Christy O'Brien

Christy O’Brien
Personal information
Irish name Criostóir Ó Briain
Sport Hurling
Position Full-forward
Born (1933-03-11)11 March 1933
Borris-in-Ossory, County Laois, Ireland
Died 7 March 2022(2022-03-07) (aged 88)
Club(s)
Years Club
Borris-in-Ossory
Club titles
Laois titles 5
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
1952–1970
Laois 24 (9–24)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 0
All-Irelands 0
NHL 2 (Div2)
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 20:25, 13 March 2015.

Christopher "Christy" O'Brien (11 March 1933 – 7 March 2022) was an Irish hurler who played as a full-forward for the Laois senior team.

Born in Borris-in-Ossory, County Laois, O'Brien first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Laois minor team. He joined the senior panel during the 1952 championship. O'Brien later became a regular member of the starting fifteen, however, he ended his playing days without any Tier1 silverware, although he did win two NHL Div2 titles - 1960 & 1965.

As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions he won three Railway Cup medals. At club level he was a five-time championship medallist with Borris-in-Ossory.

Throughout his career O'Brien made 24 championship appearances. He retired following the conclusion of the 1970 championship.

O'Brien was regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.[1][2] He has often been voted onto teams made up of the sport's greats, including at full-forward on a special Hurling Team of the Century made up of players never to have won an All-Ireland medal.

O'Brien died on 7 March 2022, at the age of 88.[3]

  1. ^ Breheny, Martin (26 March 2011). "Unsung heroes: the results". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  2. ^ O'Sullivan, Jim (27 June 2011). "Friendship of greats worth more than medals to Smyth". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  3. ^ "The death has occurred of Christy O'Brien". RIP.ie. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.