View source for Colm Cooper

{{Short description|Kerry Gaelic footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox Gaelic Athletic Association player
|image           = Colm Cooper from Sean Marty Lockhart & Colm Cooper - 2009.jpg
|name            = Colm Cooper
|nickname        = The Gooch
|occupation      = Bank official ([[Allied Irish Banks|AIB]])
|birth_date      = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1983|6|3}}
|birth_place     = [[Killarney]], [[County Kerry]], Ireland
|height          = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
|sport           = Gaelic Football
|code            = Football
|county          = Kerry
|province        = Munster
|club            = [[Dr Crokes GAA|Dr Crokes]]
|clyears         = 2000–present
|clposition      = Centre forward
|clapps(points)  =
|clcounty        = 8
|clprovince      = 6
|clallireland    = 1
|counties        = [[Kerry county football team|Kerry]]
|icyears         = 2002–2017
|icposition      = Right corner-forward
|icapps(points)  = 85  (23–283)
|icprovince      = 9
|icallireland    = 5
|nfl             = 4
|allstars        = 8
|clupdate        =
|icupdate        = 16:45, 4 April 2017
}}
'''Colm "the Gooch" Cooper''' (born 3 June 1983) is an Irish [[Gaelic football]]er whose [[National Football League (Ireland)|league]] and [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|championship]] career at senior level with the [[Kerry county football team|Kerry county team]] spanned fifteen years from 2002 to 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0404/864993-colm-cooper-kerry/|title=Colm Cooper calls time on Kerry career|date=4 April 2017|work=RTE Sport|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

Born in [[Killarney]], [[County Kerry]], Cooper was born into a strong Gaelic football family. His father, Mike Cooper, had a strong involvement with the [[Dr Crokes GAA|Dr Crokes]] club, serving as a minor and junior selector. Colm's nephew Mark was a part of the 2018 All Ireland winning Kerry Minor team, a competition he himself never won.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.kerrygaa.ie/news_detail/10043216/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180906012516/http://www.kerrygaa.ie/news_detail/10043216| archive-date = 2018-09-06| title = news-detail – Page 10043216 – Kerry GAA}} </ref>

Cooper played competitive Gaelic football as a student at [[St Brendan's College, Killarney|St Brendan's College]]; however, his tenure coincided with a downturn in fortunes for the college. He first appeared for the Dr. Crokes club at underage levels, before making his debut with the senior team in 2000. An [[All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|All-Ireland]] medal winners with the club in 2017, Cooper has also won five [[Munster Senior Club Football Championship|Munster]] medals and six [[Kerry Senior Football Championship|county senior championship]] medals.

Cooper made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he was selected for the Kerry minor team in 2000. He enjoyed one championship season with the minor team, culminating with the winning of a [[Munster Minor Football Championship|Munster]] medal in 2001. Cooper subsequently joined the Kerry under-21 team, winning a [[Munster Under-21 Football Championship|Munster]] medal in 2002. By this stage he had also joined the Kerry senior team, making his debut during the [[2002 National Football League (Ireland)|2002 league]]. Over the course of the next fifteen years, Cooper won five [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|All-Ireland]] medals, beginning with a lone triumph in 2004, back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007, a fourth title in 2009 and a final championship as a non-playing substitute in 2014 due to injury. He also won nine [[Munster Senior Football Championship|Munster]] medals, three [[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League]] medals and was named [[Texaco Footballer of the Year]] in 2004. He played his last game for Kerry against Dublin in August 2016 before announcing his retirement from inter-county football on 4 April 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.the42.ie/colm-cooper-kerry-10-3323104-Apr2017/|title='The best ever', 'top class', 'the greatest of all time' - tributes paid as the Gooch retires|date=4 April 2017|work=The 42|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/colm-cooper-a-treasure-coveted-in-every-kingdom-35591628.html|title=Colm Cooper: A treasure coveted in every Kingdom|date=4 April 2017|work=Irish Independent|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0404/865058-colm-cooper-tomas-o-se/|title=Tomás Ó Sé: Colm Cooper Kerry's 'greatest footballer'|date=5 April 2017|work=RTE Sport|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/football/eamonn-fitzmaurice-bids-farewell-to-genius-colm-cooper-446967.html|title=Eamonn Fitzmaurice bids farewell to 'genius' Colm Cooper|date=5 April 2017|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

