Dáire O'Leary
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| Born | 2002 (age 23–24) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Garda[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Hurling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Full-back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 21:10, 31 January 2026. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dáire O'Leary (born 2002) is an Irish hurler who plays as a defender for club side Watergrasshill, at divisional level with Imokilly and at inter-county level with the Cork senior hurling team.[2][3]
Early life
Born and raised in Watergrasshill, County Cork, O'Leary played hurling to a high standard during his time as a student at St. Colman's College in Fermoy. He won a Dean Ryan Cup medal in 2017, following a 2–12 to 1–13 win over St Flannan's College in the final.[4] He later lined out in the Dr Harty Cup.[5]
O'Leary later lined out with University College Cork in the Fitzgibbon Cup.[6] He later transferred to the Garda College and was part of their Ryan Cup-winning team in 2025.[7] O'Leary was subsequently named on the Higher Education Team of the Year.[8]
Club career
O'Leary began his club career at juvenile and underage levels with the Watergrasshill club. He made his adult championship debut in August 2020.[9] O'Leary won a Cork PIHC medal in 2024, after lining out at centre-back in the 2–16 to 0–19 win over Carrigaline in the final.[10] He later added a Munster Club IHC title to his collection, before winning an All-Ireland Club IHC medal following a 2–15 to 0–18 defeat of Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry in the 2025 All-Ireland club final.[11][12]
Performances at club level resulted in O'Leary being called up to the Imokilly divisional team. He won consecutive Denis O'Riordan Cup titles in 2023 and 2024.[13][14] O'Leary was at centre-back when Imokilly beat Sarsfields by 1–23 to 0–17 to win the Cork PSHC title in 2024.[15]
Inter-county career
O'Leary first appeared on the inter-county scene with Cork as a member of the minor team during their unsuccessful Munster MHC campaign in 2019.[16] He immediately progressed to Cork's under-20 team in 2020. Success in this grade was immediate, with O'Leary claiming Munster and All-Ireland U20HC medals in his first year on the team, following defeats of Tipperary and Dublin in the respective finals.[17][18] Injury ruled him out of much of the 2021 season, however, O'Leary was listed as one of the extended panel members when Cork retained the All-Ireland U20HC title after a defeat of Galway in the 2021 All-Ireland U20HC final.[19]
O'Leary joined the senior team as a member of the extended training panel in 2021. He was listed as a panel member for Cork's 2021 National Hurling League game against Limerick in June 2021.[20] O'Leary continued to make a number of appearances throughout the respective National League camapigns in 2022 and 2023, however, a series of foot and groin injuries impacted his further development.[21] He was listed as an extended panel member for Cork's 3–29 to 1–34 extra-time defeat by Clare in the 2024 All-Ireland final.[22][23]
Work commitments forced O'Leary to leave the Cork panel for the 2025 season.[24] He was recalled to the panel by new manager Ben O'Connor in October 2025.[25]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 6 September 2025.
| Team | Year | Cork PIHC | Munster | All-Ireland | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
| Watergrasshill | 2020 | 4 | 0-10 | — | — | 4 | 0-10 | ||
| 2021 | 1 | 0-00 | — | — | 1 | 0-00 | |||
| 2022 | 3 | 0-04 | — | — | 3 | 0-04 | |||
| 2023 | 3 | 0-02 | — | — | 3 | 0-02 | |||
| 2024 | 5 | 0-02 | 2 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-01 | 9 | 0-03 | |
| Total | 16 | 0-18 | 2 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-01 | 20 | 0-19 | |
| Year | Cork SAHC | Munster | All-Ireland | Total | |||||
| Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
| 2025 | 0 | 0-00 | — | — | 0 | 0-00 | |||
| 2026 | 0 | 0-00 | — | — | 0 | 0-00 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0-00 | — | — | 0 | 0-00 | |||
| Career total | 16 | 0-18 | 2 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-01 | 20 | 0-19 | |
Division
- As of 20 October 2024.
| Team | Year | Cork SHC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Score | ||
| Imokilly | 2020 | 1 | 0-01 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0-00 | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0-00 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 0-00 | |
| 2024 | 5 | 1-07 | |
| Career total | 9 | 1-08 | |
Inter-county
- As of 21 March 2026
| Team | Year | National League | Munster | All-Ireland | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
| Cork | 2021 | Division 1A | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 4 | 0-00 | ||
| 2023 | 2 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | — | 2 | 0-00 | |||
| 2024 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | ||
| 2025 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2026 | 5 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 5 | 0-00 | ||
| Career total | 11 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | 11 | 0-00 | ||
Honours
- St Colman's College
- Dean Ryan Cup: 2017
- Garda College
- Ryan Cup: 2025
- Watergrasshill
- All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship: 2025
- Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship: 2024
- Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship: 2024
- Imokilly
- Cork
References
- ↑ "Pat Ryan: 'It was a game to get us started ... we're delighted with our fellas' attitude'". Cork GAA website. 5 January 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ↑ O'Shea, John (28 August 2020). "Watergrasshill maintain their impressive form in edging out Valley Rovers". The Echo. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ↑ "Cork starting team to play Limerick". Cork GAA website. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ↑ "St Colman's dig deep to edge Thurles CBS in thriller". Irish Examiner. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ↑ O'Callaghan, Therese (15 November 2018). "St Colman's College earn hard-fought victory in Harty Cup second round". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ↑ Hurley, Denis (19 January 2022). "Good finish gives UCC victory over Mary I in Fitzgibbon Cup opener". Echo Live. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ↑ Ryan, Kevin (15 February 2025). "Garda College claim Ryan Cup title as they power past TUD". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ↑ "2025 Electric Ireland Higher Education Rising Stars". GAA website. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ Murphy, Éamonn (2 August 2020). "Watergrasshill stun Ballincollig with blistering finish". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ↑ "Watergrasshill complete remarkable turnaround to win Cork Premier IHC title". Irish Examiner. 10 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ↑ "Munster Club IHC: Watergrasshill in a winter wonderland after win over Cashel". Echo Live. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ↑ "Desmond finds goal touch at the death to bring final joy for Watergrasshill". Irish Examiner. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ↑ O'Callaghan, Therese (26 August 2023). "Old guard inspire Imokilly to retain Cork Divisions title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ↑ "Premier SHC: Imokilly far too strong for Muskerry as they ease into quarter-finals". Echo Live. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ↑ Cormican, Eoghan (20 October 2024). "Imokilly fight back to dethrone Sars in Cork decider". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ↑ "Flynn the standout performer as Limerick and Cork share minor spoils". The 42. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ↑ Moynihan, Michael (23 December 2020). "Jack Cahalane and Shane Barrett inspire Cork to Munster U20 title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (10 July 2021). "Cork end All-Ireland hurling title wait as goals key in U20 final success against Dublin". The 42. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ↑ "Impressive Cork crowned BGE All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Champions". GAA website. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ↑ "Cork starting team to play Limerick". Cork GAA website. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ↑ Cormican, Eoghan (12 November 2024). "Dáire O'Leary 'back up to speed' as club form may lead to Cork recall". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ "The Cork Senior Hurling Team to play Clare has been announced". Cork GAA website. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ↑ Fogarty, John (21 July 2024). "Clare beat Cork in epic extra-time All-Ireland hurling final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ↑ Fogarty, John (4 February 2025). "Pat Ryan confirms 37-man Cork hurling panel for 2025". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ↑ Hurley, Denis (25 October 2025). "Dáire O'Leary and Brian O'Sullivan recalled as Ben O'Connor makes mark on Cork squad". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 October 2025.