Club Achievements

Phil Hennessy - Nenagh Eire Og

Back in 1951, Phil Hennessy lined out at right half forward for St Mary's (as Eire Og were then known) when they defeated Roscrea in the North Minor Hurling final. On a final score of 6-20 to 2-2 in favour of St Marys, Phil was the outstanding forward on view and clear cut man of the match. It was Phil's third North Minor medal having also won in 1948 and 1949. He was deprived of his 4th title in 1952 at the hands of Kilruane McDonagh. Having lined out for 5 successive years as a minor with Nenagh, it was no surprise that Phil went on represent his county with distinction. In 1952, Phil lined out for Tipperary at midfield in the All Ireland Minor win over Dublin. Phil was partnered that day by soccer star Niall Quinn's father Billy. On the day, Phil contributed 1-1 to the victorious total.

Phil progressed to the Tipperary Senior team and in 1959 he won a National League title. In the same year, Phil travelled to America where Tipperary played New York and won a St. Brendans medal. An Oireachtas medal followed in 1961.

On the club front, Phil won 2 North medals in 1957 and '64. In the '64 game, Phil received the Man of the Match award where he partnered Tony Tierney at midfield. His son, Phil emulated his success with North titles in 1992 and '93 plus a County title in 1995.

Interestingly, Phil's father was a Toomevara man, Patrick Hennessy who hurled for Toomevara and was their club secretary for a long number of years. Phil always enjoyed the clashes with Toomevara in the late 50's and early 60's.

Honours:
2 North Senior Hurling
3 North Minor Hurling
1 All Ireland Minor Hurling
1 Oireachtas 1961
1 National Hurling League 1958/59
1 St Brendan Medal 1959
2 Croke Cup medals 1948-49 (Nenagh CBS)

Phil Hennessy also had the distinction of being nominated at left half forward in the Sunday Independent lists of the best players ever who did not win an All-Ireland medal.

 May he rest in peace.

Phil Hennessy - An Unsung Hero
By Gerry Quinlan

Phil was a quiet unassuming man of few words. Yet on the field of play he displayed a hurling eloquence that was virtually unmatchable. For a quiet man, it was rather paradoxical that he was revered by one and all of his playing mates over a long hurling career, was feared and envied by his competitors and was probably one of the most consistent, influential and talented player. Phil was a quiet unassuming man of few words. Yet on the field of play he displayed a hurling eloquence that was virtually unmatchable. For a quiet man, it was rather paradoxical that he was revered by one and all of his playing mates over a long hurling career, was feared and envied by his competitors and was probably one of the most consistent, influential and talented players that ever wore the light blue and other distinguished colours of Nenagh Eire Óg.

One can err on the side of overstatements on an emotional occasion such as a graveside burial. Speaking to a hurling colleague of his after lowering his kind soul into the dampening earth of Lisboney, I boldly declared that Phil was in the top five of Nenagh’s all time greats. After some hesitation and with profundity and sincerity he responded by saying, I consider him in the top two. No more was said and I dared not ask who was the other one. Many of his former player colleagues won more medals, had greater hurling achievements on the field of play, had more nationwide hurling recognition. But few, if any, were admired in a quiet way for the talented, consistent, an effective manner in which Phil displayed his gifts on the hurling field and, certainly, none were more popular both with his team mates and supporters. He was the ultimate skill man, never indulged in foul play and his aerial skills were a delight to behold. What a masterful, complete and talented hurler he was.

He was born in 1934 into a traditional hurling family. His father Paddy Hennessy won a senior hurling north and county medal in 1910 with the famed Toomevara Greyhounds and he served as treasurer of Toomevara club for a long number of years and was vice chairman of the Tipperary County Board from 1916 to 1922. Phil’s mother Helen was a sister of the famous Bill Collins of Grawn who was another of Wedger’s men during the all conquering Toomevara greyhound era.

