Billy Fitzpatrick

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Billy Fitzpatrick
Personal information
Irish name Liam Mac Giolla Phádraig
Sport Hurling
Position Half-forward
Born 6 April 1954
Johnstown, County Kilkenny
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Nickname Fitz
Occupation Publican
Club(s)
Years Club
1972-1993
Fenians
Club titles
Kilkenny titles 4
Leinster titles 1
All-Ireland Titles 0
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
2010-present
Kilkenny 34 (1-10)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 6
All-Irelands 5
All Stars 2

Billy Fitzpatrick (born 6 April 1954 in

the Fenians and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1974 until 1986.[2] Fitzpatrick captained Kilkenny to the All-Ireland title in 1975.[2]

Biography

Fitzpatrick was born in

St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny city, a secondary school and noted nursery for young hurling talent. It was here that his hurling skills were further developed. Fitzpatrick first tasted success when he won an All-Ireland Colleges’ title with Kieran’s in 1971. He was captain of the side the following year when the college lost to Farranferris of Cork
.

Playing career

Club

Fitzpatrick played his club hurling with

final.

Inter-county

By the early 1970s Fitzpatrick had come to the attention of the

All-Ireland
medals in 1974 and 1975. These were Kilkenny’s first titles at under-21 level.

Fitzpatrick made his senior debut in a National Hurling League game against Cork in 1973. In 1974 he became a regular in the half-forward line and won his first Leinster medal at senior level. This was subsequently converted into his first senior All-Ireland medal following a win over Limerick. In 1975 Fitzpatrick, although still only 21 years old, was appointed captain of Kilkenny’s senior hurling team. He captured his second Leinster title before leading Kilkenny to victory over Galway in the first 70-minute All-Ireland final. For the next two years Wexford ousted Kilkenny as provincial champions, however, Fitzpatrick won his first National Hurling League title in 1976. "The Cats" were back in 1978 with Fitzpatrick winning his third Leinster title. Kilkenny were subsequently defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland final.

In 1979 Fitzpatrick won his fourth provincial medal before later claiming his third All-Ireland title following another win over Galway. For the next two years

All-Star
award. In 1983 captured a unique double by claiming back-to-back League, Leinster and All-Ireland honours. In the All-Ireland final against Cork Fitzpatrick gave one of the best performances of his life when he scored ten points. Once again he was honoured with another All-Star award.

Fitzpatrick continued playing with Kilkenny until 1986 when he retired following a National League game against Galway.

Career statistics

Team Year National League Munster All-Ireland Total
Division Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score
Kilkenny 1973-74 Division 1A x 0-02 x 0-00 2 0-03 x 0-05
1974-75 x 2-01 2 0-04 1 0-00 x 2-05
1975-76 x 1-04 x 1-03 x 2-07
1976-77 x 1-10 x 1-02 x 2-12
1977-78 x 1-13 2 1-04 2 1-06 x 3-23
1978-79 x 1-22 2 1-03 1 0-01 x 2-26
1979-80 x 1-06 2 2-16 x 3-22
1980-81 Division 1B x 1-19 1 0-08 x 1-27
1981-82 9 2-39 2 2-12 2 0-12 13 4-63
1982-83 Division 1 9 4-33 2 1-14 1 0-10 12 5-57
1983-84 9 4-54 2 1-11 11 5-65
1984-85 x 1-08 x 0-04 x 1-12
1985-86 x 2-06 x 0-00 1 0-01 x 2-07
Career total x 21-217 x 10-81 x 1-33 x 32-331

References

Further reading

  • Fullum, Brendan (2002), Captains of the Ash, Wolfhound Press.
  • Kilkenny GAA (2008), Kilkenny GAA Bible (PDF), Kilkenny GAA, archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2007, retrieved 1 October 2010.
Preceded by Kilkenny Senior Hurling Captain
1975
Succeeded by
Phil 'Fan' Larkin
Preceded by
1975
Succeeded by