Jimmy Phelan (hurling)
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Phelan is former Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Tullaroan
and with the Kilkenny
senior inter-county team in the 1930s.
, County Kilkenny
in 1918. He was educated in Waterford
, and twice he tasted success the in the Harty Cup, the Munster colleges championship. He joined the Irish Sugar Company in Carlow
in 1937. By the time of his retirement in 1982 Phelan had attained the position of chief accountant.
with the famous Tullaroan
, however, he never had the pleasure of winning a senior county title. After moving to Carlow Phelan became a founding member of the Carlow Town hurling club. He also had an association with the Pearses hurling club in town.
in 1939 and he quickly won his first Leinster
title. He later lined out against Cork in one of the most famous All-Ireland finals of all-time. The game has been referred to as the ‘thunder and lightning final’ because the climax of the game was played during a raging thunder storm. Phelan contributed 2-1 of his team’s total score of 2-7 and collected his first All-Ireland
medal. He won a second Leinster title in 1940, however, Kilkenny were later defeated by Limerick
in the championship decider. Kilkenny’s hurling fortunes took a downturn over the next few seasons due to a number of reasons including a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Phelan’s move to Carlow saw him join the county team
there.
title in 1960 and, two years later 1962, his team collected an All-Ireland intermediate title.
Jimmy Phelan died in Carlow in January 2006. He was the last surviving member of the Kilkenny team that won the All-Ireland title in 1939.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Tullaroan
Tullaroan GAA
Tullaroan is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the village of Tullaroan in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1884 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling. Tullaroan is the most successful club in the history of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling...
and with the Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
senior inter-county team in the 1930s.
Early & private life
Jimmy Phelan was born in BallyraggetBallyragget
Ballyragget is a small town in County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated along the river Nore in the north of the county. It is located in the province of Leinster in the south-east of the island of Ireland. Ballyragget situated on the N77 north of Kilkenny and has a population of 1,451...
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
in 1918. He was educated in Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, and twice he tasted success the in the Harty Cup, the Munster colleges championship. He joined the Irish Sugar Company in Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
in 1937. By the time of his retirement in 1982 Phelan had attained the position of chief accountant.
Club
Phelan played most of his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with the famous Tullaroan
Tullaroan GAA
Tullaroan is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the village of Tullaroan in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1884 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling. Tullaroan is the most successful club in the history of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling...
, however, he never had the pleasure of winning a senior county title. After moving to Carlow Phelan became a founding member of the Carlow Town hurling club. He also had an association with the Pearses hurling club in town.
Inter-county
Phelan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with KilkennyKilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
in 1939 and he quickly won his first Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
title. He later lined out against Cork in one of the most famous All-Ireland finals of all-time. The game has been referred to as the ‘thunder and lightning final’ because the climax of the game was played during a raging thunder storm. Phelan contributed 2-1 of his team’s total score of 2-7 and collected his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal. He won a second Leinster title in 1940, however, Kilkenny were later defeated by Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
in the championship decider. Kilkenny’s hurling fortunes took a downturn over the next few seasons due to a number of reasons including a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Phelan’s move to Carlow saw him join the county team
Carlow GAA
The Carlow County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Carlow GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Carlow and the Carlow inter-county teams.-Gaelic football:...
there.
Post-playing career
In retirement from playing Phelan became involved in team management. He coached the Carlow team to a junior All-IrelandAll-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
title in 1960 and, two years later 1962, his team collected an All-Ireland intermediate title.
Jimmy Phelan died in Carlow in January 2006. He was the last surviving member of the Kilkenny team that won the All-Ireland title in 1939.