Niall Cahalane

Background

Niall Cahalane was born in Castlehaven, County Cork in 1963. When Cahalane was born the club played in the junior B section of the county championship, however, by the time his career had taken off Castlehaven had joined senior ranks.

Education

His brothers are also well known football players.He was educated locally and since 1990 he has worked as an auctioneer.

Career

He played senior football with Cork in the 1980s and 1990s. He currently owns his own firm, based in Cork. Club

Cahalane played his club football with his local Castlehaven team

Two of these wins were subsequently converted into Munster club titles.

He continued to play with the club until 2004 when he retired at the age of 41. Cahalane played senior hurling with Blackrock from 1986 until 1993.

Minor and Under-21

By the start of the 1980s Cahalane had joined the Cork minor football team Two years later in 1984 Cahalane captained Cork to All-Ireland victory over Mayo at under-21 level

Playing at full-back he held Liam McHale scoreless in the All-Ireland final.

Senior

By the mid-1980s Cahalane was training with the Cork senior football team He made his senior debut in a National Football League game against Kerry in 1983. lieutenant took another few years before he would establish himself on the team

Cork later played Meath in the All-Ireland final, however, Cahalane’s side were beaten on the day.

In 1988 he captured his second Munster medal, however, Cork were once again beaten by Meath in a controversial All-Ireland final replay. In spite of ending up on the losing side on both occasions Cahalane was honoured with back-to-back All-Star awards.

1989 began well for Cahalane and for Cork. Cork reached the All-Ireland final once again, however, this time they were victorious against Mayo with Cahalane winning his first senior All-Ireland medal.

In the All-Ireland final Cork played Derry, however victory went to the men from Ulster.

Cahalane continued to play senior football with Cork until 1997 when he decided to retire from inter-county activity. The Castlehaven star was suspended for 12 months after an altercation with referee Niall Barrett from Carrigtwohill following the 1997 Cork county senior football championship final replay. Cahalane was reported for striking, and under general rule in vogue at the time, the Cork County Board"s hands were tied when handing down a 12-month suspension term.

Prior to retirement he took on the role of player/manager with his club Castlehaven in 1999.

lieutenant proved unsuccessful as they were well beaten by Ballincollig in the championship. A point of note from the game is that he dropped Intercounty manager at the time and former Cork and Kildare star, Larry Tompkins.

In retirement from playing football Cahalane has maintained a keen interest in the game.

Achievements

• Cahalane won three Cork Students Fighting Cancer titles with the club in 1989, 1994 and 2003. He won his first All-Ireland medal in 1981 when Cork defeated Derry in the minor final. By 1982 he had moved on to the under-21 team where he won a Munster title. In 1987 Cahalane won his first Munster title at senior level He won his first and only National Football League medal before later adding a third Munster medal to his collection. In 1990 Cork he captured a fourth consecutive Munster medal and a second consecutive All-Ireland medal following a win over Meath. Three years later in 1993 he won his fifth Munster medal. In 1994 and 1995 Cahalane won his sixth and seventh provincial medals, however, Cork were defeated on both occasions in the All-Ireland semi-final.