Joe Hennessy
Encyclopedia
Joe Hennessy is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with the Kilkenny
senior inter-county team from 1976 until 1988.
in 1956. He was born into a household that was hugely interested in hurling
, and it was from his father that Hennessy developed his own love of the game. He was educated locally at Kilkenny Christian Brothers
school. Here Hennessy first tasted hurling success, winning under-12 and under-14 county medals. He would later go on to become a star for club and county.
with the famous James Stephens
club in the heart of Kilkenny city. In the early 1970s he won a county minor title before later having much success at senior level. In 1975 Hennessy won his first senior county title. This was later converted into a Leinster
club title and an All-Ireland
club title. Hennessy won a second county championship in 1976. It would be 1981 before he won his third county championship medal. Once again this win was converted into Leinster and All-Ireland honours.
minor hurling team. He enjoyed much success at this level, winning a Leinster title in 1973 before later defeating Galway
to win an All-Ireland
medal as well. He won a second Leinster minor title in 1974, however, Cork defeated Kilkenny in the final. In 1975 Hennessy had moved onto the Kilkenny under-21 panel. That year he won a Leinster under-21 title, the first of three-in-a-row. This was later converted into an All-Ireland
medal. In 1977 Hennessy won a second All-Ireland under-21 title.
In 1976 Hennessy made his senior championship debut against Wexford
. Wexford were the kingpins of Leinster hurling at the time and it would be 1978 before Hennessy won his first Leinster
title at senior level. Unfortunately, Hennessy’s side were later defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland final. In spite of this loss there was some consolation as Hennessy was presented with his first All-Star
award at the end of the year. In 1979 he won a second Leinster title, before claiming his first senior All-Ireland
title following a win over Galway
. A second All-Star award quickly followed.
The following two years saw ‘the Cats’ lose out to Offaly
in Leinster, however, Hennessy’s side returned at the start of 1982 to win the National Hurling League
. His side later went on to win another Leinster title before defeating Cork to win his second senior All-Ireland medal. In 1983 Hennessy won his fourth provincial medal before once again defeating Cork in the All-Ireland final. His all-round ability was recognised once again when he claimed another All-Star award. Kilkenny failed to retain their Leinster title in 1984, however, such was Hennessy’s impact on the championship that he was presented with a fourth All-Star. In 1986 Hennessy began the ear by winning another National League title before claiming a fifth provincial medal. His side were later defeated by Galway
in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 1987 Hennessy won his sixth Leinster medal with Kilkenny, however, his side were once again beaten by Galway. In spite of the loss a fifth All-Star award beckoned for Hennessy.
The All-Ireland final loss to Galway was Hennessy’s last championship game for Kilkenny. He played in the following year’s National League and retired completely in the spring of 1988.
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 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 from 1976 until 1988.
Early life
Joe Hennessy was born in KilkennyKilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
in 1956. He was born into a household that was hugely interested in 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...
, and it was from his father that Hennessy developed his own love of the game. He was educated locally at Kilkenny Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
school. Here Hennessy first tasted hurling success, winning under-12 and under-14 county medals. He would later go on to become a star for club and county.
Club
Hennessy played 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 James Stephens
James Stephens (GAA Club)
James Stephens is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1887 and has enjoyed equal success in both hurling and Gaelic football.-History:...
club in the heart of Kilkenny city. In the early 1970s he won a county minor title before later having much success at senior level. In 1975 Hennessy won his first senior county title. This was later converted into a Leinster
Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between the winners of the senior club hurling championships of the counties in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Ballyhale Shamrocks from Kilkenny. The first Leinster senior club hurling...
club title and an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
club title. Hennessy won a second county championship in 1976. It would be 1981 before he won his third county championship medal. Once again this win was converted into Leinster and All-Ireland honours.
Inter-county
By the early 1970s Hennessy had joined the 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...
minor hurling team. He enjoyed much success at this level, winning a Leinster title in 1973 before later defeating Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
to win an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
medal as well. He won a second Leinster minor title in 1974, however, Cork defeated Kilkenny in the final. In 1975 Hennessy had moved onto the Kilkenny under-21 panel. That year he won a Leinster under-21 title, the first of three-in-a-row. This was later converted into an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
medal. In 1977 Hennessy won a second All-Ireland under-21 title.
In 1976 Hennessy made his senior championship debut against Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
. Wexford were the kingpins of Leinster hurling at the time and it would be 1978 before Hennessy 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 at senior level. Unfortunately, Hennessy’s side were later defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland final. In spite of this loss there was some consolation as Hennessy was presented with his first All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award at the end of the year. In 1979 he won a second Leinster title, before claiming his first senior 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....
title following a win over Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
. A second All-Star award quickly followed.
The following two years saw ‘the Cats’ lose out to Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
in Leinster, however, Hennessy’s side returned at the start of 1982 to win the National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
. His side later went on to win another Leinster title before defeating Cork to win his second senior All-Ireland medal. In 1983 Hennessy won his fourth provincial medal before once again defeating Cork in the All-Ireland final. His all-round ability was recognised once again when he claimed another All-Star award. Kilkenny failed to retain their Leinster title in 1984, however, such was Hennessy’s impact on the championship that he was presented with a fourth All-Star. In 1986 Hennessy began the ear by winning another National League title before claiming a fifth provincial medal. His side were later defeated by Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 1987 Hennessy won his sixth Leinster medal with Kilkenny, however, his side were once again beaten by Galway. In spite of the loss a fifth All-Star award beckoned for Hennessy.
The All-Ireland final loss to Galway was Hennessy’s last championship game for Kilkenny. He played in the following year’s National League and retired completely in the spring of 1988.