Eddie Brennan | Joe Canning | Ollie Canning | DJ Carey | Eugene Cloonan
Martin Comerford | Lar Corbett | Brendan Cummins | Ronan Curran
Ger Farragher | James 'cha' Fitzpatrick | Damien Fitzhenry | Paul Flynn
John Gardiner | Niall Gilligan | Damian Hayes | Conal Keaney | Michael Kavanagh
Eoin Kennedy | Eoin Kelly | Eoin Kelly | Eoin Larkin | Derek Lyng
Fergus McMahon | Seanie McMahon | Johnny McIntosh | Andrew Mitchell
Stephen Molumpy | Pat Mulcahy | John Mullane | Sean Óg Ó Hailpin
Andrew O'Shaughnessy | Ben O'Connor | Seamus Prendergast
Keith Raymond | Eoin Quigley | Joe Rabbite | Keith Rossiter | Dan Shanahan
Henry Shefflin | James Skehill | Tommy Walsh | Brian Whelehan | James Young
Offaly legend, Brian Whelahan is one of the greatest hurlers ever and has won every honour in the game. He was the only hurler still playing to be named on the Team of the Millennium back in 2000, marking him out as the best player of his generation.
The Birr man was an excellent Minor, winning All-Ireland medals in 1987 and again in 1989. By then he was playing Senior, and between 1989 and 2000 he won 3 Leinster titles, a National League medal and 4 All-Star Awards. However, the highlights were when he won the Liam McCarthy Cup in 1994 and 1998, as well as being named Player of the Year both years. Brian played on with Offaly, but retired from the county set-up in 2006.
All that time, Whelahan has been playing with his club Birr, winning 11 Offaly County titles, 7 Leinster Club titles and 4 All-Ireland Club titles. He wants to add to his amazing record against Portumna on St Patrick's Day and after beating defending champs Ballyhale Shamrocks, Dublin's Ballyboden and Antrim's Dunloy en route to the decider at Croker, you wouldn’t bet against him.
You have had a great run in the Club Championship, getting through to your sixth final. What were the highlights?
Just getting to the final has been great because this time last year, we didn't think we would be planning for a St Patrick's Day showdown. We got a few breaks along the way, we played Ballyhale Shamrocks, and they had Henry Shefflin and Cha Fitzpatrick injured, and then Ballyboden St Enda's gave us a right game in the Leinster final. So we are just glad to be back in the All-Ireland Club final.
Who were your heroes growing up?
Eugene Coughlan and Johnny Flaherty were the fellas I used to try to be like when I was on the field or in training. The Offaly team that won the All-Ireland in 1981 were our heroes and we all tried to be like them.
Who are the players you admire now?
There is a huge crop of amazing players out there now. In Kilkenny you have Tommy Walsh, Henry Shefflin and John Tennyson and in Tipperary you have Eoin Kelly. Cork have the likes of John Gardiner and Joe Deane, who are so talented. We're hoping that we have a few similar players coming up in Offaly.
Who would be your biggest rivals on the club scene?
St Rynagh's would be our biggest rivals. My father Padjoe coached them to a county final once and they beat us - but there are a few clubs in Offaly who are up there like Kilcormac and Coolderry. It's good to have competition because it will only help the Offaly Senior team.
What is the most important skill in your opinion?
I think a player's first touch is crucial - even if you are quicker than your marker, if he has a better first touch, you have lost your advantage. It is something that can never be perfected, you just have to keep working to improve it.
What advice would you give young players?
Enjoy the game and learn to love it, because to get to the very highest level can be quite lonely. You practise on your own a lot against the wall and you have to really love it to put in all that work and earn the rewards. You have to want to do it, and if you really love the game, the rest will take care of itself.
What are your hopes for 2008?
Obviously, it's to win the All-Ireland final, but Portumna will be very hard to stop. They really are the cream of the crop of club hurling, they have been driving along for the last few years and will be massive favourites to win.
Name: Brian Whelahan
Age: 36
Team: Offaly
Debut: 1989 v Antrim
Position: Wing-Back/Forward
Honours:
2 All-Ireland Senior titles,
2 All-Ireland Minor titles,
4 All-Ireland Club titles,
3 Leinster Senior titles,
2 Leinster Minor titles,
1 National Hurling League title,
7 Leinster Club titles,
11 County Club titles,
2 Railway Cup titles,
Right Wing-Back on Millennium Team,
2 Player of the Year Awards,
4 All-Star Awards.
Club: Birr
Fav Food: Steak
Fav Book: Sleepers
Fav Band: Madness
Fav Film: Shawshank Redemption
Fav TV: Two and a Half Men
Occupation: Publican
CúlFACT: Brian is the only player ever to have played in a Minor, U-21 and Senior All-Ireland semi-final all in the same year.
© March 2008 |
