John Henderson (hurler)

Henderson was a key member of the Feniains senior team that reached the 1977 championship decider. An Eddie Keher-inspired Rower-Inistioge provided the opposition, however, Henderson won a Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship medal following a 3–11 to 1–10 victory.

Almost twenty years later and Henderson was lining out with Glenealy in County Wicklow. In 1996 was at full-forward as the club faced Carnew Emmets in the championship decider. A 3-7 to 0-9 victory secured the victory and a championship medal for Henderson.[3]

Henderson first played for Kilkenny as a member of the minor team in 1974. He was an unused substitute during that year's campaign and collected a Leinster medal on the bench following an 8-19 to 3-5 trouncing of Dublin.

The following year Henderson was included as a regular member of the starting fifteen. A 2-18 to 3-4 defeat of Dublin secured a fifth successive provincial title for the team and a first Leinster medal on the field of play for Henderson. On 6 September 1975 Kilkenny faced Cork in the All-Ireland decider. The Cats proved much too strong and powered to a 3-19 to 1-14 victory, giving Henderson an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal.

Two years later in 1977 Henderson was a key member of the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won a Leinster that year as Wexford were downed on a score line of 3-11 to 1-10. Cork were once again waiting for Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider. Having been beaten the previous year, Kilkenny secured a narrow 2-9 to 1-9 victory giving Henderson an All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship medal.

Henderson made his senior championship debut on 24 June 1979 in a 4-15 to 4-11 Leinster semi-final defeat of Dublin. He later won a Leinster medal as Wexford were defeated by 2-21 to 2-17. On 2 September 1979 Kilkenny faced Galway in the All-Ireland final. Bad weather and an unofficial train drivers’ strike resulted in the lowest attendance at a final in over twenty years. The bad weather also affected the hurling with Kilkenny scoring two freak goals as Galway ‘keeper Séamus Shinnors had a nightmare of a game. A Liam “Chunky” O’Brien 70-yard free went all the way to the net in the first half, while with just three minutes remaining a 45-yard shot from Mick Brennan was helped by the wind and dipped under the crossbar. Kilkenny won by 2-12 to 1-8 with Henderson winning his first All-Ireland medal.[4]

After a fallow two-year period, Kilkenny bounced back in 1982 with Henderson winning his first National Hurling League medal following a 2-14 to 1-11 defeat of Wexford. He later added a second Leinster medal to his collection following a 1-11 to 0-12 defeat of three-in-a-row hopefuls and reigning All-Ireland champions Offaly. On 5 September 1982 Kilkenny and Cork renewed their rivalry in the All-Ireland decider. The Cats were rank outsiders on the day, however, a brilliant save by Noel Skehan was followed by two quick goals by Christy Heffernan just before the interval. Éamonn O'Donoghue pegged a goal back for Cork, however, Ger Fennelly added a third for Kilkenny who secured a 3-18 to 1-13 victory.[5] It was a second All-Ireland medal for Henderson.

Henderson won a second consecutive league medal in 1983 following a narrow 2-14 to 2-12 defeat of Limerick before later collecting a third Leinster medal as Offaly were accounted for by 1-17 to 0-13. The All-Ireland final on 4 September 1983 was a replay of the previous year with Cork hoping to avenge that defeat. Billy Fitzpatrick was the star with ten points, giving Kilkenny a 2-14 to 1-9 lead with seventeen minutes left, however, they failed to score for the remainder of the game. A stunning comeback by Cork just fell short and Henderson collected a third All-Ireland medal following a 2-14 to 2-12 victory. He later won an All-Star.

In 1986 Kilkenny bounced back with Henderson collecting a third league medal following a 2-10 to 2-6 defeat of Galway. He later collected a fourth Leinster medal following a 4-10 to 1-11 defeat of reigning champions Offaly.

Henderson won a fifth Leinster medal in 1987 as Offaly were downed once again by 2-14 to 0-17. On 6 September 1987 Galway, a team who were hoping to avoid becoming the first team to lose three finals in-a-row, faced a Kilkenny team who for many of its players knew it would be their last chance to claim an All-Ireland medal. Galway ‘keeper John Commins saved two goal chances from Ger Fennelly, while at the other end substitute Noel Lane bagged a decisive goal as Galway claimed a 1-12 to 0-9 victory.[6]

Offaly dominated the provincial series over the next three years, however, Kilkenny emerged once again in 1990. An 0-18 to 0-9 defeat of New York gave Henderson a fourth league medal.

Henderson won a sixth Leinster medal in 1991 but not without difficulty. With seconds left in the game the Dubs were winning by a single point, however, a last-gasp goal sealed a 1-11 to 0-13 victory.[7] On 1 September 1991 Kilkenny faced old rivals Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider. The opening thirty-five minutes saw both sides trade score-for-score, however, a controversial 20-metre free, miss-hit by Michael Cleary, landed in the net and gave Tipperary a lead which they never surrendered. The final score of 1–16 to 0–15 resulted in defeat for Henderson.

After retiring from Kilkenny, Henderson joined the Wicklow senior team.