Colin Fennelly

Colin Fennelly (born 25 August 1989) is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a corner-forward for the Kilkenny senior team.^[1]

Fennelly made his first appearance for the team during the 2011 championship and quickly became a regular member of the starting fifteen. In his debut season he won an All-Ireland winner's medals and a Leinster winner's medals.

At club level, Fennelly has won an All-Ireland winners' medal and is a double Leinster medalist with Ballyhale Shamrocks. In addition to this he has also won two county club championship winners' medals.

He is a brother of All-Ireland-winning captain Michael Fennelly and a nephew of double All-Ireland-winning captain Liam Fennelly.^[2][3]

Playing career

Club

Fennelly plays his club hurling with the Ballyhale Shamrocks club.

In 2007 Fennelly was still a minor when he joined the Shamrocks' senior team. He won his first county club championship winners' medal that year following a 1-20 to 1-10 defeat if St. Martin's.^[4]

Fennelly was on course for a second consecutive county title in 2008, however, an injury ruled him out of Ballyhale's county final victory over James Stephens. He subsequently returned to the starting fifteen and collected a Leinster winners' medal following a 2-13 to 1-11 defeat of Birr.^[5] Ballyhale Shamrocks were subsequently blitzed on a score line of 5–11 to 1–16 by Portumna in the All-Ireland semi-final.^[6]

Ballyhale Shamrocks completed a famous four-in-a-row in 2009, with Fennelly winning his second county winners' medal following a 1-14 to 1-11 defeat of James Stephens.^[7] He later added a second Leinster club winners' medal to his collection following a 1-16 to 1-8 defeat of Tullamore, before lining out in his first All-Ireland final.^[8] Portumna were the opponents on that occasion and were the hot favourites for the title, however, a 1-19 t 0-17 score line gave Ballyhale the title and gave Fennelly a coveted All-Ireland winners' medal.^[9]

Minor and under-21

Fennelly first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny minor hurling team in 2006. That year he won a Leinster winners' medal following a crushing 4-22 to 1-5 defeat of Carlow.^[10] Kilkenny were later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.

2007 was Fennelly's final year as a member of the Kilkenny minor team, however, it proved to be a year to forget. A 2-14 to 1-10 defeat by Dublin saw Kilkenny surrender their provincial crown. Fennelly's side were later beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final for the second consecutive year.

By 2008 Fennelly had joined the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won a Leinster winners' medal in that grade in his debut season as Kilkenny trounced Offaly by 2-21 to 2-9.^[11] Fennelly later won an All-Ireland winners' medal following a 2-13 to 0-15 defeat of Tipperary.^[12]

Kilkenny retained their Leinster title in 2009 following a 2-20 to 1-19 defeat of Dublin. A second All-Ireland final appearance for Fennelly soon followed, with Clare providing the opposition. A close game developed, however, Fennelly ended up on the losing side by just a single point.^[13]

Senior

In 2011 Fennelly made his debut for the Kilkenny senior hurling team. He impressed in a number of National Hurling League games and was chosen on the starting fifteen for the final against Dublin. That was a disappointing affair for Kilkenny, who were defeated by 0-22 to 1-7.^[14] Fennelly later made his championship debut against Wexford in a Leinster semi-final and subsequently collected his first Leinster winners' medal following a 4-17 to 1-15 defeat of Dublin.^[15] Fennelly later lined out in his first All-Ireland final when Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the championship decider for the third year in-a-row. Kilkenny started quickly and never surrendered the lead in the 2-17 to 1-16 victory.^[16] It was Fennelly's first All-Ireland winners' medal.

Honours

Club

Ballyhale Shamrocks

• All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2010
• Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship (2): 2008, 2009
• Kilkenny Senior Club Hurling Championship (3): 2007,2008,2009

Inter-county

Kilkenny (senior)

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2011, 2012
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2011
• National Hurling League (1): 2012

Kilkenny (under-21)

• All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2008
• Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (2): 2008, 2009

Kilkenny (minor)

• Leinster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2006

Personal life

Fennelly was born into a family that had a strong association with hurling. His father and six uncles - Liam, Mick, Ger, Kevin, Brendan, Seán and Dermot – all formed the backbone of the Ballyhale Shamrocks team from the 1970s until the 1990s.

Fennelly was educated at the local national school in Ballyhale and later attended Scoil Aireagail where he first lined out at inter-county level in the Leinster schools' championship. He later attended the Cork Institute of Technology where he studied construction management. He later joined the Irish Defence Forces.

References