Joe Hennessy
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Irish name | Seosamh Ó hAonasa | ||
Sport | Hurling | ||
Position | Half-back | ||
Born |
Kilkenny, Ireland | 17 January 1956||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
Occupation | Fuel merchant | ||
Club(s) | |||
Years | Club | ||
1974-1992 |
James Stephens | ||
Club titles | |||
Kilkenny titles | 3 | ||
Leinster titles | 2 | ||
All-Ireland Titles | 2 | ||
Inter-county(ies)* | |||
Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1976-1988 | Kilkenny | 32 (1-14) | |
Inter-county titles | |||
Leinster titles | 6 | ||
All-Irelands | 3 | ||
NHL | 2 | ||
All Stars | 5 | ||
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 14:27, 31 May 2015. |
Joseph Patrick Hennessy (born 17 January 1956) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a right wing-back for the Kilkenny senior team.[1]
Born in
As a member of the
His father, Paddy Hennessy, also played with Kilkenny.
Throughout his career Hennessy made 32 championship appearances. His retirement came following the conclusion of the
Hennessy is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all time. During his playing days he won five
Playing career
Club
Hennessy first played for the James Stephens senior team in 1974 and was a regular member of the starting fifteen the following year when the club made a breakthrough. A 1–14 to 1–5 defeat of first-time finalists
Hennessy collected a second consecutive championship medal in 1976 as
After a period of decline, James Stephens bounced back in 1981. A double scores 2–10 to 0–8 defeat of
Minor and under-21
Hennessy first played for Kilkenny as a member of the minor team in 1973. A 3–10 to 2–9 defeat of Wexford secured a third successive provincial title for the team and a first Leinster medal for Hennessy. On 2 September 1973 Kilkenny faced Galway in the subsequent All-Ireland decider. The game was a close, exciting affair played on a wet day, however, at the full-time whistle Kilkenny were the champions by 4–5 to 3–7. The victory gave Hennessy an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal.
Kilkenny retained their provincial dominance in 1974 with Hennessy collecting a second Leinster medal following an 8–19 to 3-5 trouncing of Dublin. The subsequent All-Ireland decider on 1 September 1974 saw Cork providing the opposition. In a low-scoring game Hennessy's side were defeated by 1–10 to 1–8.
By 1975 Hennessy had joined the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won his first
Kilkenny retained the provincial title in 1976 with Hennessy collecting a second Leinster medal following a 3–21 to 0-5 trouncing of Wexford once again. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a replay of the previous year with Cork providing the opposition once again. The Rebels made no mistake on this occasion and secured a 2–17 to 1–8 victory.
Hennessy won a third successive Leinster medal in 1977 as Wexford were downed once again on a score line of 3–11 to 1–10. Cork were once again waiting for Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider. Having been beating the previous year, the Cats made no mistake on this occasion and secured a narrow 2–9 to 1–9 victory. It was Hennessy's second All-Ireland medal.
Senior
In 1978 Kilkenny broke Wexford's stranglehold on Leinster and secured the provincial title with a narrow 2–16 to 1–16 victory. It was Hennessy's first
Hennessy won a second successive Leinster medal in 1979 as Wexford were defeated by 2–21 to 2–17. On 2 September 1979 Kilkenny faced Galway in the All-Ireland final. Bad weather and an unofficial train drivers' strike resulted in the lowest attendance at a final in over twenty years. The bad weather also affected the hurling with Kilkenny scoring two freak goals as Galway 'keeper Séamus Shinnors had a nightmare of a game. A Liam "Chunky" O’Brien 70-yard free went all the way to the net in the first half, while with just three minutes remaining a 45-yard shot from Mick Brennan was helped by the wind and dipped under the crossbar. Kilkenny won by 2–12 to 1–8 with Hennessy winning his first All-Ireland medal.[9] He later collected a second All-Star.
After a fallow two-year period, Kilkenny bounced back in 1982 with Hennessy winning his first National Hurling League medal following a 2–14 to 1–11 defeat of Wexford. He later added a third Leinster medal to his collection following a 1–11 to 0–12 defeat of three-in-a-row hopefuls and reigning All-Ireland champions Offaly. On 5 September 1982 Kilkenny and Cork renewed their rivalry in the All-Ireland decider. The Cats were rank outsiders on the day, however, a brilliant save by Noel Skehan was followed by two quick goals by Christy Heffernan just before the interval. Éamonn O'Donoghue pegged a goal back for Cork, however, Ger Fennelly added a third for Kilkenny who secured a 3–18 to 1–13 victory.[10] It was a second All-Ireland medal for Hennessy.
Hennessy won a fourth Leinster medal in 1983 as Offaly were accounted for by 1–17 to 0–13. The All-Ireland final on 4 September 1983 was a replay of the previous year with Cork hoping to avenge that defeat. Billy Fitzpatrick was the star with ten points, giving Kilkenny a 2–14 to 1–9 lead with seventeen minutes left, however, they failed to score for the remainder of the game. A stunning comeback by Cork just fell short and Hennessy collected a third All-Ireland medal following a 2–14 to 2–12 victory. This was followed by a third All-Star]
Three-in-a-row proved beyond Kilkenny in 1984, however, Hennessy's performance earned him a fourth All-Star.
In 1986 the team bounced back with Hennessy collecting a second league medal following a 2–10 to 2–6 defeat of Galway. He later collected a fifth Leinster medal following a 4–10 to 1–11 defeat of reigning champions Offaly.
Hennessy won a sixth and final Leinster medal in 1987 as Offaly were downed once again by 2–14 to 0–17. On 6 September 1987 Galway, a team who were hoping to avoid becoming the first team to lose three finals in-a-row, faced a Kilkenny team who for many of its players knew it would be their last chance to claim an All-Ireland medal. Galway 'keeper John Commins saved two goal chances from Ger Fennelly, while at the other end substitute Noel Lane bagged a decisive goal as Galway claimed a 1–12 to 0–9 victory.[11] Hennessy ended the year by winning a fifth All-Star.
Inter-provincial
Hennessy also lined out with
Honours
Player
- James Stephens
- All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship (2): 1976, 1982
- Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship (2): 1975, 1981
- Kilkenny Senior Club Hurling Championship(3): 1975, 1976, 1981
- Kilkenny
- 1983
- Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (6): 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987
- 1985–86
- All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1973
- Leinster Minor Hurling Championship (2): 1973, 1974
- Leinster
- Railway Cup(1): 1979
Individual
- Honours
- The 125 greatest stars of the GAA: No. 60
- All-Ireland Club Hurling Silver Jubilee Team: Right wing-back
- All-Star(5): 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987
References
- ^ "Where are they now? Joe Hennessy". Irish Independent. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ^ Breheny, Martin (14 March 2001). "Kilkenny are the supreme champions". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ Breheny, Martin & Keyes, Colm (4 November 2009). "The 125 greatest stars of the GAA: 51-75". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Breheny, Martin (15 March 2011). "All-Ireland Club Hurling: Martin Breheny's top 25". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ "Castletown seeking third win on the trot". Wexford People. 22 November 2001. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ "Waterford yet to join All-Ireland club" (PDF). The Munster Express. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ^ Doyle, Angela (7 August 2008). "Another exciting chapter in Kilkenny-Cork saga". Kilkenny Advertiser. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Cork's three-in-a-row 70s hurling teams honoured". Hogan Stand website. 23 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "The 10 most important hurling matches. Ever". Irish Examiner. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
- ^ "Power of dreams lives strong for Carrickshock". Irish Examiner. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ Fogarty, John (20 March 2015). "Kilkenny hurlers on the worst losing run since 1987". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 May 2015.