Cork football star O'Rourke passes away

FORMER Cork and Dohenys footballer Colman O'Rourke passed away this week. He was a regular with Cork seniors in the 1970s.

He played half forward on the team that lost to Kerry in the Munster final of 1976 on the opening of Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

He also played Under-21 with the county in 1974 and his first appearance at senior level was in a NFL game against Dublin in the 1974/75 campaign.

He played his last game during the 1979/80 season, missing out on a league medal after opting to play rugby with Munster Senior League side Dolphin.

Colman first sprang to prominence with Cork Vocational Schools and won a Provincial medal in 1970. The same year he was a sub on the hurling team which went on to win the All-Ireland. His adult career with Dohenys began with appearance on the club's Under-21 teams in the very early 1970s and he made his debut on the intermediate team against St Finbarr's in the 1971 league final.

A talented and graceful footballer, he captured a county intermediate medal in 1972 and usually filled a midfield or attacking role with his native club, whom he served loyally for many years.