Éamonn Cregan

Éamonn Cregan (Born 1945) was a famous Irish sportsperson who played hurling for Limerick from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Éamonn Cregan was born in Limerick in 1945. A dual player with his native county in the 1960s, he could have had much success with Limerick as a Gaelic footballer, however, he decided to concentrate on hurling. Cregan made his senior debut in 1964 and impressed immediately. The winning of a National Hurling League title in 1971 marked the beginning of a great period for Limerick's hurlers. Two years later in 1973 Cregan won his first Munster Championship title. Following an All-Ireland semi-final victory over Galway Cregan and Limerick defeated Kilkenny to win the All-Ireland final. In 1974 Cregan won a second Munster title, however, Kilkenny were back to full strength and gained revenge for the defeat the previous year.

A barren spell followed until 1980 when Cregan secured his third Munster medal, however, his Limerick side lost out to an up-and-coming Galway side in the All-Ireland final. Cregan, however, nearly single-handedly won the game for Limerick. He scored a total of 2-7, including an overhead goal and a point in which he showed the ball to Conor Hayes and nonchalantly drove the ball over the bar. In 1981 Cregan won a fourth Munster title but was defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final by an up-and-coming Offaly team. Cregan retired from inter-county hurling in 1983. In retirement he turned to management. In 1994 he managed Offaly to All-Ireland victory over his own native Limerick. It was the first time that an outside manager had achieved this and Cregan had mixed feelings over the victory. Cregan also won three Railway Cup titles with Munster in 1968, 1969 and 1981, as well as three All-Stars Awards in 1971, 1972 and 1980.