Joe Hennessey

Joe Hennessey

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. 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. 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.

Update this biography »
Complete biography of Joe Hennessey »