After being chosen on the [[Munster GAA|Munster]] inter-provincial team for the first time in 2002, Cooper was also included on the team in 2004. He ended his career without a [[Railway Cup]] medal.

Cooper was first selected for the [[Ireland international rules football team|Ireland]] [[international rules football]] team in 2005, however, he declined to be included on subsequent squads for the competition.

Even during his playing days Cooper came to be recognised as one of the greatest players of all time. He was named [[Texaco Footballer of the Year]] in 2004, however, he never collected the [[Vodafone Footballer of the Year|All-Star Footballer of the Year]] title. In spite of this he won eight [[GAA All Stars Awards|All-Star]] awards.

Cooper released his autobiography called ''Gooch The Autobiography'' in October 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/fk-this-i-say-im-going-for-a-few-pints-colm-cooper-on-being-dropped-in-2009-36185447.html|title= 'F**k this,' I say. 'I'm going for a few pints' - Colm Cooper on being dropped in 2009|date=1 October 2017|work=Irish Independent|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref>
On 27 October 2017, Cooper became the first GAA player to have a testimonial dinner which was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/its-not-a-charity-event-colm-cooper-on-what-percentage-of-funds-from-testimonial-dinner-will-go-to-good-causes-36216277.html|title= 'It's not a charity event' - Colm Cooper on what percentage of funds from testimonial dinner will go to good causes|date=11 October 2017|work=Irish Independent|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/brolly-sorry-over-gooch-testimonial-furore-808877.html|title= Brolly sorry over Gooch testimonial furore|date=6 October 2017|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/gooch-deserves-reward-for-his-efforts-but-are-testimonials-a-step-too-far-for-amateur-players-36127070.html |title= Gooch deserves reward for his efforts, but are testimonials a step too far for amateur players?|date=13 September 2017|work=Irish Independent|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref>

==Playing career==
===Club===
Cooper helped [[Dr Crokes]] win the 2000 [[Kerry Senior Football Championship]] at the age of 17, beating [[An Ghaeltacht GAA|An Ghaeltacht]] in the final.

Dr Crokes reached the Kerry Senior county final again in 2005 and 2006, but were defeated on both occasions by [[South Kerry GAA|South Kingdom]]. However, South Kingdom are a divisional side and not a club so Dr Crokes qualified to represent the Kerry in the [[Munster Senior Club Football Championship]]. In 2006 Dr Crokes won the Munster Club Championship, beating [[The Nire-Fourmilewater GAA|The Nire]] of [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]] in the final. They advanced to the [[All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship]] after beating [[Moorefield GAA|Moorefield]] of [[Kildare GAA|Kildare]] after a replay in the semi-final, and faced [[Crossmaglen Rangers|Crossmaglen]] of [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] in the [[2006–07 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2007 All-Ireland Club final]]. The game finished in a draw. Crossmaglen won the replay to claim their fourth All-Ireland title.
In 2010 Cooper played against [[Austin Stacks]] in [[Tralee]] in the Championship final finally giving Dr Crokes the title after the three losses in finals. Cooper and Crokes were back again the year after to win back to back county titles. They secured the Kerry title in 2011, 2012 and 2013 to make it five in a row.

