Seanie O'Leary - a four-time All Ireland winner with Cork - has died at the age of 69.
The Youghal native was part of the county's famous three-in-a-row team that kept hold of the Liam McCarthy trophy between 1976 and 1978. O'Leary won his fourth Celtic Cross as a 32-year old in 1984.
Just over a decade later he was part of the Cork coaching staff under Jimmy Barry-Murphy when they won the 1999 All Ireland hurling title.
Famously, he helped Cork retain the All Ireland in 1977 while playing with a broken nose.
Just heard of the sad passing of one of Corks greatest - Seanie o Leary - some man to get you a goal - lovely person -
Condolences to all his family - RIP Seanie— Tomas Mulcahy (@tomas_mulcahy) December 1, 2021
As long-time team doctor Con Murphy recounted, O'Leary's nose was smashed by a stray sliotar in the warm-up.
"His nose was halfway across his face,” Martin said, “Ringy [Christy Ring] came in, which was not a help. He was stuffing things up his nose and eventually he said, ‘Leary, you won’t be hurling with your nose.’”
O'Leary finished the game with 1-2 as Cork beat Wexford 1-17 to 3-8.
In total, he played 96 times for the Cork senior side scoring an incredible career total of 66-93. 21 of those goals came in the Munster Championship alone.
Last year, Kilkenny legend Eddie Brennan ranked O'Leary among his five best inside forwards while in conversation with OTB Sports.
"By modern day standards you might look at him and think he doesn't look much like a corner-forward," said Brennan, "but he was absolutely brilliant, Seanie O'Leary from Cork."
"A goal poacher supreme," remarked Brennan of his movement. "It was all about the quality of his runs more so than the quantity."
