Cathal Mannion (born 22 October 1994) is an Irish hurler who plays for Galway Senior Championship club Ahascragh-Fohenagh and at inter-county level with the Galway senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a left corner-forward.
Mannion joined the Ahascragh-Fohenagh club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels before eventually joining the club's top adult team.
On 21 October 2016, Mannion scored a goal when Ahascragh-Fohenagh defeated Ballinderreen by 2âÂÂ15 to 0âÂÂ08 to win the Galway Intermediate Championship. He later scored 2-11 when Ahascragh-Fohenagh won the Connacht Championship on 14 November following a 2âÂÂ20 to 0âÂÂ13 defeat of Ballyhaunis in the final. On 18 February 2017, Mannion top scored for Ahascragh-Fohenagh with five points when they suffered a 2âÂÂ15 to 0âÂÂ06 defeat by Carrickshock in the All-Ireland final.
Mannion first lined out for Galway as a member of the minor team during the 2011 All-Ireland Championship. He won an All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute on 4 September following Galway's 1âÂÂ21 to 1âÂÂ12 defeat of Dublin in the final.
On 28 July 2012, Mannion made his first appearance for the Galway minor team. He scored two points from midfield in a 4âÂÂ20 to 2âÂÂ11 defeat of Wexford in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Mannion was drafted onto the Galway under-21 team for the 2013 All-Ireland Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 24 August and scored three points from full-forward in a 1âÂÂ16 to 0âÂÂ07 defeat by Clare. He played with the under-21 team for three years.
Mannion was still eligible for the under-21 grade when he was selected for the Galway senior team. He made his first appearance for the team on 16 February 2014 and scored four points from right corner-forward in a 0âÂÂ28 to 1âÂÂ12 defeat of Dublin in the National League. Mannion was also included on Galway's starting fifteen for the Leinster Championship. He made his debut on 1 June in a 1âÂÂ22 to 0âÂÂ23 defeat of Laois.
On 5 July 2015, Mannion lined out in his first Leinster final. He scored a point from right corner-forward in the 1âÂÂ23 to 2âÂÂ17 defeat by Kilkenny. Mannion was switched to left corner-forward for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny on 6 September. He was held scoreless in the 1âÂÂ22 to 1âÂÂ18 defeat. Mannion ended the season by receiving an All-Star award.
On 3 July 2016, Mannion scored five points in Galway's 1âÂÂ26 to 0âÂÂ22 defeat by Kilkenny in the Leinster final.
Mannion claimed his first silverware with the Galway senior team on 22 April 2017. He scored 1-01 when Galway won the National League title after a 3âÂÂ21 to 0âÂÂ14 defeat of Tipperary in the final. Mannion subsequently missed Galway's 0âÂÂ29 to 1âÂÂ17 defeat of Wexford in the Leinster final because of an ankle injury. He was back on the starting fifteen for the All-Ireland final against Waterford on 3 September. Mannion scored two points from left corner-forward in the 0âÂÂ26 to 2âÂÂ17 victory in what was Galway's first All-Ireland Championship in 29 years. He ended the season by being receiving a second All-Star nomination.
On 1 July 2018, Mannion scored three points for Galway in their 0-18 apiece draw with Kilkenny in the Leinster final. The replay a week later saw him win his first Leinster Championship medal on the field of play after Galway retained the title with a 1âÂÂ28 to 3âÂÂ15 victory. On 19 August, Mannion was at left corner-forward when Galway faced Limerick in the All-Ireland final. He was held scoreless throughout the 3âÂÂ16 to 2âÂÂ18 defeat. Mannion ended the season by being nominated for a third All-Star award.