Cathal O'Neill

Cathal O'Neill
Personal information
Native name
Cathal Ó Néill (Irish)
Born2002 (age 23–24)
Crecora,
County Limerick, Ireland
OccupationStudent
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Sport
SportHurling
PositionCentre-forward
Club
Years Club
2020-present
 Crecora/Manister
Club titles
Limerick titles 0
College
Years College
2021-present
 University of Limerick
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles 3
Inter-county*
Years County Apps (scores)
2021-present
 Limerick 31 (2-67)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 5
All-Irelands 4
NHL 2
All Stars 0
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 22:09, 19 July 2026.

Cathal O'Neill (born 2002) is an Irish hurler. At club level, he plays with Crecora/Manister and at inter-county level with the Limerick senior hurling team.

Early life

Born and raised in Crecora, County Limerick, O'Neill was educated at Ardscoil Rís in Limerick. He played in all grades of hurling during his time there and won a Dr Harty Cup medal in February 2018, after scoring 1–03 from play in the 3–18 to 2–10 win over Midleton CBS in the final.[1]

During his studies at the University of Limerick (UL), O'Neill continued his hurling development. He won a league and championship double with the freshers' team in 2022.[2] O'Neill was a panel member when UL beat the University of Galway by 4–19 to 1–13 to win the Fitzgibbon Cup tite in February 2023.[3] He won further Fitzgibbon Cup medals in 2025 and 2026, when UL won back-to-back titles.[4][5]

Club career

O'Neill began his club career at juvenile and underage levels with Crecora/Manister. He eventually progressed to the club's adult team in the Limerick Premier JAHC.

Inter-county career

O'Neill first appeared on the inter-county scene for Limerick during a two-year tenure with the minor team. He was the team's top scorer in his first year with the team in 2018, as well as ending the campaign by being named on the Team of the Year.[6] O'Neill captained Limerick to the Munster MHC title in June 2019, following a 1–17 to 1–11 win over Clare in the final.[7] He was again named on the Team of the Year, while he was also named Munster Minor Hurler of the Year.[8] O'Neill immediately progressed to the under-20 team.[9]

O'Neill made his senior team in a 0–26 to 1–17 National Hurling League defeat by Galway in May 2021.[10] He later won a Munster SHC medal, as a panel member, as Limerick claimed a third consecutive title for the first time in 85 years following a 3–21 to 2–29 win over Tipperary.[11] O'Neill later added an All-Ireland SHC medal to his collection, again as a panel member, following the 3–32 to 1–22 defeat of Cork.[12]

O'Neill's continued development as a member of Limerick's senior team made him ineligible for the under-20 team.[13][14] Limerick retained the Munster SHC title for a fourth consecutive year in June 2022, with O'Neill scoring two points in the 1–29 to 0–29 extra-time win over Clare.[15] He later won his second consecutive All-Ireland SHC medal, his first on the field of play, after coming on as a substitute for Tom Morrissey in the 1–31 to 2–26 win over Kilkenny in the 2022 All-Ireland SHC final.[16]

O'Neill won his first National League medal in April 2023, after scoring a point in the 2–20 to 0–15 win over Kilkenny in the final.[17] He later claimed his third Munster SHC medal, as Limerick beat Clare by 1–23 to 1–22 to win a record-equalling fifth consecutive title.[18] O'Neill again came on as a substitute for Tom Morrissey when Limerick won a record-equalling fourth consecutive All-Ireland SHC title, following a 0–30 to 2–15 win over Kilkenny in the 2023 All-Ireland SHC final.[19]

O'Neill was at centre-forward when Limerick won a record-breaking sixth consecutive Munster SHC title after a 1–26 to 1–20 win over Clare in the 2024 Munster SHC final.[20] After a trophy-less 2025 season, Limerick regained the National League title with a six-point win over Cork in April 2026, with O'Neill claiming his second winners' medal.[21] He later collected a fifth Munster SHC medal, as Limerick also regained that title with a 1–21 to 2–17 win over Cork in the final.[22] O'Neill won a fourth All-Ireland SHC medal, as well as being named man of the match, after a 1–29 to 1–18 win over Galway in the 2026 All-Ireland SHC final.[23][24]

Career statistics

As of 19 July 2026
Team Year National League Munster All-Ireland Total
DivisionAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Limerick 2021 Division 1A 30-0200-0000-0030-02
2022 51-0840-1120-01111-20
2023 40-0651-0920-03111-18
2024 60-0950-1110-03120-23
2025 30-0440-0710-0180-12
2026 63-1350-1521-06134-34
Career total 274-42231-5381-14586-109

Honours

Ardscoil Rís
University of Limerick
Limerick
Individual
  • All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final Man of the Match (1): 2026[25]

References

  1. ↑ "Ardscoil Rís extend Cork's wait for Harty Cup success". Irish Examiner. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Star-studded UL crowned All-Ireland Fresher hurling champions in final win over DCU". Limerick Live. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  3. ↑ McCarthy, Tomás (18 February 2023). "Four-goal Michael Kiely fires UL to Fitzgibbon Cup glory against University of Galway". Irish Independent. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  4. ↑ Egan, Kevin (15 February 2025). "UL overpower DCU to lift third Fitzgibbon Cup in four years". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "Limerick stars shine as clinical UL see off local rivals Mary Immaculate College in Fitzgibbon Cup final". Limerick Live. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  6. ↑ "Limerick star selected on the Minor Hurling Team of the Year". GAA website. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "Limerick triumph in Electric Ireland Munster MHC Final". GAA website. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Limerick duo honoured as Munster GAA Senior and Minor Hurlers of the Year". Limerick Live. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "Colin Coughlan and Cathal O'Neill backbone Limerick U20 selection". Irish Examiner. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Team news: O'Neill debuts as Lynch and Hegarty named from start". Hogan Stand. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "85-year wait ends as Limerick topple Tipperary to win historic Munster hurling title". Limerick Live. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Will record-breaking All-Ireland victory over Cork be Limerick's high water mark? Don't bet on it". Irish Examiner. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Hegarty hits out at rule that 'punishes' U20 stars playing senior". Irish Examiner. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Quick puckouts, possessions and tackles: Limerick pay attention to every detail". Irish Examiner. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Limerick find an extra gear to see off Clare in Munster final thriller". Irish Examiner. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Limerick secure the three-in-row with dream day in the sun". Irish Examiner. 17 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Classy Limerick claim league honours with ease". RTÉ Sport. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Aaron Gillane on fire as Limerick edge Clare to secure fifth consecutive Munster title". Irish Examiner. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Magnificent Limerick ignite in second half to make history". Irish Examiner. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Six of the best: Limerick make history with Munster final win over Clare". Irish Examiner. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "'If you get a chance to win, you have to take it' - Kiely's call that Cork shall not pass is heard". Irish Examiner. 6 April 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Munster SHC Final: Limerick finish strongly". Irish Examiner. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "Dominant Limerick reclaim All-Ireland title with final victory over Galway". Irish Examiner. 19 July 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "Limerick forward Cathal O'Neill named Sunday Game Man of the Match". Limerick Live. 19 July 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  25. ↑ "Imperious Gearóid Hegarty named The Sunday Game Hurler of Year". RTE Sport. 19 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
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