Fan Larkin

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Philip "Fan" Larkin (born 1941) is a former Irish sportsperson who played hurling with Kilkenny in the 1960s and 1970s.

Fan Larkin was born and raised in the "village" area of Kilkenny in 1941. He was born into a family that was steeped in hurling tradition as his father, Paddy Larkin, had played for Kilkenny in the 1930s and had won three All-Ireland medals from seven appearances. The young Larkin soon started playing hurling with his local James Stephens club, and is skills quickly became apparent. He soon joined the Kilkenny minor team and played in the 1959 All-Ireland Minor Final,. Unfortunately Larkin's side were defeated by Tipperary on that occasion.

Larkin made his senior debut in the Autumn of 1962 against Tipperary and was on the team that won the Leinster Championship for the first time in four years in 1963. Kilkenny advanced on to the All-Ireland final where they defeated Waterford, with Larkin collecting his first All-Ireland medal. The following year Larkin had claimed his second Leinster medal, but his side were defeated in the final by his old enemies of Tipperary. Kilkenny lost the Leinster final in 1965, but returned in 1966 with a side that didn't contain Larkin. He remained sidelined for five years, making a return at corner-back, marking Babs Keating, in the 1971 All-Ireland final. Although Kilkenny lost that day they returned in 1972 to win the All-Ireland. It was Larkin's second All-Ireland winners medal as a player, coming a full nine years after his first.

Kilkenny were defeated by Limerick in 1973 but returned to claim back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 1974 and 1975. The 1975 final against Galway saw Larkin produce what many believe to have been his best ever display for Kilkenny. It was also in 1975 that he won the second of his County Championship medals with James Stephens, later captaining the side to All-Ireland Club success over Blackrock. Larkin was captain again when Kilkenny added the National Hurling League title to the All-Ireland by beating Clare. In 1978 Kilkenny wer back as Leinster champions with Larkin winning his eighth provincial medal. Unfortunately for Kilkenny, Cork completed a three-in-a-row, winning the All-Ireland final by 1-15 to 2-8.

In 1979 Larkin won another provincial championship, before going on to claim his fifth All-Ireland medal at the age of 38. It was his last big occasion at Croke Park but he continued to hurl with James Stephens and won his fourth County Championship medal in 1981. Larkin remained with the team, winning another All-Ireland club title in 1982. His son, Philly Larkin, also played with Kilkenny and won an All-Ireland medals in 2000 and 2003.