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

Joe Hennessy

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

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.