Pat Heffernan

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Pat Heffernan
irish = Pádraig Ó hIfearnáin
fullname = Pat Heffernan
placeofbirth = Kilfinane
countryofbirth = County Limerick
bday=
bmonth=
byear=
height =
nickname =
county = Limerick
province = Munster
club = Blackrock
clposition = Forward
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Limerick
icposition = Forward
icyears = 1991-1997
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 1
icallireland = 0
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdaGo onto www.sportsfile.com and type in pat heffernan and there is a pic of him there Pat Heffernan (born 1970 in Kilfinane, County Limerick) is an Irish hurling manager and former player, currently in his first season as manager of the Kerry senior inter-county team. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Kilfinane, UCC, Blackrock and Mallow and with the Limerick senior inter-county team in the 1990s and 2000s.

Early Life

"'Pat Heffernan was born in Kilfinane, County Limerick in 1970. He was educated locally and later attended University College Cork where he studied Arts. It was here that his hurling skills developed and he quickly became a key feature of the university's senior hurling team. Heffernan capatined the university side to the 1990-91 Fitzgibbon Cup title. He currently works as a teacher in mallow co cork.

Playing career

Club

Heffernan has played hurling with a series of clubs in both Limerick and Cork. He began playing with his local Kilfinane side, however, after moving to Cork city in the 1990s he joined the famous Blackrock club. A move to Mallow in the early 2000s saw Heffernan join the local club there.He helped Mallow win the junour league in 2007.

Inter-county

Heffernan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Limerick senior hurling team in the early 1990s. His rise on the team saw the county enjoy an upturn in its fortunes at the same time. In 1994 Limerick reached the provincial final after Heffernan scored two goals in the semi-final against Cork. Near neighbours Clare provided the opposition on that occasion. Limerick dominated the game from the word go and had an easy 0-25 to 2-10 victory. It was Limerick's seventeenth Munster title and it was Heffernan's first. An easy victory over Antrim in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final catapulted Heffernan's side into the championship decider. Offaly provided the opposition on that occasion in the first-ever championship meeting between these two sides. With four minutes to go Limerick were cruising to victory, however, a Johnny Dooley goal opened the floodgates. Offaly scored a total of 2-4 in that four minute spell and went on to win the game on a scoreline of 3-16 to 2-13. The game was a major shock for Limerick, however, the team bounced back and contested the 1995 Munster final. Clare were the opponents once again, however, the roles were reversed on this occasion with victory going to Clare. Heffernan left the inter-county set up following this defeat. He returned briefly in 2003 at the behest of new manager Pad Joe Whelahan.

Managerial career

In retirement from playing Heffernan turned his attentions to coaching. In his native Limerick he trained both the Murroe-Boher and Kilmallock teams. In Cork he also trained Bride Rovers. In late 2007 Heffernan was appointed manager of the Kerry senior hurling team.

2008: First season

Heffernan's first season in charge got off to a mixed start in the National Hurling League. Kerry still managed to reach the semi-final of Division 2, however, they were defeated by Carlow in that game. Kerry's next competitive game was a Christy Ring Cup first round game against Mayo. Heffernan's side were narrowly defeated on that occasion. THe next game saw Kerry defeat Meath with an exciting 7-10 to 4-13 victory. This win saw Kerry top division 2C of the Christy Ring Cup and book a place in the quarter-finals of the competition. That game was played at home in Austin Stack Park with Carlow providing the opposition. In spite of having home advantage Heffernan's side were defeated by 1-14 to 2-4.

Teams

References

* [http://www.hoganstand.com/Kerry/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=87337 Kerry GAA on Hoganstand.com]