![](https://kilkennyhurlingtales.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/liam-fennelly-article-1992-1-1.jpg)
![](https://kilkennyhurlingtales.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/liam-fennelly-article-1992-2.jpg?w=717)
A couple of Articles on 2 Time winning Captain Liam Fennelly from the Kilkenny GAA Yearbook 1992
![](https://kilkennyhurlingtales.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/liam-fennelly-article-1992-3.jpg?w=768)
![](https://kilkennyhurlingtales.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/liam-fennelly-article-1992-4-1.jpg?w=721)
A couple of Articles on 2 Time winning Captain Liam Fennelly from the Kilkenny GAA Yearbook 1992
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.
Billy Fitzpatrick Retires – Article from Kilkenny GAA Yearbook 1986
Signed Snippet of Noel Skehan from 1982.
A brief synopsis of the 3 games played between Kilkenny and Cork in 1931 to decide the Hurling Championship. Article is taken from the All Ireland Final Match Programme : Kilkenny v Cork 1982.
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
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/
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.
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
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.
Tullaroan Article from mid 80’s. Might need some updating to allow for a couple of Walsh brothers and Bill Hennessy (member of the All Ireland winning teams of 1992 & 1993)…
Henry Shefflin, holder of 10 All Ireland Senior Hurling winners medals
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.
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.
Player | All Ireland Medals | Hurling Club |
Henry Shefflin | 10 | Shamrocks |
Eddie Keher | 6 | Rower Inistioge |
DJ Carey | 5 | Young Irelands |
TJ Reid | 7 | Shamrocks |
Eddie Brennan | 8 | Graigue Ballycallan |
Noel Skehan | 9 | Bennettsbridge |
Noel Hickey | 8 | Dunamaggin |
Richie Power | 8 | Carrickshock |
Frank Cummins | 8 | Knocktopher |
Michael Fennelly | 8 | Shamrocks |
Richie Hogan | 7 | Danesfort |
Ollie Walsh | 4 | Thomastown |
James McGarry | 6 | Bennettsbridge |
James Cha Fitzpatrick | 5 | Shamrocks |
Colin Fennelly | 4 | Shamrocks |
Liam Fennelly | 3 | Shamrocks |
Ger Fennelly | 3 | Shamrocks |
Christy Heffernan | 4 | Glenmore |
Paul Murphy | 4 | Glenmore |
Eoin Murphy | 4 | Glenmore |
Jim Treacy | 4 | Bennettsbridge |
Paddy Moran | 4 | Bennettsbridge |
Dick Walsh | 7 | Mooncoin |
Dick Doyle | 7 | Mooncoin |
Ned Doyle | 6 | Mooncoin |
Mick Doyle | 5 | Mooncoin |
Jimmy Kelly | 6 | Mooncoin |
Dick Doherty | 5 | Mooncoin |
John Power | 4 | Callan |
Keiran Joyce | 4 | Rower Inistioge |
Jimmy Walsh | 4 | Tullogher |
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 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 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.
Article by renowned Hurling writer Raymond Smith on the ‘End of an Era’ for the Kilkenny team of 1967 to 1975 led by Eddie Keher ( taken from the 1977 Kilkenny GAA Yearbook
Kilkenny GAA Yearbook Cover 1982
Article from the Kilkenny GAA Yearbook 1982
Snippet from the Gaelsport Annual from 1984
Kilkenny GAA Yearbook Cover 1983
Article on Kilkenny Goalkeeper Ollie Walsh from the 1984 Kilkenny GAA Yearbook. Interesting segment that he was scouted at a young age to play soccer for Waterford. The view from a Scottish International was that he could have made it to the top level in the ‘Foreign Game’
Nice Interplay between 2 of the greatest Kilkenny Forwards, Henry Shefflin does the hard work and master poacher DJ Carey anticipates the pass perfectly
Excerpt from 1984 Gaelsport Annual. Billy Fitpatrick was a stylish skillful player who captained Kilkenny to victory versus Limerick in 1975 (the first 70 minute Final). Winner of 5 All Ireland Medals and 2 All Stars. Man of the Match in the 1983 Final v Cork where he scored 10 points
Article on Pat Henderson from 1977. Pat Henderson played Centre Back and has been mentioned numerous times when the subject of all time greatest Kilkenny Backs is discussed. He won 5 All Ireland medals as a player with Kilkenny. Like Brian Cody, He then turned his hand to management guiding Kilkenny to All Ireland victory in 1979 against Galway aided by Eddie Keher. He was the manager for one of Kilkenny’s best loved teams – the All Ireland double and League double winning team of 1982-1983
One of the purest hurling goals ever scored in Croke Park, Richie Hogan demonstrates the importance of old school instinctive hurling skills
2 Page spread from the 1977 KK GAA Yearbook.
FACTS, TALES & TRIVIA
You must be logged in to post a comment.