Before Tommy Walsh , there was Joe Hennessy a very skillful attacking right half back who operated well alongside centre back Ger Henderson. From the James Stephens club , Joe won 5 All Stars and 3 All Ireland winners medals in 1979, 1982 and 1983.
Nice point by Joe Hennessy around the 0.30 mark
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
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.
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.
Nice Interplay between 2 of the greatest Kilkenny Forwards, Henry Shefflin does the hard work and master poacher DJ Carey anticipates the pass perfectly
One of the purest hurling goals ever scored in Croke Park, Richie Hogan demonstrates the importance of old school instinctive hurling skills
Tough Tough Match from 1967. Some ferocious use of the Hurley in an era when Ground Hurling dominated and when a cloth cap rather than a protective helmet was considered sportsgear
A Link to a compilation of Eddie Keher scores from Official GAA You Tube Channel
Nicely won opportunity by DJ Carey in AI Semi Final 1999 versus Clare
FACTS, TALES & TRIVIA
Kilkenny Hurling 
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