| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Antóin Ó Briain | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Right corner-back | ||
| Born | 1940 Patrickswell, County Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Died | 12 February 1989 (aged 48) Kilmallock, County Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Occupation | Chemist | ||
| Club | |||
| Years | Club | ||
1957-1979 | Patrickswell | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Limerick titles | 6 | ||
| College | |||
| Years | College | ||
| University College Cork | |||
| College titles | |||
| Fitzgibbon titles | 0 | ||
| Inter-county | |||
| Years | County | ||
1959-1972 | Limerick | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 0 | ||
| All-Irelands | 0 | ||
| NHL | 1 | ||
| All Stars | 0 | ||
Anthony O'Brien (1940 – 12 February 1989) was an Irish hurler. At club level, he played with Patrickswell and at inter-county level with the Limerick senior hurling team.
O'Brien played hurling at all levels during his time as a student at St Munchin's College in Limerick. [1] He was later part of University College Cork's team in the Fitzgibbon Cup. O'Brien first played for the Patrickswell club in the juvenile and underage grades and won a Limerick U16HC title in 1954. [2]
O'Brien was still eligible for the minor grade when he won a Limerick JHC title in 1957. He later added a Limerick JFC medal to his collection, before claiming a second in 1970. By that stage, O'Brien had his first hurling success after winning consecutive Limerick SHC titles in 1965 and 1966. [3] [4] He won six Limerick SHC titles in total, with further victories as team captain in 1969 and 1970, as well as 1977 and 1979.
At inter-county level, O'Brien first appeared for Limerick as sub-goalkeeper on the minor team that beat Galway to win the All-Ireland MHC title in 1958. [5] He immediately progressed to the senior team and made his first appearance in a National Hurling League game against Carlow in October 1959. [6] O'Brien captained Limerick to the National League title in 1971.
Performances at inter-county level for Limerick resulted in O'Brien being called up to the Munster inter-provincial team. He won four Railway Cup medals in five seasons between 1966 and 1970. [7]
In retirement from playing, O'Brien remained active in coaching at all levels with Patrickswell. He was a selector when Patrickswell beat Mount Sion to win the Munster Club SHC title in 1988. [8]
O'Brien collapsed and died while attending Patrickswell's All-Ireland semi-final defeat by O'Donovan Rossa on 12 February 1989. [9] He was 48. [10]