Cork faced Dublin in an All-Ireland decider. Joe Kelly was the hero of the day and he contributed greatly to Cork's 2–13 to 1–2 victory. It was a remarkable fourth successive All-Ireland medal for Quirke. Five-in-a-row proved to be a bridge too far for Cork, however, the team returned in 1946. A 3–9 to 1–6 defeat of Waterford allowed Cork to advance to another Munster final. Unfortunately for Quirke, that semi-final victory was his last championship game for Cork. Inter-provincial Murphy also had the honour of being selected for Munster in the inter-provincial series of games. He made his debut with the province in 1936 and was a regular until his retirement in 1945. In 1936, Quirke was one of only two Corkonians to line out in the inter-provincial decider. A narrow 2–8 to 3–4 defeat by fierce rivals Leinster was the result on that occasion. In spite of a defeat in his debut season, the province went on to dominate the rest of the decade. Defeats of Leinster in 1937 and 1938 gave Quirke his first two Railway Cup medals. Quirke was dropped from the starting fifteen in 1939, however, he won a third Railway Cup medal as a non-playing substitute following a 4–4 to 1–6 defeat of Leinster. He was reinstated to the starting fifteen the following year and won a fourth winners' medal as Leinster were downed once again. Munster surrendered their title to Leinster the following year, however, the province went on to dominate the rest of the decade once again. Defeats of Leinster (1942, 1943), Connacht (1944) and Ulster (1945) brought Quirke's Railway Cup medal tally to eight. Death On 24 August 1983, Quirke died aged 72 at the North Infirmary in Cork after unexpectedly taking ill. He was survived by his wife Hannah. Honours Team Blackrock Cork Senior Club Hurling Championship (3): 1929, 1930, 1931 Cork All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (4): 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 Munster Senior Hurling Championship (4): 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944 National Hurling League (2): 1939–40, 1940–41 Munster Railway Cup (8): 1937, 1938, 1939 (sub), 1940, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945 (sub) References 1911 births 1983 deaths Blackrock National Hurling Club hurlers Cork inter-county hurlers Munster inter-provincial hurlers All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winners People from County Kerry