Johnny Pilkington
Encyclopedia
Johnny Pilkington is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
with the Offaly
inter-county team in the 1990s and 2000s.
, County Offaly
in 1970. He was educated locally and in time he would become one of the most popular hurlers ever to play for Offaly
.
with his local Birr
club, one of the most successful clubs in Ireland. He enjoyed some success at underage levels before winning his first senior county championship title in 1991. This was later converted into a Leinster
club hurling title. Pilkington won a second county medal in 1994, before later claiming a second Leinster and a first All-Ireland
club title. Three years later in 1997 he captured another trio of county, provincial and All-Ireland honours at club level. In 1999 Pilkington won his fourth county title and his fourth Leinster title. The following two seasons were hugely successful for Pilkington as he won back-to-back county, Leinster and All-Ireland medals. Only two other clubs in the history of the All-Ireland championship have achieved such a record. Pilkington won three further county medals in 2003, 2005 and 2006, bringing his medal tally to ten.
minor hurling team in mid-1980s. In 1987 he won both Leinster and All-Ireland
medals at minor level. He later joined the senior team. In 1989 Pilkington was a member of the Offaly senior panel that won the Leinster Championship
. He made his own senior championship debut the following year, in a game against Laois
. That year Pilkington claimed his first Leinster medal as a full member of the team, however, his side were defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final. There was some consolation as Pilkington collected his first All-Star award before helping Offaly to win its very first National Hurling League
title at the beginning of 1991.
Pilkington won another Leinster title in 1994, before later playing in one of the most famous All-Ireland finals of all-time. With five minutes left in the game, Limerick
were leading by five points. Johnny Dooley
scored a goal from a 21-yard free which seemed to open the floodgates as Offaly amassed another 1-6 in the remaining few minutes. Offaly had snatched victory away from Limerick and Pilkington had claimed his first All-Ireland
title. Offaly were back in 1995 winning another Leinster title, however, in the All-Ireland final victory went to Clare
. It was the county’s first All-Ireland win since 1914.
Three years later in 1998 Offaly and Pilkington claimed another All-Ireland title over Kilkenny
,>ref name="Independent"/> having lost the Leinster
final to the same team. In 2000 the old foes of Offaly and Kilkenny met again in both the Leinster and All-Ireland finals, however, this time Kilkenny emerged victorious in one of the most one-sided All-Ireland finals in decades.
Following a heavy defeat at the hands of Kilkenny in the 2001 Leinster semi-final Pilkington decided to retire from inter-county hurling.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played senior 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 the 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...
inter-county team in the 1990s and 2000s.
Early life
Johnny Pilkington was born in BirrBirr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
in 1970. He was educated locally and in time he would become one of the most popular hurlers ever to play for 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...
.
Club
Pilkington played his club hurlingHurling
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 Birr
Birr GAA
Birr GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Birr in County Offaly, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling and are one of the most successful club hurling teams in the country.-Honours:...
club, one of the most successful clubs in Ireland. He enjoyed some success at underage levels before winning his first senior county championship title in 1991. This was later converted into a Leinster
Leinster 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. Pilkington won a second county medal in 1994, before later claiming a second Leinster and a first 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...
club title. Three years later in 1997 he captured another trio of county, provincial and All-Ireland honours at club level. In 1999 Pilkington won his fourth county title and his fourth Leinster title. The following two seasons were hugely successful for Pilkington as he won back-to-back county, Leinster and All-Ireland medals. Only two other clubs in the history of the All-Ireland championship have achieved such a record. Pilkington won three further county medals in 2003, 2005 and 2006, bringing his medal tally to ten.
Inter-county
Pilkington first came to prominence as e member of the OffalyOffaly 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...
minor hurling team in mid-1980s. In 1987 he won both Leinster and 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...
medals at minor level. He later joined the senior team. In 1989 Pilkington was a member of the Offaly senior panel that won the Leinster Championship
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....
. He made his own senior championship debut the following year, in a game against Laois
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
. That year Pilkington claimed his first Leinster medal as a full member of the team, however, his side were defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final. There was some consolation as Pilkington collected his first All-Star award before helping Offaly to win its very 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 at the beginning of 1991.
Pilkington won another Leinster title in 1994, before later playing in one of the most famous All-Ireland finals of all-time. With five minutes left in the game, 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...
were leading by five points. Johnny Dooley
Johnny Dooley
Johnny Dooley is an Irish former hurling manager and player. He played hurling with his local club Seir Kieran and was a member of the Offaly senior inter-county team from 1991 until 2002...
scored a goal from a 21-yard free which seemed to open the floodgates as Offaly amassed another 1-6 in the remaining few minutes. Offaly had snatched victory away from Limerick and Pilkington had claimed his first 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. Offaly were back in 1995 winning another Leinster title, however, in the All-Ireland final victory went to Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
. It was the county’s first All-Ireland win since 1914.
Three years later in 1998 Offaly and Pilkington claimed another All-Ireland title over 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...
,>ref name="Independent"/> having lost the 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....
final to the same team. In 2000 the old foes of Offaly and Kilkenny met again in both the Leinster and All-Ireland finals, however, this time Kilkenny emerged victorious in one of the most one-sided All-Ireland finals in decades.
Following a heavy defeat at the hands of Kilkenny in the 2001 Leinster semi-final Pilkington decided to retire from inter-county hurling.