Alan Browne (born 23 January 1974) is an Irish retired hurler who played for Cork Senior Championship club

Blackrock BlackRock, Inc. is an American Multinational corporation, multinational investment company. Founded in 1988, initially as an enterprise risk management and fixed income institutional asset manager, BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager ...

. He played for the

Cork senior hurling team The Cork county hurling team represents Cork in hurling and is governed by Cork GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions: the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Cha ...

for 9 years, during which time he usually lined out as a forward. Browne began his hurling career at club level with Blackrock. He broke onto the club's top adult team straight out of the minor grade in

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

. One of the most prolific scorers of his era, Browne made 71 championship appearances for the club before his retirement in

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

and was part of the Cork Senior Championship-winning teams of

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

and

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

. At inter-county level, Browne was part of the successful Cork under-21 team that won the Munster Championship in

1993 The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as: * International Year for the World's Indigenous People The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...

. He joined the Cork senior team in

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

. From his debut, Browne was ever-present as an inside forward and made a combined total of 74 National League and Championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

. During that time he was part of the All-Ireland Championship-winning team in

. Browne also secured three Munster Championship medals, including one as

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

, and a

National Hurling League The National Hurling League is an annual Inter county, inter-county hurling competition featuring teams from Ireland and England. Founded in 1925 by the Gaelic Athletic Association, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation within the l ...

medal. Browne retired from inter-county hurling after Cork's defeat in the 2003 All-Ireland final. At inter-provincial level, Browne was selected to play in three championship campaigns with

Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...

and won

Railway Cup The GAA Interprovincial Championship () or Railway Cup (''Corn an Iarnróid'') is the name of two annual Gaelic football and hurling competitions held between the provinces of Ireland. The Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster GAA teams are co ...

medals in

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

and

. As a coach, he has served as a selector and joint-manager with the Blackrock senior team, while he was also a selector with the Cork under-21 team.

Early life

Browne was born in

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

and raised in the suburb of

to the east of the city. His eldest brother,

Richard Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language">Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'st ...

, won an All-Ireland Championship medal with Cork in

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. ** Spain and Portugal en ...

, while his younger brother,

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

, won All-Ireland Championship medals with Cork in 1999 and

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

Playing career

Blackrock

Browne joined the Blackrock club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels, however, he enjoyed little in terms of success. He made his senior championship debut in a 0-14 apiece draw with

Valley Rovers Valley Rovers GAA Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in the parish of Innishannon in County Cork, Ireland. The club was formed in 1919 when two teams in the parish, Innishannon and Knockavilla, came together. The club fields teams in hu ...

on 12 July 1992. On 1 November 1998, Browne lined out at full-forward in his first Cork Senior Championship final. He scored 1-01, however, Blackrock were defeated by reigning champions

Imokilly Imokilly () is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Youghal. It is one of 24 baronies in the county of Cork. Other neighbouring baronies include Barrymore to the west (whose chief town is ...

. Browne lined out at full-forward in a second successive Cork Championship final on 31 October 1999. He scored 2-02, including a point from a free, in Blackrock's 3-17 to 0-08 defeat of

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) () is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork (city), Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of three Queen's Universit ...

. After surrendering their title in 2000, Browne lined out in a third Cork Championship final on 6 October 2001. Imokilly provided the opposition, however, Browne gave a

man of the match In team sport, a player of the match award (also known as man of the match or woman of the match) is often given to the most outstanding player in a particular match. This can be a player from either team, although the player is generally chose ...

performance in the 4-08 to 2-07 victory. His tally of 3-08 remains a modern scoring record for an individual player in a final. On 2 December, Browne scored four points in Blackrock's 2-14 to 0-12 defeat by

Ballygunner Ballygunner (), is a civil parish in County Waterford, Ireland. It lies on the southern outskirts of Waterford city. The placename is derived, in part, from the Old Norse masculine personal name ''Gunnarr''. Ballygunner contains several townl ...

in the Munster Championship final. On 15 September 2002, Browne scored 1-04 in Blackrock's 1-14 to 0-12 defeat of

Newtownshandrum Newtownshandrum () is a small village in County Cork, Republic of Ireland, Ireland located west of Charleville, County Cork, Charleville on the R515 road (Ireland), R515 road. The name translates from Irish to mean 'new town of the old ridge'. ...

in the Cork Championship final. It was his third and final winners' medal. Blackrock qualified for a fifth Cork Championship final in six years on 12 October 2003. Newtownshandrum provided the opposition for the second year in succession, however, Browne was held scoreless in the 0-17 to 1-09 defeat.

