Christy Heffernan

Christy Heffernan (Irish: Críostóir Ó hIfearnáin; born 26 December 1957) is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glenmore and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s. Heffernan is regarded as one of Kilkenny's greatest-ever players.

Playing career

Club

Heffernan played his club hurling with his local Glenmore club. He enjoyed much success with the club and won his first senior county title in 1987. Heffernan won a second county medal in 1990 and this was quickly converted into a Leinster club title. Glenmore later defeated Patrickswell in the All-Ireand final, with Heffernan scoring the winning goal in the 33rd minute. In 1992 Heffernan won his third county medal. 1995 saw Glenmore winning a fourth county title which was subsequently converted into a second Leinster club title for Heffernan. He won a fifth and final county medal in 1999.

Inter-county

Heffernan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene in the early 1980s. He was a member of the Kilkenny senior hurling panel that won the National Hurling League in 1982 and later collected his first Leinster title. Heffernan subsequently won his first All-Ireland medal as Kilkenny defeated Cork in the championship decider. The following year Heffernan won his first National League title before winning his second Leinster title. He later won his second consecutive All-Ireland medal following a second consecutive defeat of Cork in the final. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown for the following few years, however, Heffernan won a second National League medal and a third Leinster medal in 1986, however, ‘the Cats’ were beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final.

In 1987 Heffernan won his fourth Leinster title, however, Kilkenny went on to lose the All-Ireland final to Galway. Heffernan’s side took a back seat to Offaly for the next few years in the Leinster Championship, however, he did win a third National League title in 1990. In 1991 Heffernan was appointed captain of the Kilkenny hurling team. That year he won a fifth Leinster medal, however, his side were subsequently defeated by Tipperary in the All-Ireland final. 1992 saw Heffernan add a sixth provincial title to his collection and he later claimed a third All-Ireland medal when he came on as a substitute in Kilkenny’s defeat of Cork in the All-Ireland final. In 1993 he collected a seventh Leinster title before once again coming on as a substitute to claim a fourth All-Ireland medal in Kilkenny’s defeat of Galway in the All-Ireland final.

External links

• Christy Heffernan's match by match profile

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