In February 2014, Cooper suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in the [[2013–14 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|All-Ireland Club Championship]] semi-final against [[Castlebar Mitchels]] which kept him out of action for the remainder of 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/colm-cooper-injury-leaves-kerry-plans-in-shreds-30018195.html|title= Colm Cooper injury leaves Kerry plans in shreds|date=18 February 2014|work=Irish Independent|access-date=18 February 2014}}</ref>
On 27 November 2016, Cooper won his fifth [[Munster Senior Club Football Championship|Munster club title]] beating the Nire in the final by 3-15 to 0-6 with Cooper scoring two points. Dr Crokes went on to reach the [[2016–17 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2017 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final]] on 17 March 2017 and won the game against [[Slaughtneil GAC|Slaughtneil]] by 1-9 to 1-7 at [[Croke Park]]. Cooper scored 1-2 in the final and claimed his first [[All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship]] title.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/dr-crokes-bring-all-ireland-club-football-title-back-to-the-kingdom-781984.html|title=Dr Crokes bring All-Ireland Club football title back to the Kingdom|date=17 March 2017|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0317/860605-cooper-completes-the-set-with/|title=Colm Cooper completes the set with Dr Crokes glory|date=17 March 2017|work=RTE Sport|access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref>

===Inter-county===
Cooper was first called up to the Kingdom team in 2002 and made his [[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League]] debut against [[Laois GAA|Laois]]. He continued his rise in that year's [[2002 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|Championship]], making his debut against [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] on 12 May en route to the [[2002 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|2002 All-Ireland final]], where they faced [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]]. Armagh defeated Kerry in the final by 1-12 to 0-14 with Cooper scoring a point. Cooper was awarded his first [[GAA All Stars Awards|All Star award]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.the42.ie/colm-cooper-10-all-ireland-finals-3324172-Apr2017/|title=Plotting Colm Cooper's remarkable career through his 10 All-Ireland finals|date=4 April 2017|work=The 42|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

In [[2003 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2003]] Kerry won a [[Munster Senior Football Championship]], but were knocked out of the All-Ireland Championship by [[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]] at the semi-final stage losing by 0-13 to 0-6.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/on-the-tenth-anniversary-of-the-term-puke-football-why-are-tyrone-still-seen-as-the-black-sheep-1.1504197|title=On the tenth anniversary of the term 'puke football', why are Tyrone still seen as the black sheep?|date=23 August 2013|work=Irish Times|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

2004 proved to be a good year for Cooper. Kerry won the [[2004 National Football League (Ireland)|2004 National League]], with victory over [[Galway GAA|Galway]] in the final on 2 May. They also defended their Munster title, before going on to win the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2004|All-Ireland Championship]]&nbsp;– beating [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]] in the final by 1-20 to 2-9. Cooper scored 1–05 in the final, including a goal where he caught a ball and ran at the Mayo defence before slotting the ball low to the net. Cooper received his second All Star in 2004 and was named the [[Texaco Footballer of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.the42.ie/colm-cooper-best-goals-3323561-Apr2017/|title=Touch of class: 13 goals that sum up what Colm Cooper was all about|date=4 April 2017|work=The 42|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

Kerry won their third consecutive Munster Championship in [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2005|2005]], beating old rivals [[Cork GAA|Cork]] in the decider. Kerry reached an [[2005 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|All-Ireland final]], this time against Tyrone. After a bright start, Cooper was injured in a clash with Tyrone goalkeeper [[Pascal McConnell]] which limited his involvement. Tyrone won the game 1–16 to 2–10.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/thrilling-tyrone-triumph-a-just-reward-for-groundbreaking-blueprint-25967964.html|title=Thrilling Tyrone triumph a just reward for ground-breaking blueprint|date=26 September 2005|work=Irish Independent|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref> Cooper won a third All Star award in 2005.

