Christy Heffernan
Encyclopedia
Christy Heffernan 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.
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.
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.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
retired sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Glenmore
Glenmore GAA
Glenmore is a Gaelic Athletic Association club situated in the south of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1888 and has achieved hurling success at county, provincial and national level. Glenmore has also provided the Kilkenny intercounty team with several top players...
and was a member of the Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s. Heffernan is regarded as one of Kilkenny's greatest-ever players.
Club
Heffernan played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local Glenmore
Glenmore GAA
Glenmore is a Gaelic Athletic Association club situated in the south of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1888 and has achieved hurling success at county, provincial and national level. Glenmore has also provided the Kilkenny intercounty team with several top players...
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
Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between the winners of the senior club hurling championships of the counties in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Ballyhale Shamrocks from Kilkenny. The first Leinster senior club hurling...
club title. Glenmore later defeated Patrickswell
Patrickswell GAA
Patrickswell GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the small village of Patrickswell in County Limerick, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.-Honours:*Munster Senior Club Hurling Championships: 2...
in the All-Ireand
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
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 KilkennyKilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
senior hurling panel that won the National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
in 1982 and later collected his first Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
title. Heffernan subsequently won his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in 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
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
. Heffernan’s side took a back seat to Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County 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
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
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.