Christopher "Christy" O'Brien (11 March 1933 – 7 March 2022) was an Irish hurler who played as a full-forward for the Laois senior team.

Born in Borris-in-Ossory, County Laois, O'Brien first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Laois minor team. He joined the senior panel during the 1952 championship. O'Brien later became a regular member of the starting fifteen, however, he ended his playing days without any Tier1 silverware, although he did win two NHL Div2 titles - 1960 & 1965.

As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions he won three Railway Cup medals. At club level he was a five-time championship medallist with Borris-in-Ossory.

Throughout his career O'Brien made 24 championship appearances. He retired following the conclusion of the 1970 championship.

O'Brien was regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. He has often been voted onto teams made up of the sport's greats, including at full-forward on a special Hurling Team of the Century made up of players never to have won an All-Ireland medal.

O'Brien died on 7 March 2022, at the age of 88.

Playing career Club

O’Brien played his club hurling with his local Borris-in-Ossory club and enjoyed much success. He was a key member of the club’s team when Borris-in-Ossory won its first senior county title in 1956. It was the first of three consecutive county titles for O’Brien and his club. He added two more county medals to his collection in 1960 and 1961.

Inter-county

O’Brien first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with the Laois minor hurling team. He had little success in this grade and made his senior debut in 1952. O’Brien’s senior inter-county career was a frustrating one as Laois were down the pecking order in terms of the hurling standard in Leinster. In spite of winning the provincial title in 1949, Laois never appeared in another Leinster final. O’Brien continued playing with the county until 1970.

Christy played his only Walsh Cup game in 1956 - then called the Leinster Council Senior Hurling Accident Fund Tournament - in Laois' first ever Walsh Cup game (against Kilkenny). O'Brien started in goals, but moved outfield for the second half.

He played a total of 66 times for Laois (24 SHC, 41 NHL & 1 Walsh Cup). At the time of his retirement, his 41 league appearances were only behind Harry Gray (44) and Paddy Lalor (43) in terms of Laois records.

Championship appearances List of appearances# Date Venue Pos/No Opponent Score Result W/L Competition1 22 May 1955 O'Connor Park, Offaly CB/6 Westmeath 2–3 : 4–8 L Leinster Quarter-Final2 22 April 1956 O'Moore Park, LaoisCB/6 Offaly 5–9 : 4–5 W Leinster Quarter-Final3 14 April 1957 Birr, OffalyLWB/5 Offaly 0–1 2–8 : 2–11 L Leinster Round14 4 May 1958 O'Connor Park, Offaly CF/11 Westmeath 0–2 5–8 : 4–10 W Leinster Round15 26 April 1959 O'Connor Park, OffalyFB/3 Meath 3–8 : 0–8 W Leinster Round16 10 May 1959 O'Moore Park, Laois FB/3 Offaly 6–12 : 2–7 W Leinster Quarter-Final7 21 June 1959 Birr, Offaly FB/3 Kilkenny 2–4 : 8–10 L Leinster Semi-Final8 10 April 1960 Newbridge, Kildare FB/3 Meath 3–9 : 2–5 W Leinster Round19 16 April 1961 O'Connor Park, Offaly CB/6 Westmeath 0–1 4–5 : 3–8 D Leinster Round110 30 April 1961 Birr, Offaly CB/6 Westmeath 2–8 : 2–9 L Leinster Round1 replay11 15 April 1962 O'Moore Park, Laois FB/3 Offaly 5–8 : 2–1 W Leinster Round112 29 April 1962 O'Connor Park, Offaly FB/3 Westmeath 4–5 : 4–3 W Leinster Quarter-Final13 8 July 1962 Croke Park, Dublin FB/3 Wexford 3–6 : 5–14 L Leinster Semi-Final14 10 April 1964 Nowlan Park, Kilkenny FB/3 Carlow 2–9 : 4–12 L Leinster Round115 23 April 1965 O'Connor Park, Offaly CF/11 Westmeath 2–2 5–6 : 2–5 W Leinster Round116 13 June 1965 Birr, Offaly CF/11 Offaly 1–5 2–14 : 2–9 W Leinster Quarter-Final17 11 July 1965 Croke Park, Dublin CF/11 Wexford 1–1 2–6 : 1–15 L Leinster Semi-Final18 15 May 1966 Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow CF/11 Carlow 1–2 1–11 : 1–16 L Leinster Round119 21 May 1967 O'Connor Park, Offaly CF/11 Westmeath 1–6 5–11 : 4–9 W Leinster Quarter-Final20 25 June 1967 Nowlan Park, Kilkenny CF/11 Wexford 0–1 1–6 : 6–10 L Leinster Semi-Final21 5 May 1968 O'Connor Park, Offaly FF/14 Westmeath 1–3 1–10 : 3–7 L Leinster Round123 25 May 1969 O'Connor Park, Offaly RCB/4 Westmeath 5–12 : 0–1 W Leinster Round123 15 June 1969 O'Moore Park, LaoisRCB/4 Offaly 2–0 2–5 : 8–10 L Leinster Quarter-Final24 24 May 1970 Birr, Offaly RCF/15 Offaly 2–9 : 2–15 L Leinster Quarter-Final

Inter-provincial

O’Brien also lined out with Leinster in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He won his first Railway Cup medal in 1962 as Leinster defeated Munster. O’Brien won further Railway Cup medals in 1964 and 1965.

Honours

Player

Borris-in-Ossory Laois Senior Hurling Championship (5): 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1972

Leinster Railway Cup (3): 1962, 1964, 1965 Leinster Hall of Fame 2019

References