Martin Coogan (hurler)

Inter-county

Coogan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny senior hurling team in 1961. The following year he tasted his first major success when he won a National Hurling League medal with his county. the 1962 National Hurling League title was Kilkenny’s first since 1933.

In 1963 Coogan won his first Leinster title. that same year he played in his first All-Ireland final at Croke Park. Waterford provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Eddie Keher's tally of fourteen points guaranteed a victory for Kilkenny and a first All-Ireland medal for Coogan.

In 1964 Coogan won a second Leinster title following another huge win over Dublin. Tipperary provided the opposition in 1964's the All-Ireland final, however, in spite of Kilkenny being the pundits’ favourites the men from Munster completely overpowered Coogan's side on a score line of 5-13 to 2-8.

Kilkenny lost their provincial crown in 1965, however, the team bounced back in 1966 with Coogan collecting a second National League medal and a third Leinster title. Kilkenny later faced Cork in the All-Ireland final for the first time since 1947 and, once again, the Leinster champions were the red-hot favourites over an Cork side that were not expected to compete. However, the young 'Rebels' ambushed Kilkenny in the game and the All-Ireland title went to Cork for the first time in twelve years.

The following year Kilkenny continued their provincial dominance with Coogan picking up a fourth Leinster title before lining out in a fourth All-Ireland final at Croke Park. Tipperary were Kilkenny’s opponents on the day. That day‘the Cats’ had goals at vital times from Paddy Moran, Martin Brennan and Tom Walsh to lay to rest a Tipperary bogey that had lasted since 1922. Kilkenny won with a score of 3-8 to Tipperary's 2-7. Coogan collected his second All-Ireland medal.

Wexford put an end to Kilkenny’s hopes of retaining the title in 1968 in the Leinster championship, however, the Noresiders bounced back the following year with Coogan collecting a fifth Leinster medal. Cork faced Kilkenny in the subsequent 1969 All-Ireland final and revenge for 1966 was foremost in the minds of the Kilkenny team. Early in the game it looked as if the Leesiders would triumph over their great rivals once again, however, five points from Kilkenny in the last seven minutes gave Coogan a third All-Ireland medal.

1971 saw Coogan capture a sixth provincial medal as Kilkenny began to assert their dominance over Wexford. The Leinster champions later played Tipperary in the only eighty-minute All Ireland final between these great rivals. After a thrilling and exciting game Tipperary emerged the victors on a score line of 5-17 to 5-14.

In 1972 Coogan won a seventh Leinster title following a victory over Wexford in a replay of the provincial final. Once again, Cork provided the opposition in the 1972 All-Ireland final, a game which is often considered to be one of the classic games of the modern era. In the game itself Coogan came on as a substitute as Kilkenny came from behind to win the game comfortably. This was Coogan's last major success and he retired from inter-county hurling in 1973.

Provincial

Coogan also won a Railway Cup medal with Leinster in 1967.

Criminal Conviction

In June 1996, Martin Coogan was convicted of Indecent Assault on two young girls and sentenced to four years in jail. The former player, a father-of-two, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a 10-year-old girl nine years previously. He also pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl 12 years previously.

Failed Appeals

In the summer of 1997, Coogan failed in an appeal against the four-year sentence in the Court of Criminal Appeal which affirmed the prison term.

On January 22, 1998, the Irish Independent reported that the former GAA star was to make a Supreme Court appeal next month in a further bid for freedom.

The article commented that this appeal to the country’s highest courts was seen to be a “highly unusual move”. The Martin Coogan case bitterly divided Kilkenny, and in particular Castlecomer, with a group of GAA supporters and friends lobbying for a re-trial or to have Coogan released throughout his time in prison.

Ultimately, the appeals and requests for leniency proved unsuccessful and Coogan served his entire sentence.

Controversy Post Release

Interestingly, on Coogan’s release, he decided to return to working in the local sweet shop. This move cause consternation in Castlecomer as technically a convicted paedophile was working in the local sweet shop that school children were frequenting.

In the early 2000s the Sunday World ran an article pointing to the ludicrous decision of Coogan to return to work in the sweet shop. The article painted the town of Castlecomer in Co. Kilkenny in a very poor light, and locals felt it did so in an unfair manner.

However, Coogan’s presence facing the public in Castlecomer was seen to be the root of the unfair treatment of the town by the Sunday World.

One local commented “Who could blame them [The Sunday World]? Obviously the local sweet shop owner being a convicted paedophile is not going to lend one to thinking this town [Castlecomer] is a great place.”

Another local observed “it’s a nice town, but he is not a nice man”.

One of the young women assaulted by Coogan said the ``torture would never go away.