In [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2006|the 2006 Championship]] Cork defeated Kerry in the Munster final. Kerry advanced to the All-Ireland final, where they once again met Mayo. Kerry won the game by 13 points and Cooper was again one of Kerry's main contributors scoring 1–02. He was the Kerry captain for part of that year, although the other captain [[Declan O'Sullivan]] was restored as captain for the All-Ireland final. After winning the game, the [[Sam Maguire Cup]] was lifted by both O' Sullivan and Cooper.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2006/0917/209217-kerry/|title=Kerry win one-sided All-Ireland final|date=14 June 2007|work=RTE Sport|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

In 2007 Cooper played with Kerry regaining their Munster Championship title after an enthralling game against [[Cork GAA|Cork]], which Kerry won 1–15 to 1–13. Having been quiet for long spells, he burst into life and in a five-minute period scored 1–02. After beating [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]] by two points in the semi-final, Kerry progressed to face their bitter rivals Cork in the first ever all-Munster [[2007 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|All-Ireland final]]. Kerry comfortably beat Cork 3–13 to 1–09, to become the first team to retain the title since Cork themselves 17 years before. Cooper got the goal that put Kerry in the driving seat, rising to fist the ball over the onrushing [[Alan Quirke]]. Cooper finished the game with 1-05.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=83444|title=2007 All-Ireland SFC final: Kerry trounce sad Cork|date=16 September 2007|work=Hogan Stand|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>
He received his fourth All Star and was nominated as one of three contenders for 2007 [[All Stars Footballer of the Year|Footballer of the Year]]. He was also named on the [[GPA Gaelic Team of the Year|GPA Team of the Year]].

Kerry reached the [[2008 National Football League (Ireland)|2008 National League final]], but were beaten by [[Derry GAA|Derry]] on a 2-13 to 2-9 scoreline. Cork beat Kerry in the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2008|2008]] Munster final. Kerry nevertheless advanced to the [[2008 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|2008 All-Ireland final]], to face Tyrone for the third time in six years. Tyrone once again came out on top winning by four points. Cooper scored six points in the final and won his fifth All Star award that year and was once again named on the GPA Team of the Year.

In [[2009 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2009]], Cooper was dropped from the starting Kerry 15 for the qualifier game against [[Antrim GAA|Antrim]] on 26 July, due to a breach of team discipline. Cooper came on against Antrim and made an immediate impact notching 4 frees in another win for Kerry. Kerry progressed to face [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]] in the quarter final on 3 August, a Dublin side who had won their fifth [[Leinster Senior Football Championship|Leinster Championships]] in a row. Within a minute Cooper had Kerry in front with a goal and were 1–13 to 0–03 ahead at the break. The game ended with Kerry on top and Cooper silently announcing his return to form with a haul of 1–08. Cooper and Kerry brushed Meath aside in a low-key semi-final before they faced against Cork in the [[2009 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|final]]. Kerry won the final 0–16 to 1–09, with Cooper scoring six points and winning his fourth All Ireland Medal.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2009/0920/255051-kerry_cork/|title=Kerry 0-16 Cork 1-09|date=21 September 2009|work=RTE Sport|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/colm-gooch-cooper-five-memorable-moments-1.3036734|title=Colm 'Gooch' Cooper: Five memorable moments|date=5 April 2017|work=Irish Times|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

In April 2010, Cooper sustained a serious eye injury in an [[National Football League (Ireland) 2010|NFL Division 1]] win over [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]. He tore a duct in one of his eyes: doctors in Kerry expressed concern about his condition. He collided with Monaghan defender Darren Hughes after seven minutes and required treatment on and off the field.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2010/0413/cooperc.html |title=Eye injury leaves Gooch on the sidelines |date=13 April 2010 |work=[[RTÉ Sport]] |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414172850/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2010/0413/cooperc.html |archive-date=14 April 2010 }}</ref> However, he returned to the Kerry team for the championship. After winning the [[Munster Senior Football Championship|Munster Championship]], beating [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] in the final, Kerry progressed to the All-Ireland quarter final, facing historic rivals [[Down GAA|Down]] but lost by 1-16 to 1-10 with Cooper scoring seven points in the game.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.irishtimes.com/news/history-repeats-as-down-deny-kerry-1.1247225|title=History repeats as Down deny Kerry|date=1 August 2010|work=Irish Times|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

The [[2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2011]] championship ended in final day disappointment for Cooper. Kerry, in control of the [[2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|final]] having been 4 points up in the closing minutes, succumbed to rivals [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]], who outscored Kerry by 1–3 to 1 point in the final stages to win the cup for the first time since 1995.

