Paddy Prendergast
Encyclopedia
Paddy Prendergast is former Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Clara
and with the Kilkenny
senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s.
with his local Clara
club and enjoyed some success. Undoubtedly, his greatest achievement was winning a senior county title in 1986. This was achieved following a defeat of the mighty Ballyhale Shamrocks
in the county final.
minor hurling team. He won a Leinster title in this grade in 1975 before later winning an All-Ireland
medal following a victory over Cork. Prendergast won a second Leinster minor medal in 1976, however, Kilkenny were later defeated by Tipperary
in the championship decider. Prendergast later joined the county under-21 team and won both Leinster and All-Ireland
honours in 1977.
Prendergast made his senior debut for Kilkenny in 1978 and he quickly won his first senior Leinster
title. He lined out in his first All-Ireland final appearance, however, victory went to Cork on that occasion as the Leesiders captured a third championship title in-a-row. Prendergast won a second provincial title in 1979 and, once again, Kilkenny reached the championship decider. Galway
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, the men from the West were easily overcome by ‘the Cats’ and Prendergast collected his first senior All-Ireland
medal. The following few years proved difficult for Kilkenny, however, the team bounced back in 1982 with Prendergast winning a National Hurling League
medal. He later won a third Leinster title before making a third All-Ireland final appearance. Cork were the opponents that day, however, the Leesiders provided little opposition and Prendergast added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. His performance throughout the championship later earned Prendergast a coveted All-Star
award.
In 1983 Prendergast won a second National League medal before later collecting a fourth provincial title. Cork were Kilkenny’s opponents again in the championship decider and, once again, the Leesiders fell to ‘the Cats’ giving Prendergast a third All-Ireland medal. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown for the next few years, however, the team returned in 1986 with Prendergast winning a third National League medal. He later picked up a fifth Leinster medal, however, his side were later defeated by Galway
in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 1987 Prendergast was appointed captain of the team and he guided his men to another provincial victory, his sixth medal in all. Kilkenny later reached the All-Ireland final, however, his side were defeated by Galway once again. Prendergast retired from inter-county hurling shortly after this defeat.
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 Clara
Clara GAA
Clara GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club situated in the small parish of Clara in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Focused mainly on hurling and camogie, the dominant sports in the county, Clara's greatest achievement to date was victory in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship in 1986, their...
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
Prendergast 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 Clara
Clara GAA
Clara GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club situated in the small parish of Clara in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Focused mainly on hurling and camogie, the dominant sports in the county, Clara's greatest achievement to date was victory in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship in 1986, their...
club and enjoyed some success. Undoubtedly, his greatest achievement was winning a senior county title in 1986. This was achieved following a defeat of the mighty Ballyhale Shamrocks
Ballyhale Shamrocks GAA
Ballyhale Shamrocks is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Ballyhale in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1972 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling...
in the county final.
Inter-county
Prendergast first came to prominence on the inter-county scene 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. He won a Leinster title in this grade in 1975 before later winning an 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 following a victory over Cork. Prendergast won a second Leinster minor medal in 1976, however, Kilkenny were later defeated by 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...
in the championship decider. Prendergast later joined the county under-21 team and won both Leinster and 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...
honours in 1977.
Prendergast made his senior debut for Kilkenny in 1978 and he quickly won his first senior 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. He lined out in his first All-Ireland final appearance, however, victory went to Cork on that occasion as the Leesiders captured a third championship title in-a-row. Prendergast won a second provincial title in 1979 and, once again, Kilkenny reached the championship decider. 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, the men from the West were easily overcome by ‘the Cats’ and Prendergast collected 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. The following few years proved difficult for Kilkenny, however, the team bounced back in 1982 with Prendergast winning 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. He later won a third Leinster title before making a third All-Ireland final appearance. Cork were the opponents that day, however, the Leesiders provided little opposition and Prendergast added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. His performance throughout the championship later earned Prendergast a coveted 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 Prendergast won a second National League medal before later collecting a fourth provincial title. Cork were Kilkenny’s opponents again in the championship decider and, once again, the Leesiders fell to ‘the Cats’ giving Prendergast a third All-Ireland medal. Kilkenny lost their provincial crown for the next few years, however, the team returned in 1986 with Prendergast winning a third National League medal. He later picked up a fifth Leinster medal, however, his side were later 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. In 1987 Prendergast was appointed captain of the team and he guided his men to another provincial victory, his sixth medal in all. Kilkenny later reached the All-Ireland final, however, his side were defeated by Galway once again. Prendergast retired from inter-county hurling shortly after this defeat.