National Forum

Michael Fennelly Retires

(Oldest Posts First)

Congratulations to Michael Fennelly on outstanding career in the black and Amber of Kilkenny.

2011 was probably his best year, HOTY, Laid down the law early in the AI final with a thunderous shoulder on Shane McGrath. Even though Kilkenny dominated the first half and the game in general, they couldn't shake Tipp off. The goal he scored before half time was crucial in that regard.

What can you say about him, an influential player who was noticeably missed when out injured, a supreme athlete who dominated games, a good stick man too and like all the greats battled back from adversity and numerous injuries. He must have been a dream player to coach.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 29/12/2017 18:10:27    2066174

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Replying To Killarney.87:  "Congratulations to Michael Fennelly on outstanding career in the black and Amber of Kilkenny.

2011 was probably his best year, HOTY, Laid down the law early in the AI final with a thunderous shoulder on Shane McGrath. Even though Kilkenny dominated the first half and the game in general, they couldn't shake Tipp off. The goal he scored before half time was crucial in that regard.

What can you say about him, an influential player who was noticeably missed when out injured, a supreme athlete who dominated games, a good stick man too and like all the greats battled back from adversity and numerous injuries. He must have been a dream player to coach."
What a player,would of loved him in the tipp midfield,a REAL warrior,not a dirty stroke in him,hard and fair,

And such a skillful classy player.working in Thurles now,we might poach him for a few training sessions,

Hope he enjoys his retirement and gets fully over the last bad injury,a top man

Tipptipp (Tipperary) - Posts: 62 - 30/12/2017 11:17:26    2066236

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Class player, even injured he stood out , could play no doubt but his real qualities were his steel and leadership. Not easily replaced , Kilkenny over the years are slowly losing some of the modern greats

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 30/12/2017 17:40:20    2066287

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Superb player

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8585 - 30/12/2017 18:28:16    2066292

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Replying To Tipptipp:  "What a player,would of loved him in the tipp midfield,a REAL warrior,not a dirty stroke in him,hard and fair,

And such a skillful classy player.working in Thurles now,we might poach him for a few training sessions,

Hope he enjoys his retirement and gets fully over the last bad injury,a top man"
Well said, can you imagine how different the recent Tipp/Kilkenny rivalry would have been if he was wearing blue and gold. I think Fennelly, Larkin and Richie Hogan have been the biggest thorns in Tipp's side over the last 10 years of our rivalry.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 30/12/2017 18:53:16    2066296

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You only really realise these players value when they finish up as it will be so hard to replace them. Kilkenny will be a lot more beatable without him.

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 30/12/2017 19:17:54    2066301

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Hard to disagree with you Killarney 87,don't think Jackie tyrrell got the memo lol

Tipptipp (Tipperary) - Posts: 62 - 30/12/2017 20:18:55    2066308

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Another huge loss to Kilkenny.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 31/12/2017 13:19:46    2066358

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Great player and a huge loss to Kilkenny. Injuries cost him another couple of years no doubt.

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 31/12/2017 14:39:36    2066369

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If id to pick one man on the KK team to not play against Tipp in the height of the rivalry it would be him. He dominated nearly every game against us and if he started slowly he would thunder into the games!
You don't replace a player like him.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 03/01/2018 12:32:29    2066592

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Replying To Killarney.87:  "Well said, can you imagine how different the recent Tipp/Kilkenny rivalry would have been if he was wearing blue and gold. I think Fennelly, Larkin and Richie Hogan have been the biggest thorns in Tipp's side over the last 10 years of our rivalry."
This loss is a huge blow to Cody and Kilkenny.

Great hurler and leader, hard as coffin nails and with the other battlers gone in Brian Hogan, Tyrell, Wee Tommy and Larkin, Kilkenny have lost the engine room that allowed Shefflin, Reid and wee Hogan to show their wares.

Wouldn't be surprised not to see KK in the AI semi-finals this year again.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 03/01/2018 12:46:03    2066596

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One if not the best midfielders of his generation, big, athletic, amazing engine and a great player to boot, Kilkenny have lost yet another great leader and a true legend.

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 04/01/2018 11:58:27    2066767

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Big blow to Kilkenny but what a player running through the middle in his pomp

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 04/01/2018 13:50:05    2066794

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has any clan contributed more to a county than the fennellys have to kilkenny?
well done mick,you and your efforts broke wexford hearts more than i care to remember.but that could be said for any of that kk team

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 08/01/2018 10:53:39    2067301

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I think he was the best Kilkenny midfielder of the Cody era. If you tried to genetically engineer a player for the midfield position you couldn't recreate a better specimen, just a beast of a midfielder. Bedevilled by injuries in latter years, particularly his back, and he must have been rumoured to retire for the past 2 or 3 years, so it was inevitable.

Like a lot of players in the Cody set-up, he was a relatively late developer to the senior team. I recall in his early games for Kilkenny he wasn't universally popular with Kilkenny fans because he came across as gangly and awkward, especially compared to technicians like his clubmate Cha FitzPatrick. His club Ballyhale Shamrocks, as county champions, nominated him as captain for the 2009 Kilkenny team but he didn't start in the final against Tipperary that year, only lifting the cup as captain after coming on as a sub. It was only once he reached 25, and his tall, skinny frame filled out into an athletic machine, that he became a regular on the team, and he never looked back after that.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 09/01/2018 10:18:21    2067458

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Replying To ballydalane:  "I think he was the best Kilkenny midfielder of the Cody era. If you tried to genetically engineer a player for the midfield position you couldn't recreate a better specimen, just a beast of a midfielder. Bedevilled by injuries in latter years, particularly his back, and he must have been rumoured to retire for the past 2 or 3 years, so it was inevitable.

Like a lot of players in the Cody set-up, he was a relatively late developer to the senior team. I recall in his early games for Kilkenny he wasn't universally popular with Kilkenny fans because he came across as gangly and awkward, especially compared to technicians like his clubmate Cha FitzPatrick. His club Ballyhale Shamrocks, as county champions, nominated him as captain for the 2009 Kilkenny team but he didn't start in the final against Tipperary that year, only lifting the cup as captain after coming on as a sub. It was only once he reached 25, and his tall, skinny frame filled out into an athletic machine, that he became a regular on the team, and he never looked back after that."
An athletic machine, great description of Fennelly. Galway couldn't handle him in the 2015 All-Ireland final and he probably only half fit that day with ongoing back injuries. He was a mighty player.

PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 09/01/2018 14:03:53    2067514

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