Fergal Hartley
Encyclopedia
Fergal Hartley is an Irish hurler
who plays with both Waterford
and Ballygunner
at club level. Hartley is considered one of the greatest centre-half backs of the modern game.
. Hartley won his seventh county championship title in 2005 however this time he was unable to convert it to a Munster medal despite being named the AIB Man of the Match again this time versus Newtownshandrum
.
team of that season.
In the same year he was named 2002 AIB Munster Council Hurler of the Year.
2004 marked the start of a new era for Waterford hurling, it was the first Munster Senior Hurling campaign in thirteen years that one that the name of Fergal Hartley did not appear on the Waterford team sheet.
For the previous twelve years Fergal Hartley was not just one of Waterford’s best players but one of the games very best exponents. A wonderful player in every aspect of the word. Stylish, tough, majestic, a born leader, all the qualities of a great player.
However, Fergal returned to play one last championship in 2005.
Fergal again retired at the end of 2005 despite claiming the man of the match award in December's Munster club final against Newtownshandrum
.
Fergal said at the time, " I'm 34 next month and apart from that, every fella has to know when it is time to call a halt, If I went back this year, I wouldn't have been guaranteed a game. I'm busy at work, I'm busy at home and very few fellas play at 34 years old.".
Fergal still plays at club level with Ballygunner
. However, due to recent injuries Fergal has reverted to a position on goal.
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...
who plays with both Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
and Ballygunner
Ballygunner GAA
Ballygunner GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Ballygunner in County Waterford, Ireland. The club is exclusively concerned with hurling.- History :...
at club level. Hartley is considered one of the greatest centre-half backs of the modern game.
Club
Fergal has seven senior county medals in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2001. This last win was later converted into a Munster club hurling title were he was the AIB Man of the Match against BlackrockBlackrock GAA
Blackrock National Hurling Club is a G.A.A. club located on the southside of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1883 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-History:...
. Hartley won his seventh county championship title in 2005 however this time he was unable to convert it to a Munster medal despite being named the AIB Man of the Match again this time versus Newtownshandrum
Newtownshandrum GAA
Newtownshandrum GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the small village of Newtownshandrum in County Cork, Ireland. The club, situated in half a parish of about 800 people, was founded in 1896 and is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.In senior hurling...
.
Inter-County
Fergal is generally known for playing at centre back although, later in his career, he reverted to full back at inter-county level. Fergal captained Waterford in 2002 and is remembered as the person who received the winning trophy when Waterford won the Munster Hurling final against Tipperary earning himself the right half-back berth on the Vodafone GAA All-StarsGAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
team of that season.
In the same year he was named 2002 AIB Munster Council Hurler of the Year.
Retirement
Fergal retired from inter-county hurling in the wake of the side's All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Wexford at Nowlan Park in July 2003.2004 marked the start of a new era for Waterford hurling, it was the first Munster Senior Hurling campaign in thirteen years that one that the name of Fergal Hartley did not appear on the Waterford team sheet.
For the previous twelve years Fergal Hartley was not just one of Waterford’s best players but one of the games very best exponents. A wonderful player in every aspect of the word. Stylish, tough, majestic, a born leader, all the qualities of a great player.
However, Fergal returned to play one last championship in 2005.
Fergal again retired at the end of 2005 despite claiming the man of the match award in December's Munster club final against Newtownshandrum
Newtownshandrum GAA
Newtownshandrum GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the small village of Newtownshandrum in County Cork, Ireland. The club, situated in half a parish of about 800 people, was founded in 1896 and is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.In senior hurling...
.
Fergal said at the time, " I'm 34 next month and apart from that, every fella has to know when it is time to call a halt, If I went back this year, I wouldn't have been guaranteed a game. I'm busy at work, I'm busy at home and very few fellas play at 34 years old.".
Fergal still plays at club level with Ballygunner
Ballygunner GAA
Ballygunner GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Ballygunner in County Waterford, Ireland. The club is exclusively concerned with hurling.- History :...
. However, due to recent injuries Fergal has reverted to a position on goal.