Liam Simpson
Encyclopedia
Liam Simpson is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Bennettsbridge
and with the Kilkenny
senior inter-county team in the 1990s.
, County Kilkenny
, in 1966. He was educated locally and grew up on the famous Woodlawn Estate along with many other famous hurlers. Noel Skehan
, Paddy Morann, Séamus Cleere
, Pat Lawlor
, John Kinsella
and Liam Cleere have all won a total of 22 senior All-Ireland
medals and all live in the same area as Simpson.
with his local Bennettsbridge
club. The club has a proud hurling tradition, however, Simpson never won a senior county title.
junior hurling team and won Leinster and All-Ireland
honours at this level in 1990. His performances for the team brought him to the attention of the senior selectors and he made his debut in 1991. That year Simpson won his first Leinster
title, however, Kilkenny later lost the All-Ireland final to Tipperary
. ‘The Cats’ continued their provincial dominance in 1992 with Simpson collected a second Leinster medal. Kilkenny subsequently defeated Cork in the championship decider, giving Simpson his first All-Ireland
medal. His performance throughout the championship also earned him his first All-Star
award. The following year Simpson won a third consecutive provincial title and Kilkenny later qualified for a third consecutive All-Ireland final appearance. Galway
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Kilkenny powered to another victory and Simpson won a second All-Ireland medal. He later picked up a second All-Star award. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown in 1994, however, Simpson won a National Hurling League
medal in 1995. He 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 Bennettsbridge
Bennettsbridge GAA
Bennettsbridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, Ireland. The Bridge last won the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship in 1971, although they are no longer a senior championship side.-Achievements:...
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 1990s.
Early life
Liam Simpson was born in BennettsbridgeBennettsbridge
Bennettsbridge is a village in County Kilkenny in Ireland.It is situated on the river Nore south of Kilkenny city, in the centre of the county. It is located in the province of Leinster in the south-east of the island of Ireland...
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, in 1966. He was educated locally and grew up on the famous Woodlawn Estate along with many other famous hurlers. Noel Skehan
Noel Skehan
Noel Skehan is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Bennettsbridge club and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1963 and 1985. Skehan is regarded as one of the greatest hurling goalkeepers of all-time.Skehan's status as one of the all-time greats...
, Paddy Morann, Séamus Cleere
Séamus Cleere
Séamus Cleere is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Bennetsbridge and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1960 until 1968. Cleere captained Kilkenny to the All-Ireland title in 1963.-Club:Cleere played his club hurling with his local Bennettsbridge club...
, Pat Lawlor
Pat Lawlor (hurler)
Pat Lawlor is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Bennettsbridge club and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team in the early 1970s.-References:...
, John Kinsella
John Kinsella (hurler)
John Kinsella is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Bennettsbridge and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1967 until 1973....
and Liam Cleere have all won a total of 22 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....
medals and all live in the same area as Simpson.
Club
Simpson 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 Bennettsbridge
Bennettsbridge GAA
Bennettsbridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, Ireland. The Bridge last won the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship in 1971, although they are no longer a senior championship side.-Achievements:...
club. The club has a proud hurling tradition, however, Simpson never won a senior county title.
Inter-county
Unlike many of his hurling colleagues, Simpson didn’t make the county panel at minor or under-21 levels. Most of his leisure time was taken up playing soccer. As a centre half or sweeper with his local club, East End, he won every honour possible in the Kilkenny and District League. In the late 1980s Simpson joined 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...
junior hurling team and won Leinster and 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...
honours at this level in 1990. His performances for the team brought him to the attention of the senior selectors and he made his debut in 1991. That year Simpson 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....
title, however, Kilkenny later lost the All-Ireland final to 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...
. ‘The Cats’ continued their provincial dominance in 1992 with Simpson collected a second Leinster medal. Kilkenny subsequently defeated Cork in the championship decider, giving Simpson 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....
medal. His performance throughout the championship also earned him 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. The following year Simpson won a third consecutive provincial title and Kilkenny later qualified for a third consecutive All-Ireland final appearance. 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,...
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Kilkenny powered to another victory and Simpson won a second All-Ireland medal. He later picked up a second All-Star award. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown in 1994, however, Simpson won 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...
medal in 1995. He retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.