Kilkenny v Galway 1975 Final

A link to some highlights of the 1975 All Ireland Final. This was the last of the All Ireland wins by the great Kilkenny team of the late 60’s and early 70’s. This particular Kilkenny team is considered to be second in stature only to Brian Cody’s squad of 2006 – 2015.

Eddie Keher scored 2-7 in the Final and held the record for highest score by an individual in an All Ireland Final until Nicholas English of Tipperary hit 2-12 versus Antrim in 1989. It was a very strong championship season for Eddie Keher who hit 4-23 and won his 6th All Ireland Senior medal and his 5th successive All Star

Other strong contributions in this Final were from Liam O’Brien who scored 5 points and won hurler of the year, and from Mick Crotty who scored 5 points and set up Eddie Keher’s second goal after gathering a long clearance from a young Brian Cody. It was also the year the saw the first appearance in a Final by Galway since 1958. They would later appear in 3 Finals in row from 1979 to 1981.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20206477.html

Kilkenny Cork 2006

The beginning of Kilkenny’s great run under Brian Cody where they would win 4 in a row from 2006-2009 and add to that with further wins in 2011, 2012 2014 and 2015. Indeed it might even have been 7 in a row but for Henry Shefflin’s injury and Lar Corbett’s hat trick performance in the 2010 final.

Brian Cody had already managed Kilkenny to victory in 2000, 2002 and 2003 but this was a new team that was being built. The incentive on the day was to prevent Cork from winning another three in a row – a feat they had last accomplished against Kilkenny back in 1978.

Kilkenny brought a high level of intensity to the game -the plan was to swarm Cork in order to nullify their short passing / running game. James Cha Fitzpatrick dominated midfield and both back lines performed well with Noel Hickey overcoming a health scare and John Tennyson and James Ryall putting in solid performances. An injury to JJ Delaney in the semi final had ruled him out of contention for the final. Jackie Tyrell was the victorious captain. Up front, Henry Shefflin contributed 8 points, while Aidan Fogarty also had a solid game netting 1-3.

https://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/flashback-2006-all-ireland-shc-final-kilkenny-v-cork/

League Final Win 1986

A number of Articles on the National Hurling League win of 1986. Kilkenny beat Galway comprehensively by 3-11 to 2-5 to take their 7th title and their 3rd of the 1980’s under Manager Pat Henderson. 9 of the double double team of 1982-83 lined out on the day with Ger Fennelly scoring 1-47 in the campaign.

Things were looking good for the remainder of the year following this win. Kilkenny had a strong run in Leinster overcoming both Wexford and Dublin before defeating Offaly in the Final by 4-10 to 1-11, helped by a hat-rick by Liam Fennelly. This was the knock out era when a loss meant that your county was out of the Hurling Championship until the following year.

However a nasty surprise lay in wait at Thurles in the All Ireland Semi Final, when Kilkenny perhaps complacent from their good run were at the receiving end of a similar scoreline from a resurgent Galway. Shocks are rare in Kilkenny hurling and this was one of the more disappointing days of the 1980’s with much grumbling among hurling purists about the introduction of 3 man midfield tactics by Galway Manager Cyril Farrell.

In hindsight this was the emergence of Galway’s great team of Joe Cooney , Tony Keady, Gerry McInerney etc. They would meet again in the All Ireland Final of 1987.

KK v Tipp : 2009 League Final

Some Highlights

The game that kick started the greatest inter county rivalry in hurling history. A volcanic emotion charged contest which had several players dismissed resulting in wide open spaces all over the pitch. Tipperary playing on home turf, and irked by a previous league defeat to Kilkenny, brought a very physical game to their opponents from the outset and led by 8 points at one stage.

With both Brian Hogan and Henry Shefflin having to leave the field early, a then relatively unknown 20 yr old Richie Hogan assumed a leadership role and kept Kilkenny in the game throughout. A dramatic long range point by Eddie Brennan from 80 meters sealed the win for Kilkenny in injury time but Tipperary had fired a warning shot. A contender for greatest ever Hurling League Final and just a few months later the 2 counties would produce one of the greatest All Irelands of all time.

