PICTURES: Forty years on - Kilkenny prepares to relive the double-double!

Memories of a golden age of 1980s hurling will be recalled later this year when the Kilkenny double-winning teams of 1982 and 1983 reunite for a special celebration.

Hard to believe, but it is 40 years since Kilkenny won back-to-back All-Ireland and National Hurling League titles in 1982 and 1983. Members of both panels will come together again to recall their glory days at a reunion in Langton’s this September.

The winning run began in April 1982, when Kilkenny scored a 2-14 to 1-11 victory over Wexford in the National Hurling League final which was played in Croke Park. Ironically, Kilkenny played that year in Division 1B, winning promotion to Division 1A the following year.

That result created expectations of championship success and Kilkenny started impressively in the Leinster semi-final, beating Westmeath 7-31 to 0-13.

Offaly, who beat Wexford in the Leinster quarter-final that year, were Kilkenny’s opponents in the Leinster final. They were also the reigning All-Ireland and Leinster champions.

The closeness of the exchanges and the tightness of the marking meant that the game was always going to be low scoring.

Offaly were 0-12 to 0-9 in front with six minutes remaining when a Dick O’Hara delivery towards the Offaly goal appeared to be going wide. The Offaly goalie Damien Martin was shepherding the ball over the line when Liam Fennelly flicked it across the square to Matt Ruth, who finished it to the Offaly net.

Martin and Offaly were adamant that the ball had gone wide. TV pictures were inconclusive, but Kilkenny were not complaining. That goal tied the game and Kilkenny summoned up two final big efforts with points from Ger Fennelly and Billy Fitzpatrick to win by 1-11 to 0-12.

In the All-Ireland semi-final Kilkenny overcame Galway on a score of 2-20 to 2-10 to qualify for the All-Ireland final.

Cork were Kilkenny’s opponents in that final which was played in Croke Park on September 5. The Rebels comprehensively beat Waterford by 5-31 to 3-6 in the Munster final and were warm favourites for the All-Ireland title.

The teams were evenly matched in the first half, but Kilkenny would have been grateful to netminder Noel Skehan, who saved a goal-bound shot from Seanie O’Leary.

During the opening quarter the Cork full-back Martin Doherty was winning his duel with Kilkenny full-forward Christy Heffernan but the big Glenmore man roared into the game in the second quarter, scoring two goals.

Cork were now reeling and were struggling to handle a Kilkenny side that was playing their best hurling. Ger Fennelly scored a third Kilkenny goal nine minutes into the second half to push his side into a 3-14 to 0-9 lead.

Cork continued to press forward, but Noel Skehan was playing a blinder and deservedly won the Man of the Match award later that evening on RTÉ. Eamonn O’Donoghue did manage to get a Cork goal, but it made little difference to the final scoreline as Kilkenny won 3-18 to 1-13.

Kilkenny successfully defended their National Hurling League title the following year, beating Limerick by 2-14 to 2-12 in the final at Semple Stadium, Thurles. Now the pressure was on Kilkenny to complete the double of league and championship, two years in a row.

Old foes Wexford awaited Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final. The Noresiders won on a score of 5-13 to 3-15 after Wexford had led 1-10 to 1-3 at the interval. Wexford were dominating and it took a goal close to half-time from Christy Heffernan to stir the Cats.
Kilkenny looked to be in real trouble when Seanie Kinsella scored another Wexford goal early in the second half, a score that stretched the Model County’s lead to 10 points (2-10 to 1-3), but astute moves by the Kilkenny selectors had a big bearing on the result of the game.

In a glorious seven-minute spell Kilkenny scored a brace of goals through Kieran Brennan and Billy Fitzpatrick to tie the game.

A decision by Laois referee Jimmy Rankins to send off Christy Heffernan and Tony Walsh had a profound impact on the remainder of the game. The extra space around the Wexford goal gave Liam Fennelly a couple of chances and he bagged two goals with Billy Fitzpatrick adding a point.

