Career
Born in, County, Cooke first excelled at hurling whilst at school in Warrenstown College. He made his first impression on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-four when he joined the junior teams as a dual player. He made his senior debut during the 1939 Oireachtas Cup.
At club level Cooke played both hurling and football with a number of local clubs including, Knockane and Bulgaden.
Club Cooke was instrumental in the foundation of the club He was appointed as the club"s first treasurer in 1936.
lieutenant was the first silverware for the new club Inter-county Cooke first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a dual player in the junior grades in 1939.
With the junior hurling team Cooke"s side were defeated by Waterford on a score line of 4–2 to 2–4.
An objection that was later upheld resulted in eventually being awarded the title and Cooke collecting a Munster medal. Both teams were subsequently beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final stages. By 1940 Cooke had joined the senior hurling team and lined out in his first provincial decider in the top grade.
Cokr, the reigning champions, provided the opposition, however, the match ended in a draw.
A subsequent defeat of Galway set up an All-Ireland showdown with Kilkenny. 50,0000 spectators travelled to Croke Park to witness the last great game between the two most outstanding teams of the decade.
Early in the second-half Kilkenny took a four-point lead, however, once Mick Mackey was deployed at midfield he proceeded to dominate the game. Cooke continued with for another few seasons, however, Cork went on to dominate the championship for the rest of the forties.