Full Game

Link to 2009 League Final Article

Kilkenny top 15 : 1970 – 2020

Noel Skehan

Michael Kavanagh

Noel Hickey

Jackie Tyrell

Tommy Walsh

Ger Henderson

JJ Delaney

Frank Cummins

Michael Fennelly

TJ Reid

Henry Shefflin

DJ Carey

Eddie Brennan

Richie Power

Eddie Keher

Panel Substitutes ( 30 Member Panel )

Richie Hogan, Eoin Larkin, Billy Fitzpatrick, Keiran Purcell, Liam Fennelly, Martin Comerford, Derek Lyng, Liam O’Brien, Cha Fitzpatrick, Brian Hogan, Joe Hennessy, Pat Henderson, Willie O’Connor, Phil Larkin, James McGarry

An almost unbeatable team even if up against Hurlings all time ‘Non Kilkenny’ 15 Best.

The only reason Richie Hogan and Eoin Larkin are subs here is due to the fact that DJ and Eddie Keher are guaranteed their positions and that TJ has had to carry weaker team’s. Richie Power probably better suited to full forward on this team. Half Forward line can not be disputed and Midfield again – relatively easy with 2 x 8 time medal winners.

Very difficult to choose one of the Hendersons over Brian Hogan for Center Back but the selection must acknowledge previous eras when the harsh physicality tended to go unnoticed by referees and the team cannot be entirely made of Cody’s 2006-2012 group either.

Sub Goalkeeper very difficult – James McGarry by virtue of longevity and clean sheets in All Irelands just shades PJ Ryan, followed by Eoin Murphy.

The 30 strong Panel allows for several stylists such as Liam O’Brien, Joe Hennessy, 2 time winning captain Liam Fennelly, and the Fitzpatricks – each with 5 winners medals. Keiran Purcell and Derek Lyng bring the power.

1984 – 3 in a row dashed

A game that should have been a formality turned into an epic encounter described with passion in Raymond Smiths book ‘the hurling immortals’. Pat Henderson’s team were aiming for 3 in a row – the first since the early 1900’s and in the Centenary year of the GAA too for added measure. Hurling fans began to anticipate the prospect of a mouth watering 3 in a row All Ireland bid versus their 1982 and 1983 opponents Cork – and on Munster turf in Semple Stadium.

Alas it was not to be – a succession of pre match injuries to 3 key members of the double double winning defense gave Wexford the boost required to take the game to the Champions. Despite the handicap and falling behind by significant margins twice within the game, Kilkenny produced a valiant 20 minute comeback in the second half to level the game. A chance appeared for a point which might have turned the game in Kilkenny’s favour but this was lost and Tony Doran ended Kilkenny dreams with a last hoorah.

Meanwhile in Munster, even more drama was to be played out in one of the greatest Munster Finals of all time where Tipperary laid the foundation for their re-emergence as a hurling power with a defiant performance against Cork. Tipp looked winners with 5 minutes to go but as with Tony Doran v Kilkenny, Seanie O’Leary broke Tipp hearts with a late pounce and it was Cork who eventually went on to be crowned Centenary champions.

JJ’s Hook 2014

JJ Delaney prevents an almost certain goal in an All Ireland Final..

1. Delaney immediately commits to chasing the attacking Tipperary forward Seamus Callinan at full speed

2. Patiently waits for the moment at which Callinan will strike – Delaney may have only one chance and Callinan might feint a strike before the actual shot or shorten the grip on the hurley to reduce his chance of being hooked.

3. Correctly anticipates the height at which Callinan strikes. Many forwards have taken to batting the ball in this situation to avoid being hooked although hurling purists may disapprove of this approach.

Hooking is a relatively simple skill – at close quarters it requires a certain amount of bravery, but when called upon to be used in high speed pursuit against one of the best forwards of the modern era there is a little more intelligence at play.

Hurling’s Hotbed ?

Is South Kilkenny the ‘Hotbed’ of Hurling talent in Ireland ? Or for those who believe that there is no such thing as ‘talent’ – only competence achieved through the decision to choose an activity, followed by thousands of hours of dedicated application, repetition and focus. Is the environment in which a Player finds themselves – ie. proximity to like-minded individuals the most critical factor?.

