Joey Holden

Joey Holden (Martin's Nephew)
Personal information
Irish name Seosamh Ó hOldáin
Sport Hurling
Position Full back
Born (1990-07-02) 2 July 1990
Ballyhale, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Occupation Secondary school teacher
Club(s)
Years Club
2008-present Ballyhale Shamrocks
Club titles
Kilkenny titles 2
Leinster titles 1
All-Ireland Titles 2
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
2014-present Kilkenny 7 (0-00)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 2
All-Irelands 2
NHL 1
All Stars 1
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 21:38, 6 September 2015.

Joseph "Joey" Holden (born 2 July 1990) is an Irish hurler who plays as a right wing-back or full-back for the Kilkenny senior team.[1]

Nephew of Martin (peer of Liam & Ger Fennelly) and born in Ballyhale, County Kilkenny, Holden first excelled at hurling during his tenure at Scoil Aireagail. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-three when he first linked up with the Kilkenny senior team. He made his senior debut during the 2014 league. Holden has since gone on to become a regular member of the team, and has won two All-Ireland medals, two Leinster medals and one National Hurling League medal. Holden attributes his rise to county level to the influencing and mentoring of uncle Martin Holden who moulded his talent.

At club level Holden is a two-time All-Ireland medallist with Ballyhale Shamrocks. In addition to this he has also won one Leinster medal and two championship medals.

Playing career

Club

After much success at underage levels, including two successive under-21 championships, Holden quickly joined the Ballyhale Shamrocks senior team. He was an unused substitute during the club's successful back-to-back championship and Leinster campaigns in 2008 and 2009. On 17 March 2010 Ballyhale faced three-in-a-row Portumna in a "dream" All-Ireland decider. Holden started the game on the bench but was introduced as a substitute. The game failed to live up to the billing, however, 1-19 to 0-17 victory gave Holden a coveted All-Ireland medal.[2]

Five-in-a-row proved beyond Ballyhale Shamrocks, however, the team bounced back in 2012 having lost the championship decider the previous year. A far from vintage 0-16 to 0-12 defeat of Dicksboro gave Holden a first championship medal on the field of play.[3]

Holden won a second championship medal in 2014 as the Shamrocks claimed a 1-20 to 1-13 defeat of reigning champions Clara.[4] Holden later collected a first Leinster medal on the field as veteran Henry Shefflin proved the difference in a 0-21 to 1-14 defeat of Kilcormacv/Killoughey.[5] On 17 March 2015 Ballyhale faced Kilmallock in the All-Ireland decider. A complete mismatch saw Shamrocks win the game by 1-18 to 1-6, with Holden collecting a second All-Ireland medal.[6]

Inter-county

Holden made his senior debut with Kilkenny on 16 February 2014 in the opening round of the National Hurling League.[7] He became a regular starter throughout the campaign and won his first league medal as Kilkenny later secured a narrow one-point 2-25 to 1-27 extra-time victory over Tipperary in the final.[8] Holden later won his first Leinster medal as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "the Cats" a 0-14 to 1-9 defeat of Dublin.[9] On 7 September 2014, Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider, with Holden lining out at right corner-back. In what some consider to be the greatest game of all-time, the sides were level when Tipperary were awarded a controversial free. John O'Dwyer had the chance to win the game, however, his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw.[10] The replay on 27 September 2014 was also a close affair, with Holden starting the game on the bench. He was introduced as a blood sub on two occasions in the opening half as goals from brothers Richie and John Power inspired Kilkenny to a 2-17 to 2-14 victory.[11] It was Holden's first All-Ireland medal.

On 8 December 2014 Holden was nominated for the captaincy of the Kilkenny senior team.[12] After a disappointing league campaign Holden won a second Leinster medal in 2015 following a 1-25 to 2-15 defeat of Galway in the decider. It was Kilkenny's 70th provincial title.[13] Kilkenny renewed their rivalry with Galway once again in the All-Ireland decider on 6 September 2015. The team struggled in the first half, however, a T. J. Reid goal and a dominant second half display, which limited Galway to just 1-4, saw Kilkenny power to a 1-22 to 1-18 victory.[14] As well as collecting a second All-Ireland medal, Holden had the honour of receiving the Liam MacCarthy Cup..

Honours

Team

Ballyhale Shamrocks
Kilkenny

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Profile: Joey Holden". Kilkenny GAA website. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  2. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (18 March 2010). "Shefflin shines on a perfect day for Shamrocks". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Fogarty, John (12 November 2012). "Emotional win for Ballyhale's old warriors". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Moynihan, Michael (17 November 2014). "Ballyhale stars' quality shines bright". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Keane, Paul (8 December 2014). "Shefflin tips the balance". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Moran, Seán (18 March 2015). "Ballyhale Shamrocks forwards prove decisive in All-Ireland final". Irish Times. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Four debutants in Kilkenny team". Hogan Stand. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Reid fires over winners as Kilkenny edge out Tipp". RTÉ Sport. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Reid sparkles as Cats conquer Leinster". RTÉ Sport. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Kilkenny and Tipp finish level in classic final". RTÉ Sport. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "Kilkenny too strong for Tipperary in All-Ireland final replay". RTÉ Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  12. ↑ O'Riordan, Ian (8 December 2014). "Ballyhale Shamrocks set to nominate Joey Holden as Kilkenny hurling captain". Irish Times. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  13. ↑ Moynihan, Michael (6 July 2015). "Canning wondergoal not enough for Galway against Kilkenny". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  14. ↑ McGoldrick, Seán (6 September 2015). "Kilkenny deliver an 11th All-Ireland for Brian Cody as Galway challenge fades away". Irish Independnet. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
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