Billy Fitzpatrick
Encyclopedia
Billy Fitzpatrick is an Irish
retired sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club the Fenians and was a member of the Kilkenny
senior inter-county team from 1974 until 1986. Fitzpatrick captained Kilkenny to the All-Ireland
title in 1975.
in 1954. From an early age he showed great skill at the game of hurling
. He was educated locally and later attended St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny
city, a secondary school and noted nursery for young hurling talent. It was here that his hurling skills were further developed. Fitzpatrick first tasted success when he won an All-Ireland Colleges’ title with Kieran’s in 1971. He was captain of the side the following year when the college lost to Farranferris of Cork
.
club hurling title in 1974, but lost to St. Finbarr's
of Cork
in the All-Ireland
final.
inter-county selectors and he quickly joined the minor team. In 1972 he won his first All-Ireland
medal when the Kilkenny minors beat the Cork minors in the final. Fitzpatrick quickly moved onto the Kilkenny under-21 team where he won back-to-back All-Ireland
medals in 1974 and 1975. These were Kilkenny’s first titles at under-21 level.
Fitzpatrick made his senior debut in a National Hurling League
game against Cork in 1973. In 1974 he became a regular in the half-forward line and won his first Leinster
medal at senior level. This was subsequently converted into his first senior All-Ireland
medal following a win over Limerick
. In 1975 Fitzpatrick, although still only 21 years-old, was appointed captain of Kilkenny’s senior hurling team. He captured his second Leinster title before leading Kilkenny to victory over Galway
in the first 70-minute All-Ireland final. For the next two years Wexford
ousted Kilkenny as provincial champions, however, Fitzpatrick won his first National Hurling League
title in 1976. "The Cats" were back in 1978 with Fitzpatrick winning his third Leinster title. Kilkenny were subsequently defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland final.
In 1979 Fitzpatrick won his fourth provincial medal before later claiming his third All-Ireland title following another win over Galway. For the next two years Offaly
emerged as Leinster champions, however, Fitzpatrick won his second National Hurling League title in 1982, before winning his fifth provincial title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Kilkenny demolished Cork with Fitzpatrick winning his fourth All-Ireland medal as well as being honoured with his first All-Star
award. In 1983 captured a unique double by claiming back-to-back League, Leinster and All-Ireland honours. In the All-Ireland final against Cork Fitzpatrick gave one of the best performances of his life when he scored ten points. Once again he was honoured with another All-Star award.
Fitzpatrick continued playing with Kilkenny until 1986 when he retired following a National League game against Galway.
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 the Fenians 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 from 1974 until 1986. Fitzpatrick captained Kilkenny to the 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....
title in 1975.
Biography
Billy Fitzpatrick was born in Johnstown, County KilkennyJohnstown, County Kilkenny
Johnstown , historically known as Coorthafooka , is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Bypassed in December 2008 by the M8, the town lies at the junction of the R639, the R502 and the R435 regional roads. It is the home of the Fenians GAA hurling club...
in 1954. From an early age he showed great skill at the game of 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...
. He was educated locally and later attended St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
city, a secondary school and noted nursery for young hurling talent. It was here that his hurling skills were further developed. Fitzpatrick first tasted success when he won an All-Ireland Colleges’ title with Kieran’s in 1971. He was captain of the side the following year when the college lost to Farranferris of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
.
Club
Fitzpatrick played his club hurling with Fenians club in Johnstown. He had much success at underage levels before joining the senior team in the early 1970s. In all he won four Kilkenny SHC titles with the club in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1977. Fitzpatrick also won a LeinsterLeinster 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 hurling title in 1974, but lost to St. Finbarr's
St. Finbarr's GAA
St. Finbarr's National Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Togher area of Cork city, County Cork, Ireland....
of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in the All-Ireland
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.
Inter-county
By the early 1970s Fitzpatrick had come to the attention 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...
inter-county selectors and he quickly joined the minor team. In 1972 he won his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
medal when the Kilkenny minors beat the Cork minors in the final. Fitzpatrick quickly moved onto the Kilkenny under-21 team where he won back-to-back All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
medals in 1974 and 1975. These were Kilkenny’s first titles at under-21 level.
Fitzpatrick made his senior debut in a 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...
game against Cork in 1973. In 1974 he became a regular in the half-forward line and won 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....
medal at senior level. This was subsequently converted into his first senior 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 following a win over Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
. In 1975 Fitzpatrick, although still only 21 years-old, was appointed captain of Kilkenny’s senior hurling team. He captured his second Leinster title before leading Kilkenny to victory over 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,...
in the first 70-minute All-Ireland final. For the next two years Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
ousted Kilkenny as provincial champions, however, Fitzpatrick won his first 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...
title in 1976. "The Cats" were back in 1978 with Fitzpatrick winning his third Leinster title. Kilkenny were subsequently defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland final.
In 1979 Fitzpatrick won his fourth provincial medal before later claiming his third All-Ireland title following another win over Galway. For the next two years 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...
emerged as Leinster champions, however, Fitzpatrick won his second National Hurling League title in 1982, before winning his fifth provincial title. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Kilkenny demolished Cork with Fitzpatrick winning his fourth All-Ireland medal as well as being honoured with his first All-Star
GAA 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...
award. In 1983 captured a unique double by claiming back-to-back League, Leinster and All-Ireland honours. In the All-Ireland final against Cork Fitzpatrick gave one of the best performances of his life when he scored ten points. Once again he was honoured with another All-Star award.
Fitzpatrick continued playing with Kilkenny until 1986 when he retired following a National League game against Galway.