Damien Cahalane

Minor and under-21

Cahalane first played for Cork as a member of the minor football team in 2009. A dual player in his second season at minor, he won a Munster medal with the footballers after a one-point defeat of Kerry in the final.^[8] On 19 September 2010, Cahalane was at midfield when Cork were defeated by Tyrone in the All-Ireland final.^[9]

Cahalane continued his dual status with the Cork under-21 teams, however, he enjoyed little success with the hurling team. During his three years with the Cork under-21 footballers, the team remained undefeated in the provincial championship, with Cahalane winning successive Munster medals in 2011, 2012 and 2013.^[10][11][12] Cahalane was captain of the team for the third title.^[13] On 4 May 2013, Cahalane was at full-back when Cork suffered a 1-14 to 1-11 defeat by Galway in the All-Ireland final.^[14]

Senior

Cahalane made his senior debut for Cork in a Waterford Crystal Cup defeat of Kerry on 4 February 2012.^[15] He made his first start in a National League game in a four-point defeat of Galway on 18 March 2012, before making his first championship start at full-back later that season in an All-Ireland Qualifier against Wexford.^[16][17] The following season, Cahalane switched codes to Gaelic football, making his senior debut in a McGrath Cup game on 6 January 2013.^[18][19] He made his first start in a National League game in a 1-18 to 2-09 defeat by Dublin on 2 February 2013, before making his first championship start later that season in a Munster Championship quarter-final against Limerick.^[20][21] Cahalane underwent a double hip operation at the end of the season.^[22]

At the start of 2014, Cahalane committed to playing for both the Cork senior hurling and football teams for the upcoming season.^[23][24] Following Cork's defeat by Kerry in the Munster final, Cahalane suffered a large gash to his heel when he stepped on a medicinal vial in the shower in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.^[25] The injury threatened his participation in the provincial hurling final, however, on 13 July 2014, Cahalane won his first Munster medal after a six-point defeat of Limerick.^[26]

At the end of the 2014 season Cahalane decided to end his association with the Cork football team and to concentrate on hurling.^[27][28] On 9 July 2017, he won his second Munster medal following a 1-25 to 1-20 defeat of Clare in the final.^[29]

On 1 July 2018, Cahalane won a third Munster medal following a 2-24 to 3-19 defeat of Clare in the final.

On the 6th of April 2025 Cahalane won his first National League title following at 3-24 to 0-23 defeat of Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.^[30]