Kieran Brennan
Encyclopedia
Kieran Brennan is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Conahy Shamrocks
and with the Kilkenny
senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s.
, played club hurling
and football
with his local club Conahy Shamrocks
. He was a key part of the team that won the junior county title in 1976 and county intermediate titles in 1977 and 1986.
minor hurling team in the early 1970s. He won a Leinster title at this level in 1974, however, his side were subsequently defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland final. He won a second consecutive Leinster minor medal in 1975, however, in the subsequent All-Ireland final Kilkenny gained revenge on Cork and Brennan won a coveted All-Ireland
medal. Brennan later joined the Kilkenny under-21 team where he enjoyed more success. In 1976 he won a Leinster title in this grade, however, old rivals Cork defeated Kilkenny in the subsequent All-Ireland final. He won a second Leinster under-21 title in 1977, however, in a repeat of events during his minor career the subsequent All-Ireland final saw Kilkenny gain revenge on Cork, giving Brennan another All-Ireland
medal.
Brennan subsequently joined the Kilkenny senior team, however, it took him a few years to nail down a regular place on the team. He was a member of the panel when ‘the Cats’ won Leinster
and All-Ireland
titles in 1979. Three years later in 1982 Brennan won his first National Hurling League
medal before later winning his first Leinster medal on the field of play. Kilkenny later defeated Cork in the championship decider giving Brennan his first All-Ireland medal. He won a second National League title at the beginning of 1983 before later winning a second consecutive Leinster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year, with Kilkenny defeating Cork once again and Brennan collecting a second consecutive All-Ireland medal. In 1984 ‘the Cats’ lost their provincial crown, however, in spite of this Brennan won an All-Star
award. Two years later he added a third set of National League and Leinster medals to his collection, however, Kilkenny were defeated by Galway
in the All-Ireland semi-final. 1987 saw Brennan win his fourth provincial medal, however, the subsequent All-Ireland final saw Kilkenny defeated by Galway once again. Brennan retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.
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 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 Conahy Shamrocks
Conahy Shamrocks GAA
Conahy Shamrocks is an Irish Gaelic Athletic Association club situated in the small parish of Conahy, in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1886, and is therefore one of the oldest in the county...
and with 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 in the 1970s and 1980s.
Club
Brennan, along with his brother, NickeyNickey Brennan
Nickey Brennan is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Conahy Shamrocks and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team in the 1970s...
, played club 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...
and football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with his local club Conahy Shamrocks
Conahy Shamrocks GAA
Conahy Shamrocks is an Irish Gaelic Athletic Association club situated in the small parish of Conahy, in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1886, and is therefore one of the oldest in the county...
. He was a key part of the team that won the junior county title in 1976 and county intermediate titles in 1977 and 1986.
Inter-county
Brennan first came to prominence as a member 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...
minor hurling team in the early 1970s. He won a Leinster title at this level in 1974, however, his side were subsequently defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland final. He won a second consecutive Leinster minor medal in 1975, however, in the subsequent All-Ireland final Kilkenny gained revenge on Cork and Brennan won a coveted 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. Brennan later joined the Kilkenny under-21 team where he enjoyed more success. In 1976 he won a Leinster title in this grade, however, old rivals Cork defeated Kilkenny in the subsequent All-Ireland final. He won a second Leinster under-21 title in 1977, however, in a repeat of events during his minor career the subsequent All-Ireland final saw Kilkenny gain revenge on Cork, giving Brennan another 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.
Brennan subsequently joined the Kilkenny senior team, however, it took him a few years to nail down a regular place on the team. He was a member of the panel when ‘the Cats’ won 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....
and 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....
titles in 1979. Three years later in 1982 Brennan 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...
medal before later winning his first Leinster medal on the field of play. Kilkenny later defeated Cork in the championship decider giving Brennan his first All-Ireland medal. He won a second National League title at the beginning of 1983 before later winning a second consecutive Leinster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year, with Kilkenny defeating Cork once again and Brennan collecting a second consecutive All-Ireland medal. In 1984 ‘the Cats’ lost their provincial crown, however, in spite of this Brennan won an 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. Two years later he added a third set of National League and Leinster medals to his collection, however, Kilkenny were defeated by 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 All-Ireland semi-final. 1987 saw Brennan win his fourth provincial medal, however, the subsequent All-Ireland final saw Kilkenny defeated by Galway once again. Brennan retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.