John Coffey (hurler)

John Coffey (14 January 1918 – 11 August 2019)[1] was an Irish hurler. His league and championship career with the Tipperary senior spanned nine seasons from 1940 until 1948.[2][3] He is one of only four All-Ireland hurling medallists to become a centenarian.[4][5]

Coffey made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he was selected for the Tipperary minor team. He enjoyed three championship seasons with the minor team, the highlight of which was the winning of an All-Ireland medal in his debut year in 1934. Coffey subsequently joined the Tipperary junior team and played without success between 1936 and 1940. By this stage he had also joined the Tipperary senior team, making his debut during the 1940 championship. Coffey was a regular member of the starting fifteen at various times over the following nine seasons and won his sole All-Ireland medal in 1945. He also won one Munster medal. Coffey retired from inter-county hurling following the conclusion of the 1948 championship.