Conor Counihan

Conor Counihan (born 28 September 1959) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played as a centre-back for the Cork senior team.

Born in Aghada, County Cork, Counihan first played competitive football during his youth.

He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty when he first linked up with the Cork under-21 team, before later lining out with the junior side.

He made his senior debut in the 1980–81 National Football League.

Counihan went on to win two All-Ireland medals, four Munster medals and three National Football League medals.

He was an All-Ireland runner-up on three occasions.

Counihan was a member of the Munster inter-provincial team for six consecutive years.

At club level he won two Cork Senior Football Championship medals with divisional side Imokilly, while he also won intermediate and junior championship medals with Aghada.

Throughout his career Counihan made 26 championship appearances for Cork.

Counihan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork under-21 football team in 1980.

He won a Munster Under-21 Football Championship medal that year following a 3–15 to 0–4 win over Clare.

Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final.

Dublin were beaten by Cork on a 2–8 to 1–5 scoreline, giving Counihan an All-Ireland medal.

Counihan made his senior debut for Cork during the autumn games of the 1980–81 National Football League.

He made his championship debut against Waterford in 1981, but was back on the substitutes' bench for the subsequent Munster final defeat by Kerry.

Over the next few years Counihan was on and off the senior panel.

In 1984, Counihan was captain of divisional side Imolkilly as the team reached the final of the county senior championship for the first time ever.

Dual kingpins St. Finbarr's provided the opposition, with Imokilly claiming their first ever title with a 2–14 to 2–7 score line.

In 1984 Counihan was a member of the Cork junior football team.

That he won a Munster medal following a 1–12 to 0–9 defeat of Kerry.

The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against English side Warwickshire.

Cork won easily by 3–20 to 0–7, giving Counihan an All-Ireland medal.

He returned to the starting fifteen as captain for Cork's championship campaign in 1985.

After surrendering their title the following year, Imokilly were back in the championship decider again in 1986.

Once again it was St. Finbarr's who provided the opposition, however, on this occasion the Barr's were the reigning county champions.

Imokilly triumphed by 2–4 to 0–9 and Counihan picked up a second championship medal.

Two years later in 1987, Counihan was captain of Cork for a second time.

After a 1–10 to 2–7 Munster final draw with four-in-a-row contenders Kerry, Cork won the replay by 0–13 to 1–5, giving him a first Munster medal.

In 1989 Counihan won a fourth divisional junior medal of the decade with Aghada.

The club later reached the final of the county championship.

Knocknagree were the opponents and, after a draw and a replay, Counihan's side won by 0–8 to 0–4, giving him a Cork Junior Football Championship medal.

After just two years at intermediate level, Aghada reached the championship final with Ballincollig providing the opposition.

A narrow 0–9 to 0–8 victory gave Counihan an Cork Intermediate Football Championship medal.

His retirement came following Cork's defeat by Derry in the 1993 All-Ireland final.

In retirement from playing, Counihan became involved in team management and coaching.

He served as a selector and as a backs' coach on the Cork senior football team under both Billy Morgan and Larry Tompkins, while he also led the Aghada senior team.

In 2009, he was chosen at centre-back on a special Munster football team of the quarter century.

Counihan played club football with Aghada GAA club.

As manager of the Cork senior team for six seasons, he guided the team to the All-Ireland title in 2010.

During his playing days, Counihan won two All-Star awards.