Eoin Cadogan

Club

Cadogan plays hurling and football with his local club in Douglas. After some successes at underage levels, he progressed from juvenile grades to the minor grade. In 2004 Cadogan was a member of the club's minor team that defeated Youghal in the final of the minor county championship.

In 2008, Douglas reaching the final of the senior county football championship for the first time in their history. Nemo Rangers were the opponents. Cadogan was sent off nine minutes from the end after receiving a second yellow card, and Douglas went on to lose the game by 0–13 to 0–5.^[1]

Minor and Under-21

In July 2004 Cadogan was on duty with the Cork minor footballers against Kerry in the provincial decider. Cork were on top in that game; however, Kerry fought back to force a draw and a replay.^[2] The replay a few days later was more conclusive, with Kerry winning by 0–13 to 1–7.^[3]

Cadogan subsequently continued as a member of the Cork under-21 football. He began 2005 by collecting a Munster winners' medal with the under-21 footballers following a defeat of Limerick in the provincial decider.^[4] Cork were subsequently defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.

In 2006 Cadogan won a second consecutive Munster under-21 football title after a 4–14 to 1–6 win over Waterford in the provincial decider. Cork's route to the All-Ireland final was a rocky one, however, Cork reached the championship decider with Mayo providing the opposition. A goal for Mayo proved to be the deciding factor as the Connacht champions won the game by 1–13 to 1–11.^[5]

2007 saw Cadogan secure a third Munster under-21 football title in three years after defeating Tipperary 3–19 to 3–12. They reached a second consecutive All-Ireland final. Laois were the opponents in that game and a close affair developed. A point by Daniel Goulding in injury time secured a narrow 2–10 to 0–15 victory and an All-Ireland under-21 winners' medal for Cadogan.^[6]

Senior

By 2007 Cadogan was also a member of the Cork senior football team and he secured a McGrath Cup winners medal at the start of the year after a 1–8 to 0–7 defeat of Limerick.^[7] Cork were subsequently defeated by Kerry in the Munster final, however, Cadogan had yet to make an appearance. He made his senior football debut in the 1–16 to 0–9 All-Ireland semi-final victory over Meath. Cadogan was a non-playing substitute for subsequent the All-Ireland final against Kerry, a game which Kerry won by 3–13 to 1–9.^[8]

2008 saw Cadogan leave the Cork senior football panel as he decided to concentrate on his hurling career, but in July 2009 he rejoined the footballers after the elimination of Cork from the hurling championship. He returned to action when he came on as a late substitute in Cork's All-Ireland semi-final victory over reigning champions Tyrone.

Club

In 2005 Cadogan was a member of the Douglas under-21 hurling team. Douglas reached the final of that competition with Erin's Own providing the opposition, Cadogan's side lost by 0–13 to 0–10.

Minor and Under-21

Cadogan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a dual player with Cork at minor level. In 2004 he first lined out in the Munster hurling final against Tipperary. A high-scoring game developed, however, a 2–13 to 3–8 victory gave Cadogan a Munster winners' medal in that grade.^[9] Cadogan's journey with the minor hurlers came to an end with a 2–15 to 1–13 defeat by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.^[10]

Cadogan subsequently continued as a member of the Cork under-21 hurling team. While lining out with Cork's under-21 hurlers Cadogan also picked up a Munster winners' medal following a 4–8 to 0–13 defeat of Tipperary.^[11] Cork were subsequently defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.

A second Munster under-21 hurling medal followed in 2007 after beating Waterford 1–20 to 0–10 in the provincial decider. However, Cork exited the championship at the hands of Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Senior

By 2007 Cadogan was a member of the Cork senior hurling squad. He played some challenge games for the hurlers, however, he failed to break onto the team.

He was a regular player during the National Hurling League in 2008, however, he failed to break onto the starting fifteen for the championship. Cadogan later made his debut in the 1–17 to 0–15 defeat of Dublin in the All-Ireland qualifiers, however, he played no further part in the championship.

Cork's preparations for the 2009 championship were hampered by a prolonged players' strike at the start of the year. After a resolution to these difficulties, Cadogan was handed a chance to break onto the starting fifteen following the retirement of regular full-back Diarmuid O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan gave Cadogan his blessing as his successor, and he was handed the number three jersey for the Munster quarter-final clash with Tipperary.^[12] Despite losing by 1–19 to 0–19, Cadogan was named man of the match. He was later named hurling player of the month for May by the Gaelic Players Association.^[13] After a win over Offaly, Cadogan's next assignment with Cork was a win-or-bust All-Ireland qualifier meeting with Galway. Cork were knocked out of the championship by 1–19 to 0–15.