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.

Billy Hennessy
Personal information
Irish name Liam Ó hAonasa
Sport Hurling
Position Left wing-back
Born (1997-08-15) 15 August 1997 (age 27)
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

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Christian Brothers College

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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

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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.

Cork

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Minor and under-21

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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

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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

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Club

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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

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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

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St. Finbarr's
Cork

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Hurley, Denis (15 October 2015). "Impressive Christians back in style with first win in 97 years". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  3. ^ O'Callaghan, Therese (2 July 2015). "Limerick minors deliver late knockout to Cork". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Injury time drama as late Tipperary goal secures All-Ireland U21 victory over Cork". Irish Independent. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Cork, Tipperary and Galway lead the way as U21 Team of the Year nominees released". Hogan Stand. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  9. ^ Hurley, Denis (7 January 2017). "Cork outplayed as UCC finally get their hands on Canon O'Brien Cup". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Moynihan, Michael (26 January 2019). "John Meyler draws from rugby replacement playbook". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
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