Phil displayed exceptional hurling talents at a very early age and was one of the few if only players to play on the Nenagh C.B.S. Croke team for three consecutive years from 1947 to 1949, winning two finals. In the first of those years he was still in primary school and the cant from the late Brother Hayes who was in charge of the team was, Send for young Hennessy. He won three North Tipperary hurling minor medals from 1948 to 1950 with St. Mary’s Nenagh, also a minor football medal, then two senior north hurling medals in 1957 and 1964 and a junior football medal in 1962. In those years he quickly won recognition for his county and played at centre field in the All-Ireland minor hurling final of 1952 with Billy Quinn (father of famous Niall Quinn) and scored 1-1 from centre field in a decisive victory over Dublin. Tony Wall captained that side. An extract from the Guardian report on the game goes as follows: Tipperary gave a magnificent display even when hard pressed. Phil Hennessy, who is a son of the late Paddy Hennessy of Toomevara Greyhounds fame and a well known Referee in his day, played an outstanding game and had a score of 1-2 to his credit. He was very resourceful in close work.
Tipperary during that time was at the zenith of its hurling achievements and it was only exceptional players that managed to achieve senior county status. Phil was so recognised and won Leahy Cup medals with Tipperary in 1957 and ?58 and then went on to win a National League medal in 1959 and subsequently traveled to America with the Tipperary team where he won a St. Brendan Cup medal. He also won an Oireachtas medal in 1961. It is noteworthy that in the centenary G.A.A. year of 1984 Phil Hennessy was nominated on the Sunday Independent list of, Best Players never to Win an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Medal, Phil was proud of these achievements but far prouder when his son Philip went on to win North senior hurling medals with Nenagh in 1992 and 1993 and was a member of the all conquering county senior hurling team of 1995 when Nenagh won its first county title. Philip also got recognition from Tipperary at Minor, Under 21 and Senior level.

Even of greater pride to the late Phil was when his grandchildren also showed their exceptional talent on the hurling field, Fiona playing camogie with Eire Óg; Conor also displaying his talents in underage hurling and Shane who has just won Under 12 hurling and football medals with the club. All three are very successful athletes with Nenagh Olympic. Tipperary were an all conquering hurling force in the fifties and sixties but at that time work was scarce and money was even scarcer. Emigration was rampant and unfortunately many of our talented players were forced to emigrate to England and the U.S.A. Phil departed to England for a short number of years but fortunately he secured a job in Nenagh Aluminum factory and returned home in 1962. It was a very fortunate homecoming for Eire Óg and in the subsequent years he played a huge role at centre field in bringing many honours to his home town. In The Guardian report on the North Final of 1964 when Eire Og beat Roscrea by 5-12 to 2-8 the newspaper stated: ?It was essentially a team achievement but one player stood head and shoulders above all others and that was Éire Og?s Mid fielder Phil Hennessy. Hennessy was immense for the entire hour raining long drives into the heart of Roscrea territory and completely outplaying those sent to curb his activity. Hennessy who has been in London for some time past has taken up employment with a Nenagh Firm and will be training with the remainder of his team mates for the Semi- Final clash with the winners of Holycross v Marlsfield. Hennessy was the man of the hour for the Nenagh Team.

Phil as a human being was a most likable individual and was held in the highest respect by the hurling fraternity not just in Nenagh but also in his adjoining parish of Toomevara and in fact all of the parishes throughout North Tipperary. Phil was a silent and gentle giant. He was born with a unique talent which he quietly and consistently displayed. Never one for boastful comment he had a lovely quiet sense of humour, and when on certain occasions something funny would pickle him he would display a beautiful, slight Mona Lisa smile and chuckle quietly to himself. On one occasion in the Hi-B when a well known senior player of his own era was coming into prominence, he spoke in glowing terms of some great junior match that he had won with Nenagh. Phil jokingly retorted by saying: ?I was never bad enough to be a junior hurler. It was heartening indeed to see all his former playing mates turn out for a guard of honour on the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning and also to see all the juvenile players pay their respect to this wonderful hurler.

May the Lisboney soil sit lightly on his gentle soul. His remains now lie looking down on the fields of Lisboney where he sported and played and enjoyed so may wonderful hours with his sporting colleagues and neighbours from that area. He will be sadly missed by all his dear neighbours and good friends from Nenagh, Toomevara and all the adjoining parishes. Phil’s gentle demeanor has left an indelible imprint on the minds and hearts of all of us who were fortunate enough to have known and played with him. Phil, you will be long cherished and remembered.