People who aspire to a high level of achievement in a sport or any other discipline will tend to seek out or gravitate toward like minded individuals. You might be the most passionate hurler in Roscommon or Donegal but if there are few others in the region with the same level of interest and subsequent skills development, you are not going to progress past a certain level.

Lets take a look at the evidence in terms of All Ireland winners medals. With some notable exceptions over the decades from Clubs such as James Stephens, Tullaroan and Johnstown, it is the region south of the Marble City that has produced the majority of the best known names in Kilkenny Hurling lore.

A driving factor in this is the particular Hurling Obsession that may be inherent in certain families. Sometimes all that is required for hurling to thrive is a handful of ultra dedicated siblings from one or 2 families who remain in the region and thus form the core of a more successful group of club players.

PlayerAll Ireland MedalsHurling Club
Henry Shefflin10Shamrocks
Eddie Keher6Rower Inistioge
DJ Carey5Young Irelands
TJ Reid7Shamrocks
Eddie Brennan8Graigue Ballycallan
Noel Skehan9Bennettsbridge
Noel Hickey8Dunamaggin
Richie Power8Carrickshock
Frank Cummins8Knocktopher
Michael Fennelly8Shamrocks
Richie Hogan7Danesfort
Ollie Walsh4Thomastown
James McGarry6Bennettsbridge
James Cha Fitzpatrick5Shamrocks
Colin Fennelly4Shamrocks
Liam Fennelly3Shamrocks
Ger Fennelly3Shamrocks
Christy Heffernan4Glenmore
Paul Murphy4Glenmore
Eoin Murphy4Glenmore
Jim Treacy4Bennettsbridge
Paddy Moran4Bennettsbridge
Dick Walsh7Mooncoin
Dick Doyle7Mooncoin
Ned Doyle6Mooncoin
Mick Doyle5Mooncoin
Jimmy Kelly6Mooncoin
Dick Doherty5Mooncoin
John Power4Callan
Keiran Joyce4Rower Inistioge
Jimmy Walsh4Tullogher

Kilkenny v Waterford

All Ireland Final 2008. Demolition Day. Kilkenny 3-30 Waterford 1-13.

Kilkenny’s Hurling Machine of 2006-2015 probably peaked on this day and their first half performance in particular was the most ruthless and perfect an All Ireland Final display that most Hurling pundits can recall.

Chasing their first 3 in a row since 1913, Kilkenny were in no mood to allow the neutrals favourite’s to stand in their way. A rather ill judged early attempt by the Deise to ‘out muscle’ Kilkenny was quickly quashed, and in true Kilkenny fashion, 2 goals by Eddie Brennan in as many minutes dealt a killer psychological blow.

By halftime Kilkenny had 2-16 versus 0-5 on the scoreboard meaning that Waterford would require the equivalent of 6 goals or 18 points without reply to go in front – an almost impossible task. I remember spotting Frank Cummins and a fan in conversation at the Hogan Stand Bar at half time shaking their heads in bewilderment at the latest standard Kilkenny had set. An emphatic way to take the lead in the Hurling Championship Honours over Cork.

Frank Cummins

Frank Cummins article from the 1986 Kilkenny GAA Yearbook. Winner of 8 All Ireland Senior Hurling medals including 7 in the same position at Midfield. Frank Cummins played for Ballyhale / Knocktopher before moving to Blackrock in Cork for work purposes.

A powerful athlete, consistent performer for almost 15 years, and close contender for greatest ever Kilkenny midfielder along with Michael Fennelly.

DJ Carey 2002

DJ Carey collects his fourth All Ireland Medal with a commanding display, scoring 1-6 in the process as Kilkenny defeat Clare by 2-20 to 0-19. The video headline here is incorrect – Carey followed up with a 5th AI winners medal againt Cork the following year.

In one much lauded passage of play he wins possession, performs a neat roll lift, creates space and then outwits Ollie Baker with an ingenious ‘feint and swerve’ before soloing a little and landing a point over the black spot ‘off the hurl’ from 50m in one clean controlled movement.