019|first=Tomás|last=McCarthy}}

=Waterford=

==Minor and under-21==

O'Keeffe first lined out for Waterford as a member of the minor team during the 2008 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 25 June 2008 when he lined out in goal in a 4-13 to 1-06 defeat by Cork.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/97249|title=Munster MHC: Rebels put fancied Waterford to the sword|date=26 June 2008|publisher=Hogan Stand|access-date=12 June 2019}}

O'Keeffe was also eligible for the minor grade in 2009. He was in goal when Waterford qualified for a Munster final-meeting with Tipperary on 12 July 2009. He collected a Munster Championship medal following the 0-18 to 1-13 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/rising-star-oneill-shines-as-deise-end-17year-wait-26550373.html|title=Rising star O'Neill shines as Deise end 17-year wait|publisher=Irish Independent|date=13 July 2009|access-date=23 February 2019|first=Jackie|last=Cahill}}

O'Keeffe joined the Waterford under-21 team in advance of the 2010 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 3 June 2010 in a 1-16 to 1-03 defeat by Cork.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/rebels-off-to-a-flier-as-deise-get-a-roasting-121459.html|title=Rebels off to a flier as Déise get a roasting|date=3 June 2010|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=30 July 2018}}

O'Keeffe retained his status as first-choice goalkeeper with the Waterford under-21 for the 2011 Munster Championship. He made his only appearance for the team on 1 June 2011 when he lined out in goal in a 4-12 to 1-16 defeat by Tipperary.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/deise-fume-at-red-card-as-oneill-seals-tipps-place-in-semifinals-26738605.html|title=Deise fume at red card as O'Neill seals Tipp's place in semi-finals|date=2 June 2011|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=30 July 2018|first=Jackie|last=Cahill}}

On 19 July 2012, O'Keeffe made his last appearance for the Waterford under-21 team. He once again lined out in goal in a 2-22 to 0-09 defeat by Clare in the Munster Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2012/0720/sport/irresistible-banner-rout-deise-to-set-up-final-date-with-tipp-201423.html|title=Irresistible Banner rout Déise to set up final date with Tipp|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=20 July 2012|access-date=23 February 2019|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}

==Senior==

O'Keeffe was added to the Waterford senior panel prior to the start of the 2011 National League. He made his first appearance for the team on 20 February 2011 when he lined out in goal in a 1-11 to 0-12 defeat of Wexford. O'Keeffe later served as sub-goalkeeper to Clinton Hennessy during the 2011 Munster Championship.

On 17 June 2012, O'Keeffe made his Munster Championship debut in a 2-17 to 1-18 defeat of Clare.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/dogged-deise-shade-a-gripper-197766.html|title=Dogged Déise shade a gripper|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=18 June 2012|access-date=23 February 2019|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}} On 15 July 2012, he was again in goal when Waterford suffered a 2-17 to 0-16 defeat by Tipperary in the Munster final.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/tipperary-too-strong-for-plucky-waterford-559225.html|title=Tipperary too strong for plucky Waterford|date=15 July 2012|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=2 January 2019}}

On 3 May 2015, O'Keeffe won a National League medal following Waterford's 1-24 to 0-17 defeat of Cork in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/waterford-cork-2082951-May2015/|title=Waterford crowned hurling league champions with emphatic win over Cork|date=3 May 2015|publisher=The 42|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}} On 12 July 2015, he was also in goal when Waterford were beaten for the fourth time in six seasons by Tipperary in the Munster final.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/tipperary-claim-munster-hurling-title-with-tight-win-over-waterford-31370896.html|title=Tipperary claim Munster hurling title with tight win over Waterford|date=6 March 2012|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Seán|last=McGoldrick}}

On 1 May 2016, O'Keeffe was in goal when Waterford drew 0-22 apiece with Clare in the National League final.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/incredible-drama-as-waterford-force-league-final-replay-after-monster-70m-free-34675645.html|title=Incredible drama as Waterford force league final replay after monster 70m free|date=1 May 2016|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Seán|last=McGoldrick}} He retained his position for the replay, which Waterford lost by 1-23 to 2-19.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/clare-waterford-hurling-2758374-May2016/|title=Kelly the scoring hero as Clare claim dramatic league final win over Waterford|date=8 May 2016|publisher=The 42|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}} On 10 July 2016, O'Keeffe lost the third Munster final of his career when Waterford suffered a 5-19 to 0-13 defeat by Tipperary.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/tipp-torrents-wash-deise-hopes-away-34872402.html|title=Tipp torrents wash Deise hopes away|date=11 July 2016|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Martin|last=Breheny}}

On 3 September 2017, O'Keeffe lined out in the 2017 All-Ireland final. He kept a clean sheet but ended the game on the losing side following a 0-26 to 2-17 victory for Galway.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/galway-end-all-ireland-famine-with-tight-win-over-waterford-at-croke-park-36095604.html|title=Galway end All Ireland famine with tight win over Waterford at Croke Park|date=3 September 2017|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Seán|last=McGoldrick}} O'Keeffe ended the season by winning an GAA/GPA All-Star award.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/2017-all-star-hurling-team-pwc-awards-3674831-Nov2017/|title=7 from Galway and 5 from Waterford - the 2017 All-Star hurling team|date=2 November 2017|publisher=The 42|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Emma|last=Duffy}}

On 31 March 2019, O'Keeffe was in goal when Waterford faced Limerick in the National League final. He ended the game on the losing side following a 1-24 to 0-19 defeat.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/limerick-hurling-league-waterford-4569589-Mar2019/|title=Limerick end 22-year wait for league honours in style with final win over Waterford|date=31 March 2019|publisher=The 42|access-date=31 March 2019|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}}

Career statistics

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="9"\|Waterford \|2011 \|rowspan="1"\|Division 1 \|2	0-00	0	0-00	0	0-00	2	0-00
2012 \|rowspan="3"\|Division 1A \|2	0-00	2	0-00	1	0-00	5	0-00
2013 \|3	0-01	0	0-00	3	0-00	6	0-01
2014 \|4	0-00	2	0-00	2	0-00	8	0-00
2015 \|rowspan="1"\|Division 1B \|6	0-00	2	0-00	2	0-00	10	0-00
2016 \|rowspan="3"\|Division 1A \|8	0-00	2	0-00	3	0-00	13	0-00
2017 \|2	0-00	1	0-00	5	0-00	8	0-00
2018 \|3	0-00	3	0-00	colspan=2\|—	6	0-00
2019 \|rowspan="1"\|Division 1B \|4	0-00	3	0-00	colspan=2\|—	7	0-00
colspan="3"\|Total !34	0-01	15	0-00	16	0-00	65	0-01