Mick Ahern

Michael John "Gah" Ahern (22 May 1905 – 30 December 1946) was an Irish hurler who played as a full-forward for the Cork senior team.

Born in Ballintemple, Cork, Ahern first played competitive hurling during his schooling at Crab Lane National School.

He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty when he first linked up with the Cork junior team before later joining the senior side.

In 1924 Ahern was a key member of the Blackrock senior hurling team.

He won his first championship medal that year following a 3–5 to 1–2 defeat of Redmonds.

He made his senior debut during the 1925 championship.

Ahern immediately became a regular member of the starting fifteen, and won four All-Ireland medals, four Munster medals and two National Hurling League medals.

He was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

Blackrock retained the title in 1925, with Ahern collecting a second championship medal following a 6–4 to 2–3 defeat of St. Finbarr's.

Ahern first appeared for Cork as a member of the junior team in 1925.

He won a Munster medal that year, after scoring a hat trick of goals in a 6–3 to 4–2 defeat of Clare in the decider.

Ahern was at full-forward for the subsequent All-Ireland decider, which was delayed by almost a year.

A 5–6 to 1–0 defeat of Dublin gave Ahern an All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship medal.

On 2 August 1925 Ahern made his senior championship debut in a 5–3 to 5–1 Munster semi-final defeat by Tipperary.

Ahern was a regular for Cork during the 1925–26 league, the inaugural running of the competition, and collected a first National Hurling League medal following a 3–7 to 1–5 defeat of Dublin in the decider.

He later won his first Munster medal following a three-game saga with Tipperary, culminating in a 3–6 to 2–4 victory for Cork.

On 24 October 1926 Ahern lined out in his first All-Ireland decider, as Cork faced Kilkenny for the first time since 1912.

At a snow-covered Croke Park, the first half was even enough with Cork holding an interval lead of one point, however, Kilkenny slumped in the second half, going down to a 4–6 to 2–0 defeat.

It was Ahern's first All-Ireland medal.

Three-in-a-row proved beyond Blackrock, however, in 1927 they were back in a fourth successive decider.

A 5–5 to 2–1 defeat of Redmonds gave Ahern a third championship medal.

Ahern missed Cork's second successive Munster triumph in 1927, however, he was restored to the starting fifteen for Cork's subsequent All-Ireland meeting with Dublin on 4 September 1927.

The Metropolitans were well on top in the opening thirty minutes and took a 2–3 to 0–1 lead at the interval.

Cork fought back in the third quarter, however, an expert display of goalkeeping by Tommy Daly saved the day by keeping Ahern scoreless, as Dublin went on to win by 4–8 to 1–3.

In 1928 Ahern won a second Munster medal following a 6–4 to 2–2 defeat of Clare in a replay.

On 9 September 1928 Cork faced Galway in the All-Ireland decider.

The Westerners, who got a bye into the final without lifting a hurley, were no match as a rout ensued.

Ahern ran riot scoring 5–4, a record for an All-Ireland final, as Cork triumphed by 6–12 to 1–0.

It was his second All-Ireland medal.

After a one-year hiatus "the Rockies" were back in the county decider once again in 1929.

A 5–6 to 2–2 defeat of St. Finbarr's gave Ahern a fourth championship medal.

Ahern won a third Munster medal in 1929 as Cork made it four-in-a-row following a 4–6 to 2–3 defeat of Waterford.

It was the beginning of a great era of success for the club as further final victories over Glen Rovers in 1930 and Éire Óg in 1931 brother Ahern's championship medal tally to six.

At international level Ahern played for the victorious Tailteann Games hurling team in 1932.

As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, he won two Railway Cup medals.

At club level Ahern was a six-time championship medallist with Blackrock.

His brother, Paddy "Balty" Ahern, was a teammate with Cork and won five All-Ireland medals.

He retired from inter-county hurling prior to the start of the 1932 championship.

Ahern's career tally of 35 goals and 27 points was a record score for a Cork player which stood until 22 June 1952 when it was surpassed by Christy Ring.

Throughout his career Ahern made 30 championship appearances.