The club was saddened to learn of the passing of former Cork County, Bohemians and Munster batsman and all-round Cork sporting great Tom Kiernan. Brother of Jim, Tom represented both club and Munster with distinction and also was a product of Presentation Brothers College alongside another club legend Dermot Giltinan.
In his book ‘Long Shadows By De Banks’, Colm Murphy noted that “Tom Kiernan was highly regarded and was of international standard. However, it was rugby that he truly excelled. He was a regular at the Mardyke and on one occasion, immediately on returning back to Cork from a Lions’ Tour, he was to be seen at the nets giving advice to aspiring cricketers.”
“Besides cricket, there was always the refreshing swim at the weir!”
Tom Kiernan is pictured above in the Bohemians side (far left back row) that graced the Mardyke for many years.
As a Life Member of the club, Tom continued to be a familiar face at the Mardyke down through the years and was often spotted at key fixtures and the clubs annual end of season dinners.
Jim Fitzgerald and Tom Kiernan pictured at the 2014 Annual Awards Dinner at the River Lee Hotel.
Kiernan was also a legendary figure in Irish rugby and kicked the winning score the first time Ireland beat South Africa, in 1965, and captained the first Irish team to win a Test in Australia two years later.
He was capped 59 times for Ireland at full-back; 5 times for the Lions and captained the Lions in South Africa 1968.
At club level, he represented Cork Constitution, Munster and University College Cork with distinction.
Tom Kiernan in 1983. Picture: SPORTSFILE
After hanging up his boots, he was in charge of the Munster team which recorded a victory over New Zealand in 1978 and went on to coach Ireland between 1980 and 1983, including winning the Five Nations title in 1982.
Munster representative matches:
- 1959: Munster Cricket Union XI v Australian Old Collegians at the Mardyke
Guinness Cup
- 7th August 1966: Munster v South Leinster at the Mardyke
- 13th August 1966: North West v Munster at Holm Field, Sion Mills
- 19th August 1967: Munster v North West at the Mardyke
- 31st May 1969: Munster v North West at the Mardyke
- 5th July 1969: Munster v North Leinster at the Mardyke
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h’anam dílis.