Cork

Under-21

Browne failed to make the Cork minor hurling team but came to prominence with the Cork under-21 side. He made his first appearance at left wing-forward on 24 June 1993 in a 4-10 to 2-14 defeat of Tipperary in the Munster Championship. On 23 July, he won a Munster Championship medal after Cork's 1-19 to 3-09 defeat of

Limerick Limerick ( ; ) is a city in western Ireland, in County Limerick. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and is in the Mid-West Region, Ireland, Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. W ...

in the final. Browne played with the under-21 team for a further two years without success.

Senior

Browne was just eighteen-years-old when he made his first appearance for the Cork senior team on 9 October 1994. He scored a point on his debut in the 0-18 to 1-08 defeat of Limerick in the opening round of the

. Browne was later selected at full-forward for Cork's 1-22 to 0-12 Munster Championship defeat of Kerry on 20 May 1995. On 17 May 1998, Browne scored a goal from full-forward when Cork won the National League title following a 2-14 to 0-13 defeat of

Waterford Waterford ( ) is a City status in Ireland, city in County Waterford in the South-East Region, Ireland, south-east of Ireland. It is located within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster. The city is situated at the head of Waterford H ...

in the final at

Semple Stadium FBD Semple Stadium is the home of hurling and Gaelic football for Tipperary GAA and for the province of Munster. Located in Thurles, County Tipperary, it is the second largest GAA stadium in Ireland (after Croke Park), with a capacity of 45,690 ...

. In 1999 Browne was dropped from the starting fifteen but remained on the panel. On 4 July, he won his first Munster Championship medal after being introduced as a substitute in Cork's 1-15 to 0-14 defeat of reigning champions

Clare Clare may refer to: Places Antarctica * Clare Range, a mountain range in Victoria Land Australia * Clare, South Australia, a town in the Clare Valley * Clare Valley, South Australia Canada * Clare (electoral district), an electoral district * Cl ...

in the final. On 11 September, Browne started on the bench for the All-Ireland final but was once again introduced as a substitute and scored a point in Cork's 0-12 to 0-11 defeat of

Kilkenny Kilkenny ( , meaning 'church of Cainnech of Aghaboe, Cainnech'). is a city in County Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region, Ireland, South-East Region and in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinst ...

. Browne started the 2000 Munster Championship on the bench, however, he came on as a substitute in Cork's first two games. On 3 July 2000, he was at left wing-forward for Cork's 0-23 to 3-12 defeat of Tipperary in the Munster final. On 29 November 2002, Browne and six of his teammates from the Cork hurling panel held a press conference at the Imperial Hotel to announce that all 30 members of the panel were withdrawing their services from the county in the hope of better treatment from the county board. He remained a high-profile representative at the negotiations over the following two weeks and was one of five players' representatives who agreed to a settlement with the county board on 13 December. Browne was appointed

of the Cork senior team for the 2003 season. On 29 June, he scored 1-01 in Cork's 3-16 to 3-12 defeat of Waterford in the Munster final. It was his third Munster Championship medal while he also had the honour of lifting the cup. On 14 September, he again captained the team from left corner-forward in Cork's 1-14 to 1-11 All-Ireland final defeat by Kilkenny. Browne, who was marked by Michael Kavanagh, was held scoreless.

Inter-provincial

Browne also lined out with

in the inter-provincial hurling championship where he played alongside his championship rivals from Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Waterford. He first played for his province in 1996. Browne collected his first

winners' medal that year, albeit as a non-playing substitute, as Munster trounced

Leinster Leinster ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland. The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...

by sixteen points. Four years later in 2000 he was a full member of the team. That year he won a second Railway Cup title, his first on the field of play, as Leinster were beaten once again. A third winners' medal quickly followed in 2001 as

Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...

were accounted for.

Career statistics

Club

Inter-county

Honours

;Blackrock *

Cork Senior Hurling Championship The Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Cork PSHC) is an annual club hurling competition organised by the Cork County B ...

(3):

;Cork *

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship, known simply as the All-Ireland Championship, is an annual Inter county, inter-county hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the highest-tier competition for ...

(1):

Munster Senior Hurling Championship The Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship, known simply as the Munster Championship, is an annual Inter county, inter-county hurling competition organised by the Munster GAA, Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the h ...

(3):

(1):

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship The Munster GAA Hurling Under-20 Championship, known simply as the Munster Under-20 Championship, is an annual inter-county hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the highest inter-c ...

(1):

;Munster *

(3):

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Browne, Alan 1974 births Living people Blackrock National Hurling Club hurlers Cork inter-county hurlers Munster inter-provincial hurlers All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winners Hurling managers Hurling selectors