{{Short description|Irish footballer (1933–2022)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Austin Noonan | image = | fullname = | birth_date = 16 July 1933 | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2022|11|7|1933|7|16}} | birth_place = Cork, Ireland | death_place = Cork, Ireland | position = Attacking midfielder | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1953–1966 | clubs1 = Evergreen United / Cork Celtic | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1966–1969 | clubs2 = Cork Hibernians | caps2 = | goals2 = | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = League of Ireland XI | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = }} '''Austin Noonan''' (16 July 1933 – 7 November 2022) was an Irish football player and manager who played for Cork Celtic and Cork Hibernians in the League of Ireland. He also served as manager of Cork Hibernians.
==Career== Noonan first played football as a schoolboy with Maymount. Considered too small and light as a youth player, he later played with Colmcille's and Ballinlough before being selected on the Cork AUL.
Noonan signed for Evergreen United (later Cork Celtic) for the 1953–54 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40258307.html|title=Evergreen always up Four the cup: history of the League of Ireland Super Cup|publisher=Echo Live|date=4 April 2021|access-date=7 November 2022|first=|last=}}</ref> He formed a close goal-scoring partnership with Donie Leahy and, after spending much of the 1958-59 season on the sideline with a troublesome right ankle injury, was the league's overall top scorer with 27 goals the following season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40238354.html|title=Throwback Thursday: Cork soccer clubs proved equal to European giants|publisher=Echo Live|date=11 March 2021|access-date=7 November 2022|first=|last=}}</ref> Noonan was honoured by the League of Ireland XI selectors on a couple of occasions, while his other honours include Top Four Cup, Shield, Dublin City Cup and Munster Senior Cup winners' medals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40069916.html|title=Austin Noonan's goal gave Cork Celtic derby glory and first national title - 60 years ago today|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=23 October 2020|access-date=7 November 2022|first=|last=}}</ref>
Noonan transferred to local rivals Cork Hibernians in 1966 before taking over as manager.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40232663.html|title=Throwback Thursday: Crossing the great divide of Cork soccer with Celtic and Hibs|publisher=Echo Live|date=25 February 2021|access-date=7 November 2022|first=|last=}}</ref> He has the distinction of being the club's manager in 1970 when their Shield victory qualified them to play in a European competition for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/the-lost-clubs-cork-hibernians/id-2094|title=The lost clubs: Cork Hibernians|publisher=SSE Airtricity League website|date=29 August 2018|access-date=7 November 2022|first=|last=|archive-date=7 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107210059/https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/the-lost-clubs-cork-hibernians/id-2094|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Death== Noonan died on 7 November 2022, at the age of 89.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41000900.html|title=Cork soccer legend Austin Noonan dies|publisher=Echo Live|date=7 November 2022|access-date=7 November 2022|first=|last=}}</ref>
==Honours== '''Cork Celtic''' *League of Ireland Shield: 1960–61 *Dublin City Cup: 1961–62 *Top Four Cup: 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60 *Munster Senior League: 1955–56 *Munster Senior Cup: 1959–60, 1961–62, 1963–64
==References== {{reflist}}
{{League of Ireland A Division top scorers}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Noonan, Austin}} Category:1933 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Association footballers from Cork (city) Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:League of Ireland players Category:Cork Celtic F.C. players Category:Cork Hibernians F.C. players Category:League of Ireland XI players Category:League of Ireland managers Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen