Frank Cogan

Frank Cogan (born 1944 in Cork, Ireland) is an Irish former sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Nemo Rangers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1966 until 1974. Cogan later served as manager of the team.Frank is a member of the Cork back room team since 1987.

Playing career

Club

Cogan played his club football with the famous Nemo Rangers club and enjoyed much success. He lined out in his first senior county championship final in 1970, however, Muskerry defeated Nemo in their first final appearance. Two years later Cogan captured that elusive county winners' medal when Nemo Rangers defeated UCC. Nemo's march to success continued later in the year as the club captured the Munster club title before Cogan lined out in the All-Ireland final.^[1] St. Vincent's of Dublin provided the opposition, however, a late Jimmy Keaveney point forced a draw and a replay. First-half goals in the replay by Jimmy Barrett and Billy Cogan were followed by two more Liam Goode and Séamus Coughlan goals in the second-half. The final score of 4-6 to 0-10 gave Cogan a first All-Ireland club winners' medal.^[2]

Two years later in 1974 Cogan added a second county championship winners' medal to his collection. A second Munster club title quickly followed, before Nemo booked their place in another All-Ireland final. UCD provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Cogan's side were defeated by 1-11 to 0-12.^[3] 1975 saw Cogan capture a third county title. A third Munster club winners' medal soon followed, however, Nemo were trounced in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final.

After surrendering their county title in 1976, Nemo were back the following year with Cogan picking up a fourth county winners' medal. A fifth county championship of the decade followed in 1978 before Cogan collected a fourth Munster club title. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Nemo against Scotstown of Monaghan. Snow hampered the game, however, Cogan proved the hero as Nemo won the game by 2-9 to 1-3.^[4] It was his second All-Ireland club winners' medal.

In 1981 Cogan won his sixth county championship title following a 3-11 to 0-6 defeat of Bantry Blues. A fifth Munster club winners' medal quickly followed before Cogan lined out in another All-Ireland final. Mayo champions Garrymore provided the opposition, however, Nemo were far too powerful. Dinny Allen scored 2-2 in the first half and the Cork champs had an extraordinary 5-6 to 0-1 lead at the interval. Nemo went on to secure a record 6-11 to 1-8 victory and Cogan ended his club football career with a third All-Ireland winners' medal.^[5]

Inter-county

Cogan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor football team in the early 1960s. He won a Munster title in this grade in 1961, following a 2-12 to 0-2 thrashing of Clare.^[6] Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final where Mayo provided the opposition. An easy 3-7 to 0-5 win gave Cogan a coveted All-Ireland minor winners' medal.^[7]

Cogan later moved onto the Cork under-21 team where he enjoyed some further success. He won a Munster title in this grade in 1965, however, Cork were later shocked by Kildare in the All-Ireland final.^[8] A 2-11 to 1-7 win for the 'Lilywhites' resulted in Cogan ending up on the losing side.

By 1966 Cogan was a key member of the Cork senior team. He won his first senior Munster title that year as Cork defeated a Kerry team attempting to capture a ninth consecutive provincial title.^[9] Cork were subsequently defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final by eventual champions Galway.

In 1967 Cogan secured a second Munster winners' medal as Kerry were defeated by a single point in the provincial decider. Cork went one step further this year and reached the All-Ireland final. Meath were the oppoenents on that occasion. Cork led by 0-3 to 0-1 after a terrible first half of football, however, Meath's Terry Kearns scored a key goal for 'the Royals' after the interval. At the long whistle Meath were the champions by 1-9 to 0-9.

After losing their provincial title over the course of the next few years Cork were back in 1971. A 0-25 to 0-14 trouncing of back-to-back All-Ireland champions Kerry gave Cogan a third Munster winners' medal. Cork, however, were later defeated by eventual champions Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Two years later, Cogan secured his fourth and final Munster winners' medal. The 5-12 to 1-15 defeat of arch-rivals Kerry showed the traditional football powers that Cork were coming. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Galway. Teenager Jimmy Barry-Murphy scored the first of his two goals after just two minutes before scored a third for Cork after switching to left wing-forward. At full-time Cork were the champions by 3-17 to 2-13. This victory gave Cogan a coveted All-Ireland winners' medal.^[7]

Inter-provincial

Cogan also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial football competition. He first played with his province in 1967. It was the first of four successive years with the Munster team, however, success was slow in coming. Cogan was dropped from the team completely in 1971, however, he was back in 1972. That year Munster defeated Leinster in a replay, giving Cogan a coveted Railway Cup winners' medal. He lined out with the province again in 1973 and 1974, however, Munster were defeated on both occasions.^[10]

Honours

Nemo Rangers

• All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship:
  • Winner (3): 1973, 1979, 1982
  • Runner-up (1): 1975
• Munster Senior Club Football Championship:
  • Winner (4): 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1981
  • Runner-up (1): 1977
• Cork Senior Football Championship:
  • Winner (4): 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981
  • Runner-up (1): 1970

Cork

• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship:
  • Winner (1): 1973
  • Runner-up (1): 1967
• Munster Senior Football Championship:
  • Winner (4): 1966, 1967, 1971, 1973
  • Runner-up (4): 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972

Sources

• Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).
• Cronin, Jim, A Rebel Hundred: Cork's 100 All-Ireland Titles.
• Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005).

References