The [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2012]] championship saw Kerry lose to Cork in the Munster semi-final but go on to play [[Donegal GAA|Donegal]] in the All-Ireland quarter-final on 5 August. Kerry lost the game by 1-12 to 1-10 with Cooper scoring four points.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://munster.gaa.ie/2012/08/05/gaa-football-all-ireland-senior-championship-quarter-final-kerry-v-donegal/|title=Donegal 1-12 Kerry 1-10|date=5 August 2012|work=Munster GAA|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

Kerry won the Munster Championship in [[2013 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2013]] with Cooper getting 1-3 in the final on 7 July at [[Fitzgerald Stadium]]. Kerry defeated [[Cavan GAA|Cavan]] in the All-Ireland quarter-finals before losing to [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]] in the semi-final by 3-18 to 3-11 with Cooper scoring four points in the game.

In February 2014, Cooper suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in the [[2013–14 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|All-Ireland Club Championship]] semi-final against Castlebar Mitchels which kept him out of action for most of 2014. He was named as a substitute for Kerry in the [[2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|2014 All-Ireland Final]] against Donegal which Kerry went on to win by 2-9 to 0-12.

Cooper won his eight Munster Championship medal on 18 July 2015 when Kerry defeated Cork in the final by 1-11 to 1-6 after a replay. They defeated [[Kildare GAA|Kildare]] in the All-Ireland quarter-finals by 7-16 to 0-10 with Cooper getting 2-3 before defeating Tyrone in the semi-final by 0-18 to 1-11, Cooper getting two points. In the [[2015 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|final]] against Dublin on 20 September, Cooper scored didn't get on the score sheet as Kerry lost by 0-9 to 0-12 in very wet conditions.

In [[2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2016]], Kerry reached the Munster Final again and played Tipperary, winning by 3-17 to 2-10. Cooper went off injured in the first half of the game with a collarbone injury. He missed the quarter final win against [[Clare GAA|Clare]] but returned for the epic semi-final against Dublin on 28 August. Dublin won by 0-22 to 2-14 after coming back from conceding two first half goals. Cooper scored five points in what would turn out to be his last game for Kerry.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0828/812475-live-dublin-v-kerry/|title=As it happened: Dublin edge out Kerry|date=28 August 2016|work=RTE Sport|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

On the 4 April 2017, Cooper announced his retirement from inter county football at the age of 33.
In 85 Championship games for Kerry he scored 23 goals and 283 points, and in 60 league games he scored 12 goals and 165 points.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/comment-for-many-gooch-will-rank-as-the-greatest-to-have-played-the-game-35591629.html|title=Comment: For many, Gooch will rank as the greatest to have played the game|date=4 April 2017|work=Irish Independent|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kerrygaa.ie/news/10021858/Colm_Cooper_calls_time_on_his_illustrious_inter_county_career|title=Colm Cooper calls time on his illustrious inter-county career|date=4 April 2017|work=Kerry GAA|access-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406020927/http://kerrygaa.ie/news/10021858/Colm_Cooper_calls_time_on_his_illustrious_inter_county_career|archive-date=6 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/colm-cooper-to-retire-from-inter-county-football-784362.html|title=Colm Cooper: 'It is very rare for people to achieve their ultimate dreams in life - I just have'|date=4 April 2017|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/toms-s-king-of-them-all-gooch-deserved-his-happy-ending-35594571.html|title=Tomás Ó Sé: King of them all - Gooch deserved his happy ending|date=5 April 2017|work=Irish Independent|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/eoin-liston-gooch-was-messi-federer-and-ruby-all-rolled-into-one-35598254.html|title=Eoin Liston: 'Gooch' was Messi, Federer and Ruby all rolled into one|date=6 April 2017|work=Irish Independent|access-date=6 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/columnists/vincent-hogan/colm-cooper-meets-vincent-hogan-if-i-allowed-any-bit-of-sentiment-id-be-back-with-kerry-35605163.html |title=Colm Cooper meets Vincent Hogan - 'If I allowed any bit of sentiment, I'd be back with Kerry'|date=8 April 2017 |work=The Independent |access-date=10 April 2017 |first=Vincent |last=Hogan |author-link=Vincent Hogan}}</ref>

