Club Achievements

Achievements
North Tipp Senior Hurling: 1992, 1993, 1998
County Senior Hurling: 1995
All-Ireland Senior: 1989
Munster Senior: 1987, 1988, 1989
National Hurling League: 1987/1988
North Tipp Centenary Cup: 1984
North Tipp Senior League: 1988
Munster U21 Hurling 1983
Toronto Cup (Skydome, Canada)
Railway Cup final for Munster: 1989
All Star Nomination (corner back): 1989
North, County & Munster Junior Hurling: 2001 (Junior hurler of the year)
North and County U/21 Hurling: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
County Minor Hurling: 1978
North Minor Hurling: 1978, 1979
North and County U 16 Hurling: 1979 (Captain)
North and County Intermediate Football: 1988, 1997
North and County Junior Football: 1986
Senior Football: 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995
North Junior Football: 1985
North U 21 Football: 1983, 1984

In a club playing career spanning over 30 years, John Heffernan is the holder of an astonishing collection of over 20 North and 12 County titles in hurling and football with Nenagh Eire Og. Johns' biggest influence on his career was his father Mick, whose passion for hurling was unbelievable and as Johns says “It was through his eyes that I first fell in love with the game. Growing up in the Heffernan household was simple, you hurled first and lived life second". As John notes “It was my fathers passion for the blue and gold that made me dream of one day wearing the Tipperary colours. The way his face and eyes would light up when he'd speak of Babs Keating, Christy Ring, Eddie Keher, Mick Burns and the hero's of his own beloved Kilruane team from the 1940's (the Iron Man, the O’Meara's, the Gibsons) and one of his toughest opponents “Stormy” Morrissey of Kildangan would inspire any young fella to reach for a hurl and go training". While John credits his father Mick (a passionate Kilruane man) for his love of hurling, he is quick to state that his passion for the sky blue of Nenagh "comes from within" and thankfully will be with him until the day he dies.

While one of the highlights of John Heffernans hurling career was winning an All Ireland with Tipperary in 1989, (following which he received an All star nomination), his greatest achievement was that he played senior hurling (in every position) for the sky blue jersey of Nenagh Eire Og for 22 years. Making his club Senior debut in 1979 at the age of fifteen, he subsequently went on to play for club and county at all grades and levels. Better known in his younger days as a free scoring forward, John played for Tipperary in a Munster minor final against Clare. John later captained the Tipperary U/21 team at the age of 18 before he moved into a defensive role and made his first appearance on the Tipperary senior team in 1986 in what was Babs Keatings first outing as manager. Thus began a hugely successful era in Tipperary hurling where in addition to winning an All Ireland Senior in 1989 at corner back, John won Munster medals in 1987, 1988 and 1989 and a National League title in 1988. A noteworthy achievement during his playing career was to hold his direct opponents scoreless during both All Ireland finals of 1988 and ’89.

A huge personal honour from the club for John was to captain Nenagh in the clubs first ever County Senior final in 1993. In what many describe as the biggest sporting event in the clubs history, Nenagh had the mis-fortune to fall at the final hurdle by the minimum margin, despite having defeated their opponents on two occasions during the North championship. He subsequently reverted to a forward role and contributed a total of 1-3 (top scorer from play) in the 1995 county senior final when Nenagh won their first county title. He believes to this day that… “if the boys’ had passed him the ball in the first half he would have scored a lot more” . John rates the winning of a North Senior championship medal in 1992 (at wing back) against Lorrha as his greatest honour, (a game which many supporters claim as his finest display), it was a loss to the same opposition in the North semi final of 1989 after leading by 8 pts with 3 minutes to go which was his greatest disappointment. The loss of the 1988 All Ireland final also ranks as a huge disappointment.

John Heffernan’s crisp snappy stroke, elegant footwork, baffling sidestep and whole hearted approach left many an opponent who had the misfortune to be pitted against him, feeling exasperated. In addition to his skill level, John is renowned as one of the most stylish backmen ever to play for Tipperary and was noted for his level of consistency and overall mental approach to the game.

John admires the current Nenagh Senior team for their ability and courage to keep coming back year after year and his remaining sporting ambition is to see the team regain the North and County titles and then go on to achieve Munster and All Ireland club championship success. His favourite present day players include Richie Flannery, Kevin Tucker, Eddie Tucker and Noel Maloney for their attitude to training and to the club. Favourite players from the past include Jim Williams (Kilruane), Tadgh O’Connor (Roscrea), John Leahy (Mullinahone) and Declan Ryan (Clonoulty). Johns' advice to young players is to always have the mindset of improving your game: skill, fitness, speed, strength and his motto is that "you should never be happy with where you are at, as there is always a way to get to the next level if you want it badly enough".

John after 1995 County final