Pat Henderson

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Pat Henderson
irish = Pádraig Mac Aindréis
fullname = Patrick Henderson
placeofbirth = Johnstown, County Kilkenny
countryofbirth = County Kilkenny
bday=30
bmonth=1
byear= 1943
height =
nickname =
county = Kilkenny
province = Leinster
club = Fenians
clposition = Half-back
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Kilkenny
icposition = Centre-back
icyears = 1964-1978
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 9
icallireland = 5
allstars = 2
clupdate =
icupdate = Pat Henderson (born 30 January, 1943) is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local [http://kilkenny.gaa.ie/fenians.htm Fenians] hurling club and with the KIlkenny senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s. Henderson is regarded as one of Kilkenny's greatest ever players.fact|date=April 2008

As a player Henderson was involved with the famous Tipperary team of the late 1960s and early 1970s, a team often described as the greatest of all-time. In a senior inter-county career that lasted from 1964 until 1978 he won five All-Ireland titles, nine Leinster titles, two National Hurling League titles and six Railway Cup title. Henderson has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. In 1974 he was presented with the prestigious Texaco Hurler of the Year award. He also collected two All-Star awards.

As a manager Henderson has had much success with his own native county. Between 1979 and 1987 he guided Kilkenny to three All-Ireland titles, five Leinster titles and three National Hurling League titles.

Early life

Pat Henderson was born in Johnstown, County Kilkenny in 1943. He was educated locally at Johnstown national school where his interest in hurling first began. From there Henderson went to Thurles Christian Brothers school where he played in the Munster Senior Colleges championship.

Later, Henderson and his two brothers, Ger and John, would form the backbone of the great Kilkenny team of the 1970s.

Playing career

Club

Henderson played his club hurling with the local [http://kilkenny.gaa.ie/fenians.htm Fenians] hurling club in Johnstown. He enjoyed much success here, winning senior county championship titles in 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1977. The county win 1974 was later converted into a Leinster club title.

Inter-county

By 1961 Henderson was a key player when the Kilkenny minor hurling team won the All-Ireland title. Three years later in 1964 he made his senior debut, winning his first Leinster title that year. Unfortunately, Henderson’s side lost heavily to Tipperary in the subsequent All-Ireland final. In 1966 Henderson began the year by winning a National Hurling League title with Kilkenny. He later won his second Leinster title, however, Kilkenny were beaten by Cork in the All-Ireland final.

In 1967 Henderson won a third provincial title before finally claiming his first All-Ireland medal following a win over Tipperary. Two years later in 1969, he repeated his feat by winning another set of Leinster and All-Ireland medals. By 1971 Henderson was captain of Kilkenny when the side captured the first of five consecutive Leinster titles. In the subsequent All-Ireland final, Tipperary emerged victorious in spite of a stunning display by Kilkenny’s Eddie Keher. ‘The Cats’ were back in 1972, with Henderson claiming a third All-Ireland medal following a thrilling game against Cork. There was some compensation for Kilkenny’s All-Ireland final loss to Limerick in 1973, as he was presented with his first All-Star award.

In 1974 Henderson had one of his most successful seasons. An All-Ireland final win over Limerick was followed by the presentation of a second All-Star award, as well as the coveted Texaco Hurler of the Year award. In 1975 he won a second consecutive All-Ireland title, bringing his overall tally up to five. A second National League title in 1976 was Henderson’s last major success. He continued on the inter-county scene for another few years, however, by the mid-1970s Wexford were the dominant team in Leinster.

Provincial

Henderson also lined out with the great Leinster team in the Railway Cup. He won inter-provincial titles in 1967, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1977.

Managerial career

In retirement from playing, Henderson turned his hand to inter-county management. Together with Eddie Keher he guided Kilkenny to an All-Ireland victory over Galway in 1979. Three years later in 1982 Henderson was the sole manager of his native-county. That year he coached ‘the Cats’ to a National Hurling League victory, as well as an All-Ireland final victory over Cork. In 1983 these feats were repeated with another brace of National league and All-Ireland victories.

Teams