===International rules===
Cooper has represented [[Ireland international rules football team|Ireland]] in the [[International Rules Series]], in [[2005 International Rules Series|2005]].
However, he has declined any invitation to represent Ireland in the hybrid game since, as he claims not to have enjoyed the experience; 2005 was a year when the series was marred by violence and intimidation.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/12-colm-cooper-moments-that-defined-an-illustrious-kerry-career-35592307.html|title=12 Colm Cooper moments that defined an illustrious Kerry career|date=5 April 2017|work=Irish Independent|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

===Province===
Cooper played for [[Munster GAA|Munster]] in the [[Railway Cup]] in 2002 and 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://munster.gaa.ie/history/railway-cup-football/|title=Railway Cup: Munster Teams|date=4 April 2017|work=Munster GAA|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="2"|[[Kerry Senior Football Championship|Kerr]]
!colspan="2"|[[Munster Senior Club Football Championship|Munster]]
!colspan="2"|[[All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|All-Ireland]]
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score
|-
|rowspan="19"|[[Dr Crokes GAA|Dr. Crokes]]
|[[2000–01 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2000–01]]
||4||1-01||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||4||1-01
|-
|[[2001–02 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2001–02]]
||3||0-05||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3||0-05
|-
|[[2002–03 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2002–03]]
||3||0-06||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3||0-06
|-
|[[2003–04 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2003–04]]
||2||1-11||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2||1-11
|-
|[[2004–05 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2004–05]]
||3||3-21||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3||3-21
|-
|[[2005–06 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2005–06]]
||5||5-19||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||5||5-19
|-
|[[2006–07 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2006–06]]
||4||2-11||2||3-05||5||3-18||11||8-34
|-
|[[2007–08 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2007–08]]
||3||1-14||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3||1-14
|-
|[[2008–09 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2008–09]]
||3||2-10||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3||2-10
|-
|[[2009–10 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2009–10]]
||5||4-10||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||5||4-10
|-
|[[2010–11 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2010–11]]
||5||4-27||3||2-08||colspan=2|—||8||6-35
|-
|[[2011–12 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2011–12]]
||5||2-10||3||2-11||1||0-03||9||4-24
|-
|[[2012–13 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2012–13]]
||5||5-21||3||1-12||2||0-06||10||6-39
|-
|[[2013–14 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2013–14]]
||5||2-22||3||1-07||1||0-02||9||3-31
|-
|[[2014–15 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2014–15]]
||0||0-00||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||0||0-00
|-
|[[2015–16 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2015–16]]
||3||2-09||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3||2-09
|-
|[[2016–17 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2016–17]]
||5||1-18||3||1-08||2||1-03||10||3-29
|-
|[[2017–18 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2017–18]]
||5||4-14||2||0-12||colspan=2|—||7||4-26
|-
|[[2018–19 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2018–19]]
||5||0-09||3||0-04||2||0-01||10||0-14
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!73!!39-238!!22!!10-67!!13!!4-33!!108!!53-338
|}

