Paul McKillen
Irish hurler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paul McKillen (born June 1966[1]) is a Northern Irish hurling manager and former player. At club level he played with McQuillan Ballycastle and at inter-county level with the Antrim senior hurling team.
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Nickname | Humpy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | June 1966 (age 59) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Caretaker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Hurling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
McKillen first played hurling with the McQuillan Ballycastle club. He was still eligible for the minor grade when he won his first Antrim SHC medal after a defeat of Loughgiel Shamrocks in 1983. McKillen won a second title a year later when McQuillan's retained the title, before claiming a third and final winners' medal in 1986. Each of these three victories were subsequently converted into Ulster Club SHC title successes.[2]
At inter-county level, McQuillan first appeared for Antrim at underage levels, however, his minor and under-21 tenures ended without any title success. McKillen made his senior team debut in 1984 and went on to win seven Ulster SHC titles in a ten-year period between 1989 and his retirement in 1998.[3] He also lined out at midfield when Tipperary beat Antrim by 4–24 to 3-09 tin the 1989 All-Ireland final.[4]
McKillen's other inter-county honours include a National League Division 2 medal. He also earned inclusion on the Ulster team in the Railway Cup competition. McKillen was an All-Star Award recipient in 1993.[5]
Management career
McKillen first became involved in coaching as a result of his day job as a caretaker at Cross & Passion College. He has served as a coach and selector with various college teams and was part of four Mageean Cup-winning management teams. McKillen later became involved in inter-county management as a selector with the Antrim senior hurling team that won the 2006 Christy Ring Cup after a defeat of Carlow in the final.[6]
McKillen later served as a coach with the Down senior hurling team that lost the 2009 Christy Ring Cup final to Carlow.[7] He later guided the Antrim minor hurling team to the Ulster MHC title in 2014.[8] A stint as manager of the St Mary's, Rasharkin club team was followed by McKillen becoming joint-manager of the Antrim intermediate camogie team.[9] He guided the team to the All-Ireland ICH title in 2021.[10]
Honours
Player
- McQuillan Ballycastle
- Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship: 1983, 1984, 1986
- Antrim Senior Hurling Championship: 1983, 1984, 1986
- Antrim
Management
- Cross & Passion College
- Mageean Cup: 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2020
- Antrim