Con Roche

Cornelius Roche (born 1946) is an Irish retired hurler and former manager and selector. He played for Cork Senior Championship club St. Finbarr's and was a member of the Cork senior hurling team for ten years, during which time he usually lined out as a left wing-back. Roche began his hurling career at club level with St. Finbarr's. He broke onto the club's top adult team as a 17-year-old in 1963 and enjoyed his first success two years later when the club won the 1965 Cork Championship, before claiming further titles in 1968, 1974 and 1977. The highlight of Roche's club career came in 1975 when he was at midfield on the All-Ireland Championship-winning team. At inter-county level, Roche was part of the successful Cork minor team that won the All-Ireland Championship in 1964 before later winning an All-Ireland Championship with the under-21 team in 1966. He joined the Cork senior team in 1965. From his debut, Roche was ever-present in the half-back line and made 23 Championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in 1976. During that time he was part of two All-Ireland Championship-winning teams – in 1966 as a substitute and 1970. Roche also secured four Munster Championship medals and four National Hurling League medals. He played his last game for Cork on 8 February 1976. Roche won his first All-Star in 1972, before claiming a further All-Star in 1974. At inter-provincial level, he was selected to play in four championship campaigns with Munster in the Railway Cup. After retiring as a player, Roche transitioned into coaching. He was involved as coach with three championship-winning team with St. Finbarr's. Roche later served as a Cork senior hurling team selector for their 1985 Munster Championship-winning success. He also had stints as coach with the Kerry and Cork senior hurling teams.Con is known to enjoy a few pints in the Cork area and is an associate of local singer Jim Creed and big Willie Cotter and Baby Barry.