==Honours==
;Dr Crokes
*[[All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship]] (1): [[2016-17 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship|2016-17]]
*[[Munster Senior Club Football Championship]] (5): [[2006-07 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship#Munster Senior Club Football Championship|2006]], [[2011-12 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship#Munster Senior Club Football Championship|2011]], [[2012-13 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship#Munster Senior Club Football Championship|2012]], [[2013-14 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship#Munster Senior Club Football Championship|2013]], [[2016-17 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship#Munster Senior Club Football Championship|2016]]
*[[Kerry Senior Football Championship]] (8): [[2000 Kerry Senior Football Championship|2000]], [[2010 Kerry Senior Football Championship|2010]], [[2011 Kerry Senior Football Championship|2011]], [[2012 Kerry Senior Football Championship|2012]], [[2013 Kerry Senior Football Championship|2013]], [[2016 Kerry Senior Football Championship|2016]], [[2017 Kerry Senior Football Championship|2017]], [[2018 Kerry Senior Football Championship|2018]]

;Kerry
*[[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]] (5): [[2004 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2004]], [[2006 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2006]], [[2007 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2007]], [[2009 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2009]], [[2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2014]]
*[[Munster Senior Football Championship]] (9): [[2003 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship#Munster Senior Football Championship|2003]], [[2004 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship#Munster Senior Football Championship|2004]], [[2005 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship#Munster Senior Football Championship|2005]], [[2007 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship#Munster Senior Football Championship|2007]], [[2010 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship#Munster Senior Football Championship|2010]], [[2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship#Munster Senior Football Championship|2011]] (c), [[2013 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship#Munster Senior Football Championship|2013]] (c), [[2015 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship#Munster Senior Football Championship|2015]], [[2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship#Munster Senior Football Championship|2016]]
*[[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League]] Division 1 (3): [[2004 National Football League (Ireland)|2004]], [[2006 National Football League (Ireland)|2006]], [[2009 National Football League (Ireland)|2009]]
*[[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League]] Division 2 (1): 2002
*[[Munster Under-21 Football Championship]] (1): 2002
*[[Munster Minor Football Championship]] (1): 2001

;AIB Kerry
*All Ireland Interfirm Senior Football Championship (1): 2007
*Munster Interfirm Senior Football Championship  (3): 2004, 2005, 2007
*Kerry Interfirm Senior Football Championship  (4) 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008

;Individual
* [[GAA GPA All Stars Awards|All Stars Awards]] (8) 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013.
* [[Texaco Footballer of the Year]] (1) 2004
* The Munster Football team of the last 25 years <ref>{{cite web|url=http://munster.gaa.ie/2009/10/24/munster-football-team-of-the-last-25-years/ |title=The Munster Football team of the last 25 years (1984-2009) |work=Munster GAA|date=24 October 2009 |access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Dr Crokes squads
|bg=black
|fg=#FFC000
|bordercolor=#FFC000
|list1=
{{Dr Crokes Football Team 2007}}
{{Dr Crokes Football Team 2017}}
{{Dr Crokes Football Team 2019}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Kerry squads
|bg=green
|fg=yellow
|list1=
{{Kerry Football Team 2002}}
{{Kerry Football Team 2004}}
{{Kerry Football Team 2005}}
{{Kerry Football Team 2006}}
{{Kerry Football Team 2007}}
{{Kerry Football Team 2008}}
{{Kerry Football Team 2009}}
{{Kerry Football Team 2011}}
{{Kerry Football Team 2014}}
{{Kerry Football Team 2015}}
}}
{{2005 Ireland international rules football team}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|bg=gold
|fg=
|list1=
{{2002 All Stars}}
{{2004 All Stars}}
{{2005 All Stars}}
{{2007 All Stars}}
{{2008 All Stars}}
{{2010 All Stars}}
{{2011 All Stars}}
{{2013 All Stars}}
{{Texaco Footballer of the Year}}
{{All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final Man of the Match}}
}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Colm}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Allied Irish Banks people]]
[[Category:All Stars Awards winners (football)]]
[[Category:Dr Crokes Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Gaelic football forwards]]
[[Category:Irish international rules football players]]
[[Category:Kerry inter-county Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Munster inter-provincial Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Texaco Footballers of the Year]]
[[Category:Winners of five All-Ireland medals (Gaelic football)]]