Brian Whelehan

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Brian Whelehan

Personal information
Sport	Hurling
Irish Name	Brian Ó Faoileacháin
Date of Birth	August, 1971
Place of birth	Birr, County Offaly
Club information
Club	Birr
Position	Half-back
Club(s)*
Club	Years	Apps (scores)
Birr	1980s-2000s
Inter County
County	Offaly
Position	Half-back
Inter County(ies)**
County	Years	Apps (scores)
Offaly	1989-2006	55
Inter County Titles
Leinster Titles	3
All-Ireland	2
All-Stars	4
* club appearances and scores correct as of . **Inter County team apps and scores correct as of .

Brian Whelehan (born August, 1971) is a current Irish sportsperson who played hurling for Offaly in the 1990s and 2000s. He is regarded as one of the great players of his generation and was named in the left half-back position on the Gaelic Athletic Association's Hurling Team of the Millennium.

Brian Whelehan was born in Birr, County Offaly in 1971. Although not considered one of the traditional hurling counties, Whelehan was an ever-present member of minor and senior Offaly hurling teams when the county tasted much success in the 1980s and 1990s. He won his first All-Ireland medal in 1987 when Offaly won their second consecutive All-Ireland Minor title. Whelehan captained the minor team to victory again in 1989, and subsequently moved straight onto the senior hurling team playing at right half-back. In 1991 success came for Whelehan at senior level when Offaly won their first-ever National Hurling League title. His first All Star Award followed in 1992.

In 1994 he won his first Leinster Championship and All-Ireland medals with Offaly. The defeat of Limerick in the final has gone down in GAA folklore as the "five minute final," as Offaly scored 2-6 in the last five minutes of the game to deny Limerick the victory. 1994 was not without its controversy for Whelehan either, as he was named Texaco Hurler of the Year but, due to irregularities in the voting system, was sensationally omitted from the All Star team. In spite of this, his club and inter-county career blossomed. He later won County Championship and All-Ireland Club Championship honours with Birr, shared in Offaly's All-Ireland final loss to Clare in 1995, won further honours in the Leinster Championship and added more All Star Awards to his collection.

In 1998 Offaly lost the Leinster final to Kilkenny, however, contrary to expectations the two sides met again in the All-Ireland final due to the advent of the new "back door" system. On that day Whelehan delivered one of his greatest performances. Despite suffering from flu, he started in defence and was later moved to full-forward where he scored 1-6. His performance earned him another All Star Award and the honour of Texaco Hurler of the Year, the first player to win the title on two occasions. Whelehan and Offaly reached the All-Ireland final again in 2000 but were defeated by Kilkenny by 5-15 to 1-14. It was the most one-sided final in decades and it marked the end of the great Offaly team. In spite of that disappointment Whelehan was unsurprisingly named on the GAA's Hurling Team of the Millennium in late 1999, becoming the only hurler chosen who was still playing the game.

The following five years have proven to be disappointing for Whelehan and Offaly, with no Leinster or All-Ireland titles being won.

Preceded by D.J. Carey (Kilkenny)	Texaco Hurler of the Year 1994	Succeeded by Seánie McMahon (Clare)
Preceded by Jamesie O'Connor (Clare)	Texaco Hurler of the Year 1998	Succeeded by Brian Corcoran (Cork)

	GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium
1 Tony Reddin | 2 John Doyle | 3 Nick O'Donnell | 4 Bobby Rackard | 5 Paddy Phelan | 6 John Keane | 7 Brian Whelehan | 8 Lory Meagher | 9 Jack Lynch | 10 Christy Ring | 11 Mick Mackey | 12 Jim Langton | 13 Eddie Keher | 14 Ray Cummins | 15 Jimmy Doyle |