John Fenton

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = John Fenton
irish = Seán Ó Fionnachta
fullname = John Fenton
placeofbirth = Midleton
countryofbirth = County Cork
dob = December, 1954
height =
nickname =
county = Cork
province = Munster
club = Midleton
clposition = Midfield
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Cork
icposition = Midfield
icyears = 1975-1987
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 7
icallireland = 2
allstars = 5
clupdate =
icupdate =

John Fenton (born December, 1954 in Midleton, County Cork) is a retired Irish sportsman. He played hurling with his local club Midleton and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1987. Fenton is regarded as one of Cork's greatest-ever players.Fact|date=April 2008.

Playing career

Club

Fenton played his club hurling with his local Midleton club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1983. It was the club's first county final triumph since 1916. Fenton later won a Munster club title, however, his side were later beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final. Three years later in 1986 he won a second county title before adding a third county medal to his collection in 1987. Later that year Fenton won a second Munster club title. On St. Patrick's Day, 1988 Fenton was part of the team that defeated Athenry to capture an elusive All-Ireland club title. He won a fourth county title with the club in 1991, before retiring completely from hurling. Fenton has remained involved as a coach to his local juvenile team.

Inter-county

Fenton first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork under-21 team. He won back-to-back Munster titles at this level in 1975 and 1976 before later winning an All-Ireland title to his collection in the latter year. Earlier that year Fenton had made his senior hurling debut in a Munster Championship game against Tipperary and later won his first Munster title. In spite of this it would be another few years before he established himself on the Cork team that lined out in the championship, however, Fenton was a regular player in National Hurling League games.

In 1979 Fenton finally broke onto the team and won his second Munster medal in the process. Cork were later stopped in their bid to win a fourth All-Ireland title in-a-row when they were defeated by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 1980 and 1981 Fenton won back-to-back National Hurling League titles with Cork. In 1982 Fenton had another tough year as a senior hurler as he was dropped from the Cork team for certain key games. He came on as a substitute in the Munster Final and won his third provincial title. In 1983 Fenton won his fourth Munster Championship, however, Cork were later defeated by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final for the second year in-a-row. Fenton's talent was recognised when he was presented with his first All-Star award.

Club success at the end of 1983 paved the way for Fenton to be appointed captain of the Cork senior hurlers in 1984, the centenary year of the Gaelic Athletic Association. That year he guided Cork to another Munster title, his fifth title in all, before leading his team to success in a special All-Ireland final against Offaly in Semple Stadium. Once again he was honoured with an All-Star as well as being declard "Hurler of the Year." Two more Munster titles and All-Star awards came Fenton's way in 1985 and 1986, as well as a second All-Ireland victory over Galway in 1986.

In 1987 Fenton played in his last championship. In the Munster semi-final replay against Limerick Fenton scored, what is often regarded as, the greatest hurling goal of all-time. Playing in his usual midfield position he struck the sliothar on the ground and scored a goal from 40 yards out. In 2005 this goal was listed as one of RTÉs Top 20 GAA Moments. Fenton played his last game for Cork in a thrilling Munster final replay against Tipperary. The game ended in victory for Tipp and it was the first time in five years that Cork were not provincial champions. Fenton's performance in the Munster Championship was honoured yet again when he was presented with a record fifth consecutive All-Star Award.

Teams