Billy Hennessy
Billy Hennessy (born 15 August 1997) is an Irish hurler who plays as a left wing-back for club side St Finbarr's and at senior level with the Cork county team.[1] He usually lines out as a left wing-back. He is the current captain of the St. Finbarr's premier senior hurling team. He captained St. Finbarr's to a Premier Senior hurling county final win in 2022.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Liam Ó hAonasa | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Left wing-back | ||
| Born |
15 August 1997 Cork, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Occupation | Engineer | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | Apps (scores) | |
2015-present | St Finbarr's | 21 (4-12) | |
| Club titles | |||
| Munster titles | 1 | ||
| Football | Hurling | ||
| Cork titles | 1 | 1 | |
| Colleges(s) | |||
| Years | College | ||
2016-2021 | University College Cork | ||
| College titles | |||
| Fitzgibbon titles | 1 | ||
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
2017-2021 2022- |
Cork (hurling) Cork (football) |
3 (0-00) 0 (0-00) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 0 | ||
| All-Irelands | 0 | ||
| NHL | 0 | ||
| All Stars | 0 | ||
| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 21:52, 18 February 2022. | |||
Playing career
Christian Brothers College
Hennessy first came to prominence as a hurler with Christian Brothers College, a school noted as a rugby union stronghold. Having played hurling in every grade of hurling during his time at the school, he usually lined out in the half-back line on the school's senior team. On 14 October 2015, Hennessy was at right wing-back on the CBC team that recorded a first victory in the Dr Harty Cup in 97 years.[2]
St Finbarr's
Hennessy joined the St Finbarr's club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels as a dual player of hurling and Gaelic football.
On 28 September 2015, Hennessy was at full-back when the St Finbarr's minor football team defeated Douglas by 1-09 to 0-08 in the final to win a fifth Premier 1 MFC title in nine years.
Hennessy subsequently progressed onto the St Finbarr's under-21 football team. On 6 August 2016, he was at left corner-back on the under-21 team that defeated Ilen Rovers by 1-12 to 0-07 to win the Cork Under-21 Championship title.
Minor and under-21
Hennessy first played for Cork at minor level during the 2015 Munster Championship. He made his only appearance in the grade on 2 July when he came on as a 53rd-minute substitute for John Looney in a 1-14 to 0-14 defeat by Limerick.[3]
Hennessy subsequently progressed onto the Cork under-21 team. He made his first appearance on 13 July 2017 when he played at left wing-back in a 2-17 to 1-19 Munster semi-final defeat of Waterford.[4] Hennessy was dropped from the starting fifteen for Cork's subsequent 0-16 to 1-11 defeat by Limerick on 26 July 2017.[5]
Hennessy won a Munster Championship medal on 4 July 2018 when he lined out at right wing-back in Cork's 2-23 to 1-13 defeat of Tipperary in the final.[6] On 26 August, he was switched to left wing-back in Cork's 3-13 to 1-16 All-Ireland final defeat by Tipperary in what was his last game in the grade.[7] Hennessy was later named at left wing-back on the Team of the Year.[8]
Senior
Hennessy made his first appearance for the Cork senior hurling team in the pre-season Canon O'Brien Cup on 6 January 2017. He scored a point from midfield in the 0-22 to 1-13 defeat by University College Cork.[9] On 15 January, Hennessy also scored a point after being introduced as a 62nd-minute substitute in Cork's 7-22 to 1-19 defeat of Limerick in the Munster Hurling League.[10] He played no further role in Cork's National League or Championship campaigns.
Hennessy was a late addition to the Cork senior team during the 2018 All-Ireland Championship.[11] On 29 July, he was an unused substitute when Cork suffered a 3-32 to 2-21 extra-time defeat by Limerick in the All-Ireland semi-final.[12]
Hennessy was ruled out of the start of the 2019 season as he was recuperating after an operation.[13]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 29 August 2021.
| Team | Year | Cork PSHC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Score | ||
| St Finbarr's | 2015 | 3 | 0-01 |
| 2016 | 6 | 0-02 | |
| 2017 | 2 | 1-01 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 1-01 | |
| 2019 | 4 | 1-03 | |
| 2020 | 3 | 1-04 | |
| Career total | 21 | 4-12 | |
Inter-county
- As of 31 July 2021.
| Team | Year | National League | Munster | All-Ireland | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
| Cork | 2017 | Division 1A | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 2018 | — | — | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0-00 | ||||
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2020 | 0 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | ||
| 2021 | 4 | 0-01 | 0 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 5 | 0-01 | ||
| Total | 4 | 0-01 | 1 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 7 | 0-01 | ||
Honours
- St. Finbarr's
- Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship: 2022 (c)
- Cork Premier Senior Football Championship: 2021
- Cork Under-21 Football Championship: 2016
- Seandún Under-21 Football Championship: 2016, 2017, 2018
- Cork Premier 1 Minor Football Championship: 2015
- Cork
References
- Casey, Gavan (27 July 2018). "Fresh faces added to each panel but Cork and Limerick go with unchanged starting XVs". The 42. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- Hurley, Denis (15 October 2015). "Impressive Christians back in style with first win in 97 years". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- O'Callaghan, Therese (2 July 2015). "Limerick minors deliver late knockout to Cork". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- "Late Dalton goal hands 14-man Cork dramatic win over Waterford in Munster U21 semi-final". The 42. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- O'Brien, Kevin (26 July 2017). "Limerick hold off brave Cork fight-back to lift their second Munster U21 title in three years". The 42. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- Cormican, Eoghan (5 July 2018). "Cork outclass Tipperary on home soil to end 11-year Munster U21 hurling crown wait". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- "Injury time drama as late Tipperary goal secures All-Ireland U21 victory over Cork". Irish Independent. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- "Cork, Tipperary and Galway lead the way as U21 Team of the Year nominees released". Hogan Stand. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- Hurley, Denis (7 January 2017). "Cork outplayed as UCC finally get their hands on Canon O'Brien Cup". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- Cahill, Jackie (15 January 2017). "7 goals for Cork hurlers as they cruise to 21-point victory over Limerick at Gaelic Grounds". The 42. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- Casey, Gavan (27 July 2018). "Fresh faces added to each panel but Cork and Limerick go with unchanged starting XVs". The 42. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- O'Brien, Kevin (29 July 2018). "Limerick complete epic comeback to defeat Cork in extra-time and advance to All-Ireland final". The 42. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- Moynihan, Michael (26 January 2019). "John Meyler draws from rugby replacement playbook". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
External links
- Billy Hennessy profile at the Cork GAA website