Kevin Hennessy

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Kevin Hennessy
irish = Caoimhghín Ó hAonghusa
fullname = Kevin Hennessy
placeofbirth = Midleton
countryofbirth = County Cork
bday=
bmonth=
byear=
dyear=
dday=
dmonth=
height =
nickname =
county = Cork
province = Munster
club = Midleton
clposition = Forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Cork
icposition = Forward
icyears = 1982-1993
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 7
icallireland = 3
allstars = 1
clupdate =
icupdate =

Kevin Hennessy (born 1961 in Midleton, County Cork) was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Midleton and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1982 until 1993.

Playing career

Club

Hennessy played his club hurling with the Midleton club in East Cork and he came to prominence just as the club joined the senior ranks of the county championship. Hennessy claimed his first senior county title in 1983 and this was later converted into a Munster club title. Hennessy won back-to-back county medals in 1986 and 1987, before adding a second Munster club title to his collection. At the beginning of 1988 he won a coveted All-Ireland club medal following a victory over Athenry in the final. Hennessy won a fourth and fnal county title in 1992.

Inter-county

Hennessy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene in the late 1970s. He won a Munster medal at this level in 1979, before subsequently winning an All-Ireland medal. Hennessy later won a Munster title at under-21 level with Cork and once again he later captured an All-Ireland medal at this level.

Hennessy later joined the Cork senior hurling team and won his first senior Munster medal in 1982. Unfortunately, Cork lost to Kilkenny in the subsequent All-Ireland final. In 1983 Hennessy won a second Munster title, however, his side were once again defeated by Kilkenny for the second consecutive year. These defeats made Cork more determined to bounce back in 1984. That year Hennessy captured a third Munster medal and once again Cork qualified for a third All-Ireland final in-a-row. In a special championship decider at Semple Stadium Cork defeated Offaly and Hennessy collected his first senior All-Ireland medal.

Hennessy won a fourth consecutive Munster title in 1985, however, Cork were later defeated by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. A fifth consecutive Munster medal was added to his collection in 1986 and Hennessy once again lined out with Cork in the All-Ireland final. Even though 'the Rebels' were underdogs Hennessy won a second All-Ireland medal that day as Cork defeated Galway. His performance in the championship that year earned him his sole All-Star award. Cork lost their provincial crown to Tipperary for the next few seasons, however, the team returned in 1990 with Hennessy won a sixth Munster title. He later won his third All-Ireland medal as Cork, the underdogs, defeated Galway once again. Two years later in 1992 he won a seventh Munster title, however, for the first time in nearly a decade Cork’s opposition in the All-Ireland final turned out to be Kilkenny. All-Ireland victories over Galway and Offaly had given Hennessy three All-Ireland medals, however, a defeat of Cork’s biggest rivals would put the icing on the cake. Unfortunately, Cork were defeated on that occasion. Hennessy continued hurling in 1993, however, he retired following Cork’s defeat in the championship that year.

Hennessy also won Railway Cup medals with Munster in 1984 and 1985.

Teams