GAA family in Cork county mourns death of Owenie McAuliffe
News of the death on Sunday of Glanworth GAA hero Owenie McAuliffe at Cork University Hospital, was met with widespread sadness by his GAA family throughout Cork county and beyond.
In his 90th year, Owenie was very well known in GAA circles over many years. He retired from active service in the GAA in 1992. His career goes back to the late ‘40s when he played U16 hurling with neighbouring club Ballyhooly in 1947 and 1948. Glanworth had no juvenile hurling team at that time. As a player he was richly rewarded with medals for the skill and dedication he showed on the playing fields.
His medals include the following:
1949 North Cork minor hurling and football with St. Patrick’s Fermoy; North Cork junior A football with Glanworth.
1950 North Cork minor hurling and football with St. Patrick’s Fermoy; North Cork junior A football with Glanworth; Co intermediate hurling runners up medal with Shanballymore when beaten by Carrigtwohill.
1951 Co intermediate hurling medal with Shanballymore; North Cork JAFC with Glanworth.
1952 Co SHC medal with Avondhu; North Cork JAFC with Glanworth.
1952/ 1953 National Hurling League medal with Cork; North Cork JAFC with Glanworth.
1954 North Cork JAFC with Glanworth; Co JAFC with Glanworth, Co JAHC with Castlemagner St Brendan Cup medal with Cork senior hurlers in New York.
1955 Munster junior A hurling medal with Cork; Munster and All-Ireland medal with Cork junior footballers as captain. All-Ireland final played in Glebe Farm Birmingham. He also played with Cork senior hurlers.
1957 Won a Munster junior medal with Cork.
1961 Co SFC medal with Avondhu.
ADMINISTRATION
Owenie had been equally successful as an administrator, being involved with his club since 1959 at administrative level. His commitment and dedication to the GAA were well known in Cork GAA circles and beyond.
He served as chairman of the Glanworth Juvenile Club. Over the years they had great success winning titles at U12, U14, U16 and minor hurling and football at Divisional level.
He was secretary, vice chairman and treasurer of the adult Glanworth club. He served as a member of the GPC of the Avondhu Board for many years and was also on the Juvenile Board.
He served as a referee officiating at North Cork finals in hurling and football. He took charge of county board games as well as taking charge of games in other Divisions and outside the county.
In 1986 he was an umpire for the late Jimmy Dennigan who took charge of the All-Ireland SFC final between Kerry and Tyrone.
As a selector or coach he guided Abbey Rovers (Castletownroche) to Co JBFC success in 1988. He also guided Ballyhooly and Bride Rovers to Divisional football titles.
He trained the Avondhu U16 hurlers to Co honours in 1989.
The list is endless but it is for the Cork connections that he really became prominent.
The following are among his achievements:
1967 selector and coach to Cork minor footballers who won the All-Ireland.
1968 selector and coach to Cork minor footballers who were again crowned All-Ireland MFC winners.
1969 selector and coach to Cork minor footballers who were All-Ireland champions.
1970 coach to Cork U21 football All-Ireland champions.
1971 coach to Cork U21 football All-Ireland champions.
1972 coach and selector to Cork minor football All-Ireland champions.
1974 coach and selector to Cork minor football All-Ireland champions.
1968 selector of Cork senior football team. Munster senior football selector for Railway Cup.
Owenie was coach also to Glanworth who reached four Co minor football finals in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969. They took two of the four Co titles in 1966, 1967.
INJURY
The late Owenie survived serious injury in 1957 when he received a broken leg. It occurred in August and cost him a place on the Cork team that lost the All-Ireland SFC final to Louth. He played in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Cavan in early August and suffered that injury in a club game two weeks later.
He had intended to go to the USA which he never did. He took on a job with the mobile library covering most of Cork. He is unique in that he held a county senior hurling and football medal with Avondhu. During his illustrious career in the GAA he also received the Hall of Fame from the Avondhu Board.
In his role as coach it was his motto not to use foul language, or to condemn players who were having an off day. He knew that a player knew himself if he was going badly and a word of encouragement was what they needed. He was always there to provide it and had the ability to lift players and teams alike.
His pep talks at halftime and his pre match speeches were always to the point and presented in a constructive manner. In his many successes on and off the field, he was the first man into the opposition dressing room to congratulate opponents whether in victory or defeat. He was a true sportsman. He coached his charges in various grades to play the ball at all times.
On the death of John Brennan (Kilshannig), president of the Avondhu Board, the late Owenie was unanimously elected as board president, a position he held with great honour up to his death.
His funeral was held in private in accordance with government guidelines and HSE regulations regarding public gatherings (Covid-19). Many people attended at the Cottage, Boherash on Tuesday evening in a safe manner. The funeral cortege made its way to the Church of the Holy Cross Glanworth on Wednesday for Requiem Mass draped in the Glanworth club colours. Many GAA people from Glanworth, North Cork Board and other clubs from within and outside the Division along with friends, formed a guard of honour as the cortege made its final journey to Glanworth New Cemetery. To his relatives, neighbours and many friends we tender our sincere sympathy.