Richie Bennis

Richard "Richie" Bennis (born 1945) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a centre-forward for the Limerick senior team.

Born in Patrickswell, County Limerick, Bennis first played competitive hurling during his schooling at CBS Sexton Street.

He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Limerick minor team before later joining the under-21 side.

In 1961 he won an All-Ireland medal following a 10–6 to 7–9 defeat of Kilkenny.

Bennis first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Limerick minor hurling team in 1963.

He was an unused substitute that year when Limerick defeated Tipperary by 4–12 to 5–4 to take the Munster crown.

The subsequent All-Ireland decider saw Limerick face a 6–12 to 5–9 defeat by Wexford.

His tenure with the Limerick under-21 hurling team yielded little in terms of success.

He made his senior debut during the 1965–66 league.

Bennis subsequently became a regular member of the starting fifteen and won one All-Ireland medal, two Munster medals and one National Hurling League medal.

He was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team on several occasions Bennis won one Railway Cup medal as a non-playing substitute.

At club level he is a ten-time championship medallist with Patrickswell.

Bennis's career tally of 9 goals and 106 points ranks him as one of Limerick's top championship scorers of all time.

His brothers, Phil and Peter Bennis, and his nephew, Gary Kirby, also played for Limerick.

Kirby is now the manager of the Patrickswell Senior Hurling Team.

Throughout his career Bennis made 19 championship appearances.

In 1965 Patrickswell, with six Bennis brothers on the team, qualified for the final of county championship for the first time ever.

A 2–16 to 0-4 trouncing of St. Kieran's gave Bennis his first championship medal.

Bennis made his senior debut during the 1965-66 league at a time when Limerick hurling was in the doldrums.

Patrickswell retained the title in 1966, with Bennis securing a second championship medal following a 5–11 to 3–7 defeat of St. Patrick's.

After failing in their bid for a third successive championship, Patrickswell reached the decider once again in 1969 where the team faced Pallasgreen.

A 0–17 to 2–2 victory gave Bennis a third championship medal.

Patrickswell retained the title in 1970 with Bennis collecting a fourth championship medal following a 2–14 to 0-2 trouncing of Kilmallock.

Limerick contested five successive league deciders between 1970 and 1974, with success coming in 1971.

His retirement came following the conclusion of the 1975 championship.

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

At club level he has been involved in the management of Camogue Rovers and Patrickswell before taking charge of the Limerick senior team.

During his secondary schooling in Limerick Bennis was chosen as captain of the Limerick City vocational schools' team.

After a period of decline, which involved the losing of three championship decider, Patrickswell returned to the final once again in 1977.

Goals were key as a 3–7 to 0–7 defeat of Killeedy gave Bennis a fifth championship medal.

After failing to retain the title Patrickswell bounced back in 1979.

Once again goals were vital in a 2–16 to 0–16 victory over Tournafulla, which gave Bennis a sixth championship medal.

In 1982 Patrickswell faced Bruree for the very first time in a county final.

The overall craft and experience of Patrickswell, plus some shrewd tactical switches by their mentors, brought a late flurry of scores which finally sounded the death knell for Bruree, as Bennis collected a seventh championship medal following a 0–17 to 0–15 victory.

Patrickswell retained the title in 1983 with Bennis winning an eighth championship medal as Ballybrown were downed by 1–13 to 1–7.

In 1984 Patrickswell secured their own piece of history by capturing a third successive championship title.

The 4–13 to 3–5 victory over Cappamore gave Bennis a ninth championship medal.

Four-in-a-row proved beyond Patrickswell, however, Bennis, who was now in his forties, was still a member of the team when the club contest their next final in 1987.

A narrow 1–17 to 3–10 defeat of local rivals Ballybrown gave Bennis a tenth and final championship medal.