Paddy Larkin

Patrick Larkin (26 July 1905 – 19 September 1976) was an Irish hurler who played as a full-back for the Kilkenny senior team.

Born in Patrick St., Kilkenny, Larkin first played competitive hurling during his school days at St. Patrick's De La Salle.

He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty when he first linked up with the Kilkenny senior team in various tournament games, before later lining out with the junior side.

He made his competitive senior debut in the 1929–30 National Hurling League.

Larkin went on to play a key part for Kilkenny during a hugely successful era, and won four All-Ireland medals, nine Leinster medals and one National Hurling League medal.

He was an All-Ireland runner-up on four occasions.

He was educated locally and, in time, he would go on to become one of Kilkenny's great players during the 1930s.

Larkin played his club hurling with the famous James Stephens club in Kilkenny and enjoyed much success.

Larkin first came to prominence on the inter-county scene for Kilkenny in the early 1930s.

He won his first Leinster title in 1931 following a victory over Laois in the provincial final.

Larkin later lined out in his first All-Ireland final with Cork providing the opposition.

The low-scoring game ended in a draw – 1–6 apiece.

Four weeks later the two times met again for the replay.

In a similar pattern Cork took the lead at half-time, however, Kilkenny fought back to equalise.

At the final whistle both sides finished with 2–5.

The third game of the series took place in the first week of November, however, on this occasion there would be a winner as Cork sealed the victory by 5–8 to 3–4.

As a representative on the Leinster inter-provincial team for much of his inter-county career, Larkin won three Railway Cup medals in 1932, 1933 and 1936.

At club level he won five championship medals with James Stephens, Tullaroan and Éire Óg.

With 43 championship appearances for Kilkenny, Larkin was the most "capped" full-back in the county's history.

This record was later surpassed by Noel Hickey.

In 1932 Larkin captured a second Leinster title as Dublin were defeated in the provincial final.

The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Kilkenny take on Clare.

It was the first ever meeting of these two teams in the history of the championship.

In a close and exciting match Kilkenny took the lead thanks to goals by Matty Power, Lory Meagher and Martin White.

Clare fought back, however, Kilkenny hung on to win the game by 3–3 to 2–3 giving Larkin his first All-Ireland medal.

Larkin won a National Hurling League medal at the start of 1933 before helping Kilkenny to retain their provincial dominance in with a defeat of Dublin, giving Larkin a third Leinster medal.

A defeat of Galway in the next game set up an All-Ireland final meeting with Limerick.

In another tight game Kilkenny sealed the victory with a 1–7 to 0–6 score line giving Larkin his second consecutive All-Ireland title.

Kilkenny lost their provincial title in 1934, however, Power won a fourth Leinster medal in 1935.

The All-Ireland final saw Kilkenny take on Limerick for the second time in three years.

Once again the match was a close one, however, Kilkenny clung on and won by a single point – 2–5 to 2–4.

It was Larkin's third victory in an All-Ireland final.

Larkin's brother, Mick, was an All-Ireland medallist as a non-playing substitute in 1935.

Paddy Larkin was born and raised in locally named 'village' area of Kilkenny.

He won his first senior county title in 1935.

Two years later Larkin was captain of the club as he captured a second county title with 'the village.’

In 1936 Larkin was appointed captain of the Kilkenny team.

He retired from inter-county hurling following Kilkenny's shock exit at the hands of Antrim in the 1943 championship.

The Larkin family hold a unique distinction in hurling history as the only family to experience All-Ireland success through three generations.

Larkin's son, Fan, who five All-Ireland medals between 1963 and 1979, while his grandson, Philly, won two All-Ireland medals in 2000 and 2002.