Fergal Healy
Encyclopedia
Fergal Healy is an Irish
sportsperson. He plays hurling
with his local club Craughwell and has been a member of the Galway
senior inter-county team from 1997-2009.
at an early age. As a member of the county's under-14 team he captured a Tony Forrestal Cup winners' medal in the early 1990s. Healy was later chosen on the Galway under-16 team, with whom he collected a Nenagh Co-Op title.
Healy subsequently became a member of the Galway minor team, where he was successful once again. In 1993 Galway qualified for the All-Ireland final, however, Healy was not a member of the starting fifteen. He did enter the field of play as a substitute, however, Galway were defeated by Kilkenny
on that occasion. In 1994 Galway were back in the All-Ireland minor final once again, with Healy lining out on the half-forward line. Cork provided the opposition on this occasion, however, Galway emerged victorious by 2-10 to 1-11. It was Healy's first All-Ireland
medal. Healy played with the Galway minor again in 1995, however, the team's championship involvement ended at the semi-final stage.
In 1996 Healy was eligible to play with the Galway under-21 hurling team. It was a successful year as the county reached the All-Ireland final in that grade. Wexford
were the opponents in that game, however, Galway had a comfortable 1-14 to 0-7 victory. It was Healy's first All-Ireland
medal in the under-21 grade. In 1997 Galway qualified for the All-Ireland final once again. This time Cork provided the opposition and it was Cork who claimed the victory at the full-time whistle. 1998 saw Healy line out in a third consecutive All-Ireland under-21 final. Cork were the opponents once again. After an entertaining hour of hurling it was 'the Rebels' who emerged victorious by 2-15 to 2-10.
1996 also saw Healy taste success with the Galway junior hurling team. That year Healy's county reached the All-Ireland final in that competition. Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion, however, it was Galway who took a 1-14 2-9. This gave Healy a coveted All-Ireland
title at junior level.
Healy made his competitive debut with the Galway senior hurling team in 1997. It took him a few years, however, before he established himself on the championship team.
In 1999 Galway qualified for the final of the National Hurling League
competition. Tipperary
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, after an entertaining seventy minutes it was Tipp who emerged victorious by 1-14 to 1-10. 1999 also saw Healy taste success with the Galway intermediate hurling team. That year Healy's county reached the All-Ireland final in that competition. Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion, however, it was Galway who took a 3-13 to 2-10. This gave Healy a coveted All-Ireland
title at intermediate level.
2000 saw Galway reach the National League final for a second year in-a-row. Tipperary were the opponents once again, however, on this occasion Galway had the upper-hand. A 2-18 to 2-13 victory gave Healy his first major title at senior level. Later that same year Healy made his senior championship debut in an All-Ireland quarter-final against Tipperary. Galway recorded a victory on that occasion, however, Healy had a less than auspiscious debut. Galwya were defeated by Kilkenny in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final.
In 2001 Galway ended a barren spell in the championship by reaching the All-Ireland final. Recent rivals Tipperary were the opponents in what turned out to be an entertaining contest. Healy had a good game in the forward line. He scored a goal for Galway and hit the post twice, however, Mark O'Leary
's two goals gave Tipp the threshold to withstand a Galway fight-back. At the full-time whistle Tipp were the victors by 2-18 to 2-15.
Galwya went through a barren spell following this appearance in the championship decider. In 2005 Galway shocked Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final in one of the games of the decade to book a spot in the All-Ireland final with Cork. A Ben O'Connor
goal in the sixteenth minute paved the way for a cork victory, in spite of a Damien Hayes
goal reducing the deficit to one point. Galway failed to score in the last ten minutes as Cork recorded a 1-21 to 1-16 victory.
The following few seasons saw Galway fail to build on this. In 2006 and 2007 Kilkenny restored the status quo by defeating Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. In 2008 Healy's side failed to beat fourteen-man Cork, thus not even reaching the All-Ireland quarter-final in spite of great expectations.
in the inter-provincial competition. He won a Railway Cup winners' medal in 2004 as Connacht defeated Munster
in the final.
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...
sportsperson. He plays 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 Craughwell and has been a member of the 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,...
senior inter-county team from 1997-2009.
Club
Healy plays his club hurling with his local club in Craughwell and has enjoyed much success. He started to hurl with the club when he was only seven years-old and went on to play in county under-14 and under-16 finals before inspiring the rural Galway side to an historic under-21 county championship breakthrough in the mid-1990s. Healy, however, has never won a senior county title with his club.Inter-county
Healy came to prominence on the inter-county scene with GalwayGalway 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,...
at an early age. As a member of the county's under-14 team he captured a Tony Forrestal Cup winners' medal in the early 1990s. Healy was later chosen on the Galway under-16 team, with whom he collected a Nenagh Co-Op title.
