Paddy Phelan

Patrick Phelan (16 September 1910 – 7 December 1971) was an Irish hurler who played as a left wing-back for the Kilkenny senior team.

Born in Freshford, County Kilkenny, Phelan arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-one when he first linked up with the Kilkenny senior team.

In 1930 he lined out in his first championship decider, as Tullaroan fought back after a period of decline.

A 4–4 to 0–3 trouncing of senior hurling novices Urlingford gave Phelan a first championship medal.

After a shock defeat by Laois in 1930, both sides met in the provincial decider the following year.

A 4–7 to 4–2 victory gave Phelan his first Leinster medal.

He made his debut in the 1931 championship.

Phelan went on to play a key part for more than a decade, and won four All-Ireland medals, eight Leinster medals and one National Hurling League medal.

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

Phelan made his senior inter-county debut for Kilkenny the early stages of the 1931 championship.

6 September 1931 saw Kilkenny face Cork in the All-Ireland final for the first time in five years.

The first half was closely contested, with a goal from Mick Ahern helping Cork to a half-time lead of 1–3 to 0–2.

Cork stretched the advantage to six points in the second half, but Kilkenny came storming back with a goal and then four points on the trot to take the lead by one point.

In the dying moments Eudie Coughlan got possession and made his way towards the goal.

As he did so he slipped and fell but struck the sliotar while he was down on his knees, and it went over the bar for the equalising point.

A 1–6 apiece draw was the result.

11 October 1931 was the date of the replay and proved to be just as exciting a contest as the first game.

A winner still couldn't be found and both sides finished level again at 2–5 apiece.

After this game officials pressed for extra time, however, Cork captain Eudie Coughlan rejected this.

It was also suggested at a meeting of Council that both teams be declared joint champions and that half an All-Ireland medal by given to each player.

This motion was later defeated.

As the All-Ireland saga went to a third meeting on 1 November 1931, Kilkenny's inspirational captain Lory Meagher was ruled out of the game because of broken ribs sustained in the first replay.

Such was the esteem in which he was held the game was virtually conceded to Cork.

In spite of fielding a younger team, Kilkenny were defeated by Cork on a score line of 5–8 to 3–4.

Phelan represented the Leinster inter-provincial team for a remarkable thirteen years, winning four Railway Cup medals in 1932, 1933, 1936 and 1941.

At club level he won three championship medals with Tullaroan.

Throughout his career, Phelan made 42 championship appearances for Kilkenny.

Kilkenny retained their provincial crown in 1932, with Phelan adding a second Leinster medal to his collection following a 4–6 to 3–5 defeat of Dublin.

The All-Ireland final on 4 September 1932 saw Clare provide the opposition for the first time in almost twenty years.

In a low-scoring game, Clare's Tull Considine scored two goals and was foiled for what would almost certainly have been a third.

These goals were negated by Kilkenny's three goal-scoring heroes Matty Power, Martin White and Lory Meagher, who scored a remarkable goal from a line ball.

The final score of 3–3 to 2–3 gave victory to Kilkenny and gave Phelan an All-Ireland medal.

Tullaroan surrendered their championship crown the following year, but returned to the decider again in 1933.

A high-scoring 6–5 to 5–4 defeat of Carrickshock gave Phelan a second championship medal.

Carrickshock stood in the way of a second successive championship for Tullaroan in 1934, however, they proved no match.

A 6–6 to 1–5 victory gave Phelan his third and final championship medal.

His retirement came following Kilkenny's defeat in the 1942 championship.

His grandnephew, D. J. Carey, was a five-time All-Ireland medallist with Kilkenny.

Phelan has been repeatedly voted onto teams made up of the sport's greats, including as wing-back on the Hurling Team of the Century in 1984 and the Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000.

Phelan played his club hurling with Tullaroan and enjoyed much success during a lengthy career.