Kilkenny now led by seven points and although Seanie Kinsella scored another Wexford goal, Kilkenny ran out deserving 5-13 to 3-15 winners.

Offaly, who scored a 12-point win over Dublin in the other semi-final, were Kilkenny opponents in the provincial decider. The closeness of the exchanges in the first half meant scores were at a premium, but Kilkenny led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval.

The key moment of the second half was a Christy Heffernan goal, which initially started with a great run from Joe Hennessy who offloaded the ball to Liam Fennelly. The Ballyhale clubman waited for a challenge from Offaly full-back Eugene Coughlan before moving the ball to Christy Heffernan, who pulled first time and drove the sliotar into the Offaly net.

That goal was instrumental in forging Kilkenny ahead and they went on to win the game 1-17 to 0-13.

Cork comfortably saw off Waterford in the 1993 Munster hurling final, winning by 3-22 to 0-12. The Rebels were keen to atone for what they saw as a below-par display in the previous year’s All-Ireland final.

A howling gale blew down the Croke Park pitch towards the Railway End. Cork won the toss and decided to play against the elements. It appeared to be a good decision as Kilkenny only led by six points (1-10 to 0-7) at the interval, the goal coming from Billy Fitzpatrick.

Knowing that they had a battle on their hands, Kilkenny started the second half in whirlwind fashion, Richie Power scoring a goal inside a minute of the restart after being set up by Harry Ryan.

When Billy Fitzpatrick pointed a free, Kilkenny led by 10 points. A brace of goals for Cork from Seanie O’Leary and Tómas Mulcahy made for a tight finish, but Kilkenny managed to keep their heads in front to win 2-14 to 2-12 - the same score as in the league final some months earlier, which Kilkenny also won.

Noel Skehan won his ninth All-Ireland medal that afternoon. Liam Fennelly was the team captain and with his brother Ger having captained Kilkenny to an All-Ireland title in 1979, they made a piece of sporting history by becoming the first set of brothers to captain an All-Ireland winning senior team in either hurling or Gaelic football.

The players will be able to look back on their great days when a reunion of the panels from both years, along with the team mentors, will be held in Langton’s on Saturday, September 16.

Kilkenny 1982 - Noel Skehan, John Henderson, Brian Cody (captain), Dick O’Hara, Nickey Brennan, Ger Henderson, Paddy Prendergast, Joe Hennessy, Frank Cummins, Richie, Power, Ger Fennelly, Kieran Brennan, Billy Fitzpatrick, Christy Heffernan, Liam Fennelly, Kevin Fennelly, Paddy Neary, Tom McCormack, Matt Ruth, Mick Brennan, Billy Purcell (RIP), Dinny McCormack, Billy Walton (RIP), Frank Holohan, Eamonn Wallace (RIP), Maurice Power.

Selectors: Michael O’Neill (RIP), Fan Larkin, Pat Delaney (RIP), Kieran Meally (RIP), Brendan O’Sullivan, Pat Henderson (coach/trainer).

Kilkenny 1983 - Noel Skehan, John Henderson, Brian Cody, Dick O’Hara, Joe Hennessy, Ger Henderson, Paddy Prendergast, Frank Cummins, Ger Fennelly, Richie Power, Kieran Brennan, Liam Fennelly (captain), Billy Fitzpatrick, Christy Heffernan, Harry Ryan (RIP), Kevin Fennelly, Nickey Brennan, Paddy Neary, Tom McCormack, Sean Fennelly, Paudie Lennon, Billy Purcell (RIP), Eamonn Wallace (RIP), Gordon Ryan, Michael Kelly.

Selectors: Michael O’Neill (RIP), Tom Ryan, Pat Delaney (RIP), Mick Crotty, Brendan O’Sullivan, Pat Henderson (coach/trainer).

Referee- Noel O’Donoghue (Dublin) refereed both the 1982 and 1983 All-Ireland senior hurling finals.