Anthony Nash (hurler)

Anthony Nash

Personal information
Irish name	Antóin de Nais
Sport	Hurling
Position	Goalkeeper
Born	(1984-10-12) 12 October 1984 Kanturk, County Cork, Ireland
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Nickname	Nasher
Occupation	Secondary school teacher
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Kanturk
Club titles
	Football	Hurling
Cork titles	0	0
Inter-county(ies)*
Years	County	Apps (scores)
2005–present	Cork	17 (3–12)[1]
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	2
All-Irelands	0
NHL	0
All Stars	2
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 17:23, 20 August 2014.

Anthony Nash (born 12 October 1984) is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a goalkeeper for the Cork senior team.^[2][3]

Born in Kanturk, County Cork, Nash first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Cork minor team, before later lining out with the under-21 and intermediate sides. He joined the senior panel for the 2005 Oireachtas Cup, however, he remained as understudy to regular goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack for a number of years. Nash became first-choice custodian for the 2012 championship following an injury to Cusack, and has since won one Munster medal and two All-Star awards.^[4]

As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, Nash won has won one Railway Cup medal. At club level he plays both hurling and Gaelic football with Kanturk.

Nash's uncles, Declan and Mike Nash, played hurling for Limerick.^[5]

Playing career

University

During his university tenure, Nash lined out with both the Cork Institute of Technology and University College Cork teams.

In 2009 he was in goal as UCC played the University of Limerick in the final of the inter-varsities championship. A 2–17 to 0–14 victory gave Nash a Fitzgibbon Cup medal.^[6]

Club

Nash plays his club hurling and football with Kanturk and has enjoyed some success.

In 2011 he was a key outfield member of the Kanturk football team that reached the final of the junior championship. Mitchelstown provided the opposition, however, a 1–20 to 0–4 trouncing gave Nash a championship medal in that grade. He also ended the game as man of the match.^[7]

Minor and under-21

Nash was just sixteen years old when he joined the Cork minor hurling team in 2001 as sub goalkeeper to Martin Coleman. In spite of losing out to Tipperary in the Munster decider, Cork later claimed the All-Ireland title following a 2–10 to 1–8 defeat of Galway.^[8][9] Nash was a non-playing substitute for the entire championship, however, he was still presented with a set of Munster and All-Ireland winners' medal.

By 2005 Nash had progressed onto the Cork under-21 team and was the first-choice goalkeeper for the championship. A clean sheet in a defeat of Tipperary in the provincial decider helped him secure a Munster medal in this grade.

Intermediate

Nash was still sub goalkeeper on the under-21 team when he was picked for the Cork intermediate team. He won a set of Munster and All-Ireland medals in this grade in 2003 as a non-playing substitute.

Due to his non-playing role the previous year, Nash was eligible to line out as first-choice 'keeper in 2004. He won a Munster medal on the field of play that year before later guarding the goal line in the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. Both sides finished 2–11 apiece on the first outing, however, Cork won the replay giving Nash his first All-Ireland medal on the field of play.

After being ineligible for one year Nash was back in goal again in 2006. He won a second Munster medal that year before again lining out against Kilkenny in the final. A 3–15 to 1–18 score line gave Cork the victory and gave Nash a second All-Ireland medal.

Nash secured a third Munster medal in 2009 before facing Kilkenny for a third time in an All-Ireland final. Once again Cork had the upper hand and a 2–23 to 0–16 score line gave Nash his third All-Ireland title on the field of play and a record fourth winners' medal overall.

Senior

Nash joined the Cork senior hurling team for the first time in late 2005 when he was a substitute on the Oireachtas-winning side.

He made his competitive debut against Down in the 2006 National League, however, Donal Óg Cusack remained as Cork's first choice custodian. In spite of this Nash picked up a Munster medal as a non-playing sub in 2006.

As a result of Cusack's one-game suspension in 2007, Nash made his championship debut against Waterford in the Munster semi-final. In spite of conceding five goals Nash received praise for his performance as Cork were narrowly defeated by just three points.

In the 2012 National League Nash was called into action once again when Cusack ruptured his Achilles tendon in the semi-final over Tipperary.^[10] He was left out of the starting fifteen in favour of Martin Coleman for the National League final to Kilkenny, however, Nash became Cork's number one 'keeper for the subsequent 2012 championship.^[11] He finished the year by claiming his first All-Star award.

On 14 July 2013 Nash lined out in his first ever Munster decider, however, Cork faced a 0–24 to 0–15 defeat by Limerick.^[12] In spite of this defeat, Cork still reached the All-Ireland final on 8 September 2013, with Nash lining out in goal against Clare. Three second-half goals through Conor Lehane, Pa Cronin and a converted penalty by Nash, as well as a tenth point of the game from Patrick Horgan gave Cork a one-point lead as injury time came to an end. A last-gasp point from corner-back Domhnall O'Donovan earned Clare a 0–25 to 3–16 draw.^[13] The replay on 28 September was regarded as one of the best in recent years. Clare's Shane O'Donnell was a late addition to the team, and went on to score a hat-trick of goals in the first nineteen minutes of the game. Nash also scored a goal in the replay, however, further goals from Conor McGrath and Darach Honan secured a 5–16 to 3–16 victory for Clare.^[14] In spite of this defeat, Nash later earned a second consecutive All-Star award. He was also nominated for Hurler of the Year.^[15][16]

Inter-provincial

In 2006 Nash was a surprise inclusion in the Munster team for the Interprovincial Championship.^[17] In 2013 he won an Interprovincial Championship medal with Munster when they defeated Connacht by 1–22 to 0–15.^[18]

Personal life

Nash was born into a family that had a strong association with hurling. His uncle – Tommy Quaid – was a goalkeeper with Limerick for almost two decades and was regarded as one of the greatest 'keepers of his generation.

Nash was educated locally in Kanturk and later attended the Cork Institute of Technology where he studied business. He subsequently completed his post graduate diploma in education at University College Cork and qualified as a secondary school teacher.

Honours

Team

Kanturk

• Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 2013 (c)
• Cork Junior Football Championship (1): 2011

University College Cork

• Fitzgibbon Cup (1): 2009

Cork

• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2006 (sub), 2014
• Oireachtas Cup (1): 2005 (sub)
• Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2005
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2001 (sub)
• All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship (4): 2003 (sub), 2004, 2006, 2009
• Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship (4): 2003 (sub), 2004, 2006, 2009

Munster

• Railway Cup (1): 2013

Individual

Honours

• GAA GPA All Stars Awards (2): 2012, 2013

References