Healy subsequently became a member of the Galway minor team, where he was successful once again. In 1993 Galway qualified for the All-Ireland final, however, Healy was not a member of the starting fifteen. He did enter the field of play as a substitute, however, Galway were defeated by 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...
on that occasion. In 1994 Galway were back in the All-Ireland minor final once again, with Healy lining out on the half-forward line. Cork provided the opposition on this occasion, however, Galway emerged victorious by 2-10 to 1-11. It was Healy's 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. Healy played with the Galway minor again in 1995, however, the team's championship involvement ended at the semi-final stage.
In 1996 Healy was eligible to play with the Galway under-21 hurling team. It was a successful year as the county reached the All-Ireland final in that grade. 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...
were the opponents in that game, however, Galway had a comfortable 1-14 to 0-7 victory. It was Healy's first 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...
medal in the under-21 grade. In 1997 Galway qualified for the All-Ireland final once again. This time Cork provided the opposition and it was Cork who claimed the victory at the full-time whistle. 1998 saw Healy line out in a third consecutive All-Ireland under-21 final. Cork were the opponents once again. After an entertaining hour of hurling it was 'the Rebels' who emerged victorious by 2-15 to 2-10.
1996 also saw Healy taste success with the Galway junior hurling team. That year Healy's county reached the All-Ireland final in that competition. Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion, however, it was Galway who took a 1-14 2-9. This gave Healy a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship was a hurling competition organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland. The competition was originally contested by the second teams of the strong counties, and the first teams of the weaker counties...
title at junior level.
Healy made his competitive debut with the Galway senior hurling team in 1997. It took him a few years, however, before he established himself on the championship team.
In 1999 Galway qualified for the final of the 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...
competition. Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, after an entertaining seventy minutes it was Tipp who emerged victorious by 1-14 to 1-10. 1999 also saw Healy taste success with the Galway intermediate hurling team. That year Healy's county reached the All-Ireland final in that competition. Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion, however, it was Galway who took a 3-13 to 2-10. This gave Healy a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship is a hurling competition played between the strong hurling counties of Ireland. In some cases the teams consist of players who are not on the senior squads for their county , or in others of players who are from junior or intermediate clubs...
title at intermediate level.
2000 saw Galway reach the National League final for a second year in-a-row. Tipperary were the opponents once again, however, on this occasion Galway had the upper-hand. A 2-18 to 2-13 victory gave Healy his first major title at senior level. Later that same year Healy made his senior championship debut in an All-Ireland quarter-final against Tipperary. Galway recorded a victory on that occasion, however, Healy had a less than auspiscious debut. Galwya were defeated by Kilkenny in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final.
In 2001 Galway ended a barren spell in the championship by reaching the All-Ireland final. Recent rivals Tipperary were the opponents in what turned out to be an entertaining contest. Healy had a good game in the forward line. He scored a goal for Galway and hit the post twice, however, Mark O'Leary
Mark O'Leary (hurler)
Mark O'Leary is an Irish sportsman. He plays hurling with his local club Kilruane McDonaghs and previously with the Tipperary senior inter-county team.-Club:O'Leary plays his club hurling with his native Kilruane McDonaghs.-Inter-county:...
's two goals gave Tipp the threshold to withstand a Galway fight-back. At the full-time whistle Tipp were the victors by 2-18 to 2-15.
Galwya went through a barren spell following this appearance in the championship decider. In 2005 Galway shocked Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final in one of the games of the decade to book a spot in the All-Ireland final with Cork. A Ben O'Connor
Ben O'Connor
Ben O'Connor is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Newtownshandrum and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 1999. O'Connor is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.-Biography:Ben O’Connor was born in the village of...
goal in the sixteenth minute paved the way for a cork victory, in spite of a Damien Hayes
Damien Hayes
Damien Hayes is an Irish sportsman. He plays in the corner-forward position on the Galway senior hurling team....
goal reducing the deficit to one point. Galway failed to score in the last ten minutes as Cork recorded a 1-21 to 1-16 victory.
The following few seasons saw Galway fail to build on this. In 2006 and 2007 Kilkenny restored the status quo by defeating Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. In 2008 Healy's side failed to beat fourteen-man Cork, thus not even reaching the All-Ireland quarter-final in spite of great expectations.
Provincial
Healy has also lined out with ConnachtConnacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
in the inter-provincial competition. He won a Railway Cup winners' medal in 2004 as Connacht defeated Munster
Munster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the final.