Ger Fennelly

The Shamrocks were trailing by six points when a 24th-minute Fennelly goal brought them back into the game.

Ger Fennelly (born 22 January 1954) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a centre-forward and as a midfielder for the Kilkenny senior team.

Born in Piltown, County Kilkenny, Fennelly first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team before later joining the under-21 side.

A 59th-minute Dermot Fennelly goal secured a 1-10 apiece draw for the Shamrocks.

He joined the senior panel during the 1974 championship.

Fennelly subsequently became a regular member of the starting fifteen and won three All-Ireland medals, six Leinster medals and three National Hurling League medals.

In 1978 Fennelly enjoyed his first success with the Ballyhale Shamrocks senior team.

A 0-15 to 0-10 defeat of reigning champions Fenians secured a very first title for the club and a first championship medal for Fennelly.

He later added a Leinster medal to his collection following a subsequent 1-13 to 1-6 defeat of Dublin champions Crumlin in the decider.

The All-Ireland-winning captain of 1979, he was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.

Fennelly was a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, however, he never won a Railway Cup medal.

At club level he is a three-time All-Ireland medallist with Ballyhale Shamrocks.

In addition to this Hennessy has also won four Leinster medals and nine championship medals.

His brothers, Michael, Kevin, Brendan, Liam and Seán Fennelly, Dermot and his nephews, Michael and Colin Fennelly, have all enjoyed All-Ireland success with Kilkenny.

Throughout his career Fennelly made 33 championship appearances.

On 25 March 1979 Ballyhale faced Blackrock in the All-Ireland decider.

Two first-half Ray Cummins goals gave the Rockies a narrow lead while a fifth goal from Tom Lyons resulted in a narrow 5-7 to 5-5 defeat for Fennelly's side.

Fennelly added a second championship medal to his collection in 1979 as Ballyhale retained the title following a 3-12 to 1-6 defeat of Erin's Own following an earlier drawn game.

Ballyhale made it three-in-a-row in 1980 following a 3-13 to 1-10 replay defeat of Muckalee/Ballyfoyle Rovers.

After collecting a third successive championship medal Fennelly later added a second Leinster medal to his collection as Coolderry were accounted for on a 3-10 to 1-8 score line.

On 17 May 1981 Ballyhale faced a star-studded St. Finbarr's in the All-Ireland final.

On that occasion all seven Fennelly brothers lined out in an exciting contest.

The sides were level on five occasions during the opening thirty minutes, however, the Shamrocks had The Edge after a Liam Fennelly goal.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy pegged one back for the Barr's in the closing stages, however, a 1-15 to 1-11 victory secured an All-Ireland medal foe Fennelly.

Four-in-a-row proved beyond Ballyhale, however, Fennelly won a fourth championship medal in 1982 following a 3-10 to 2-4 defeat of James Stephens.

Fennelly missed Ballyhale's championship decider defeat of James Stephens in 1983, however, he was later restored to the starting fifteen and collected a third Leinster medal following a 3-6 to 0-9 defeat of Kinnitty.

On 15 April 1984 Ballyhael faced Gort in the All-Ireland decider.

The replay on 3 June 1984 was also a close affair.

A first-half Fennelly goal paved the way for a 1-10 to 0-7 victory and a second All-Ireland medal for Fennelly.

In 1985 Fennelly won a fifth championship medal following a high-scoring 4-18 to 3-13 defeat of Glenmore.

After back-to-back defeats Ballyhale bounced back in 1988.

A 2-15 to 0-4 trouncing of Thoamstown secured a sixth championship medal for Fennelly.

Ballyhale retained the title in 1989 following a narrow 2-11 to 1-13 defeat of Glenmore with Fennelly collecting a seventh championship medal.

He later added a fourth Leinster medal to his collection as Cuala endured a 2-11 to 0-7 defeat in the provincial decider.

His retirement came following the conclusion of the 1990 championship.

In retirement from playing Fennelly became involved in team management and coaching.

On 17 March 1990 Ballyhale faced Ballybrown in the All-Ireland final.

He was a selector with the Kilkenny minor team that won the Leinster title in 1998.

Fennelly is widely regarded as one of the greatest club hurlers of his era.

During his playing days he won one All-Star awards as well as being named at left wing-forward on the Club Hurling Silver Jubilee Team.