Joe Hennessy

Joseph Patrick Hennessy (born 17 January 1956) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a right wing-back for the Kilkenny senior team.

Born in Kilkenny, Hennessy first played competitive hurling during his schooling at CBS Kilkenny.

He 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.

Hennessy first played for Kilkenny as a member of the minor team in 1973.

A 3–10 to 2–9 defeat of Wexford secured a third successive provincial title for the team and a first Leinster medal for Hennessy.

On 2 September 1973 Kilkenny faced Galway in the subsequent All-Ireland decider.

The game was a close, exciting affair played on a wet day, however, at the full-time whistle Kilkenny were the champions by 4–5 to 3–7.

The victory gave Hennessy an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal.

Hennessy first played for the James Stephens senior team in 1974 and was a regular member of the starting fifteen the following year when the club made a breakthrough.

A 1–14 to 1–5 defeat of first-time finalists Galmoy gave Hennessy a championship medal.

James Stephens subsequently qualified for the provincial decider, with Offaly champions St. Rynagh's providing the opposition.

James Stephens took the lead from the third minute, with Liam "Chunky" O'Brien being scorer-in-chief.

A 1–14 to 2–4 victory gave Hennessy his first Leinster medal.

Two-time champions and hot favourites Blackrock provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland decider.

"The Rockies" got off to the better start, with two goals by Éamonn O'Donoghue and Pat Moylan giving them a 2–1 lead at the quarter mark.

James Stephens trailed at the interval but were transformed in the second half.

A 2–10 to 2–4 victory gave Hennessy his first All-Ireland medal.

Kilkenny retained their provincial dominance in 1974 with Hennessy collecting a second Leinster medal following an 8–19 to 3-5 trouncing of Dublin.

The subsequent All-Ireland decider on 1 September 1974 saw Cork providing the opposition.

In a low-scoring game Hennessy's side were defeated by 1–10 to 1–8.

He made his senior debut during the 1976 championship.

Hennessy immediately became a regular member of the team and won three All-Ireland medals, six Leinster medals and two National Hurling League medals.

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

As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions Hennessy won one Railway Cup medal.

At club level he is a two-time All-Ireland medallist with James Stephens.

In addition to this Hennessy has also won two Leinster medals and three championship medals.

His father, Paddy Hennessy, also played with Kilkenny.

Throughout his career Hennessy made 32 championship appearances.

Hennessy collected a second consecutive championship medal in 1976 as Rower-Inistioge were accounted for by 2–14 to 0–13.

After a period of decline, James Stephens bounced back in 1981.

A double scores 2–10 to 0–8 defeat of Fenians gave Hennessy a third championship medal.

He later collected a second Leinster medal as championship debutantes Faythe Harriers were narrowly defeated by 0–13 to 1–9.

First time finalists Mount Sion of Waterford provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland decider.

A hat-trick of goals by John McCormack, together with a ten-point haul from Billy Walton, saw James Stephens fight back from seven points down to record a 3–13 to 3–8 victory.

It was a second All-Ireland medal for Hennessy.

His retirement came following the conclusion of the 1987-88 league.

Hennessy is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all time.

During his playing days he won five All-Star awards.

He has been repeatedly voted onto teams made up of the sport's greats, including at right wing-back on the Kilkenny Hurling Team of the Century and the Club Hurling Silver Jubilee Team.

Hennessy was also chosen as one of the 125 greatest hurlers of all time in a 2009 poll.