Donal Franks
Irish hurler (born 1971)
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Donal Franks (born 1971) is an Irish hurling manager and former player. At club level, he played with Ballyskanegh and Birr and at inter-county level with the Offaly senior hurling team.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Native name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1971 (age 54–55) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Hurling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Left wing-back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
Franks first played hurling for the Ballyskenagh club before transferring to Birr.[1] With his adopted club, he won seven Offaly SHC medals from eight consecutive finals appearances between 1999 and 2006.[2] Franks also won three Leinster Club SHC medals. He was also part of Birr's back-yo-back All-Ireland Club SHC title-winning teams in 2002 and 2003.[3]
At inter-county level, Franks first played for Offaly as a member of the minor team. He was at left wing-back when Offaly beat Clare by 2–16 to 1–12 in the 1989 All-Ireland MHC final.[4] Franks later progressed to the under-21 team and won consecutive Leinster U21HC medals in 1991 and 1992, however, these provincial wins were subsequently followed by consecutive All-Ireland U21HC final defeats.[5] Franks made his senior team debut in a National Hurling League game against Down in October 1992.[6]
Management career
Franks first became involved in management when he took charge of the Shamrocks club. He later coached Clonkill to a defeat by Raharney in the Westmeath SHC final in 2010.[7] Franks became Birr's senior team manager in 2012.[8] He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Westmeath manager's position in 2013, before taking over as Naas manager in 2014.[9][10] Franks also served as manager with club sides Round Towers and Abbeyleix.[11][12] He was appointed manager of the Laois intermediate camogie team in 2018.[13]
Honours
- Birr
- All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship (2): 2002, 2003
- Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship (3): 1999, 2001, 2002
- Offaly Senior Hurling Championship (7): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
- Offaly