Noel O'Leary

Noel O'Leary (born 5 May 1982) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who played as a left wing-back for the Cork senior team.

Born in Kilnamartyra, County Cork, O Leary arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Cork minor team, before later joining the under-21 and junior sides.

In 1999 he won a Cork Minor C Football Championship with the club.

By 1999 O'Leary had joined the Cork minor football team, playing corner back for the entire campaign.

Because of this he collected his first Munster minor winners' medal.

Cork trounced Kerry by 2–16 to 1–9 on that occasion, however, 'the Rebels' were subsequently defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.

He made his debut in the 2000 National Football League.

O'Leary went on to play a key part for over a decade, and won one All-Ireland medal, three Munster medals and four National Football League medals(1 division 2).

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

O'Leary represented the Munster inter-provincial team on one occasion, when he captained the team in an unsuccessful campaign.

At club level he plays with Cill na Martra.

Throughout his career, O'Leary made 42 championship appearances for Cork.

In 2000 O'Leary secured a place in the half-back line on the Cork minor football team and Cork qualified for a second consecutive Munster decider.

That year he won his first provincial winners' medal on the field of play following a 1–13 ro 0–14 defeat of arch-rivals Kerry.

Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final, with Mayo providing the opposition.

A close game followed, however, at the full-time whistle Cork were the champions by 2–12 to 0–13.

The win gave O'Leary an All-Ireland minor winners' medal in his last appearance for Cork in that grade.

He first joined the Cork senior team during the 2000/01 National Football League.

By 2001 O'Leary was an automatic choice for the Cork under-21 team.

That year he won a Munster title in that grade following a 1–12 to 0–8 defeat of Limerick.

Cork were subsequently defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.

O'Leary enjoyed no further success with the county under-21 footballers.

In 2001, he won Munster and All Ireland Championship medals with the Cork Junior team.

In 2002 O'Leary enjoyed his first major success with Cill na Martra when he captured a divisional junior football championship winners' medal following a 2–10 to 1–9 victory over Grenagh.

2003 saw Cill na Martra reach the divisional final for the second year in succession.

Ballingeary provided the opposition, however, their near neighbours could not match Cill na Martra's skill.

A 0–12 to 1–7 score line gave O'Leary a second divisional winners' medal.

Cill na Martra later represented their division in the county junior championship.

They reached the final that year and lined out against Carbery Rangers.

A 0–10 to 0–5 score line resulted in defeat for O'Leary's side.

O'Leary first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork under-16 team.

He won a Munster title in this grade before going on to enjoy much more success with the Cork footballers at more advanced grades.

In 2003 O'Leary made his senior championship debut for Cork.

'The Rebels' were trounced by Limerick on that occasion.

The year went from bad to worse as Cork crashed out of the championship in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

In 2004 O'Leary's side fared no better.

After losing to Kerry in the Munster semi-final Cork had to manoeuvre through the qualifiers again.

He subsequently played no part due to injury for the remainder of the championship in an unconvincing victory over Clare which was followed by a humiliating 0–18 to 0–12 defeat by Fermanagh.

He announced his retirement from inter-county football on 17 October 2013.

O'Leary plays his local club football with his local club in Cill na Martra and has enjoyed some success.