Joseph Holden (born 2 July 1990) is an Irish hurler who plays as a full-back for Kilkenny Senior Championship club Ballyhale Shamrocks. He is a former captain of the Kilkenny senior hurling team.

Joey Holden
Personal information
Irish name Seosamh Ó hOldáin
Sport Hurling
Position Left corner-back
Born (1990-07-02) 2 July 1990 (age 33)
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 8
Leinster titles 5
All-Ireland Titles 4
Colleges(s)
Years College
University of Limerick
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles 0
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
2014-2021
Kilkenny 28 (0-03)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 5
All-Irelands 2
NHL 3
All Stars 1
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 16:24, 17 November 2021.

Holden, having failed to make the minor and under-21 teams, first appeared on the inter-county scene with the Kilkenny senior team, going on to make a combined total of 54 league and championship appearances across eight seasons. He won ten major trophies with Kilkenny; two All-Ireland titles, six Leinster Championships and three National Hurling League titles. Holden served as captain of the team during the 2015 All-Ireland title-winning season and is also an All-Star-winner.

Holden joined the Ballyhale Shamrocks senior team when he was 17 and has been a regular for the team since then. Regarded as one of the most underrated but consistent defenders, he has won a four All-Ireland Club Championships. Holden has also won eight County Championship titles.

Playing career edit

Ballyhale Shamrocks edit

Holden joined the Ballyhale Shamrocks club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. He enjoyed much championship success in the under-21 grade before eventually joining the club's top adult team in the Kilkenny Senior Championship.

On 26 October 2008, Holden was selected on the bench when Ballyhale Shamrocks faced James Stephens in the final. He remained on the bench for the entire game but collected a winners' medal following the 2–11 to 0–12 victory.[1] On 30 November 2008, Holden won a Leinster Championship medal as a non-playing substitute following Ballyhale's 2–13 to 0–11 defeat of Birr in the final.

Holden was again listed amongst the substitutes when Ballyhale Shamrocks faced James Stephens in a second consecutive final on 25 October 2009. He remained on the bench for the entire game but claimed a second successive winners' medal after a 1–14 to 1–11 victory.[2] On 29 November 2009, Holden won a second Leinster Championship medal as a non-playing substitute following Ballyhale's 1–16 to 1–08 defeat of Tullamore in the final.[3] He was again listed amongst the substitutes when Ballyhale faced Portumna in the All-Ireland final on 17 March 2010. Holden was introduced as a 47th-minute substitute for Michael Fennelly and ended the game with a winners' medal following the 1–19 to 0–17 victory.[4]

On 23 October 2011, Holden lined out at left wing-back when Ballyhale Shamrocks faced James Stephens in the final for the third time in five years. The game ended in an 0–11 to 1–08 draw.[5] Holden was switched to right wing-back for the replay a week later but ended on the losing side following a 1–20 to 0–15 defeat.[6]

On 11 November 2012, Ballyhale Shamrocks qualified to play Dicksboro in the final. Holden lined out at centre-back and ended the game with a third winners' medal - his first on the field of play - after a 0–16 to 0–12 victory.[7]

After a two-year absence, Ballyhale Shamrocks were back in the final once again on 16 November 2014. Holden collected a fourth winners' medal after a 1–20 to 1–13 victory over Clara.[8] He later claimed a third Leinster Championship medal on 7 December 2014 after a 0–21 to 1-14 extra-time defeat of Kilcormac/Killoughey in the final.[9] Holden was selected at full-back when Ballyhale Shamrocks faced Kilmallock in the All-Ireland final on 17 March 2015. He ended the game with a second winners' medal and the man of the match title after a 1–18 to 1–06 victory.[10]

Holden played in a sixth final with Ballyhale Shamrocks on 30 October 2016. Lining out at centre-back, he ended the game on the losing side following a 0–19 to 1–12 defeat by O'Loughlin Gaels.[11]

On 28 October 2018, Holden claimed his fifth winners' medal when Ballyhale Shamrocks defeated Bennettsbridge by 2–20 to 2–17 to win the Kilkenny Championship.[12] He again lined out at full-back when Ballyhale faced Ballyboden St. Enda's in the Leinster final and ended the game with a fourth provincial winners' medal after the 2–21 to 0–11 victory.[13] Holden retained his position at full-back when Ballyhale qualified for the All-Ireland final on 17 March 2019. He collected a third winners' medal following the 2–28 to 2–11 victory over St. Thomas's.[14] Holden was one of six Ballyhale Shamrocks hurlers later chosen on the Team of the Year.[15]

On 27 October 2019, Holden lined out at full-back when Ballyhale Shamrocks faced James Stephens in the Kilkenny Championship final. He collected a sixth winners' medal after the 2–21 to 1–15 victory.[16] On 1 December 2019, Holden again lined out at full-back when Ballyhale Shamrocks faced St. Mullin's in the Leinster final. He ended the game with a fifth winners' medal following the 1–21 to 0–15 victory.[17] On 18 January 2020, Holden made his fourth All-Ireland final appearance when Ballyhale Shamrocks faced Borris-Ileigh. He ended the game with a fourth All-Ireland medal after the 0–18 to 0–15 victory.[18]

Kilkenny edit

Senior edit

Holden was drafted onto the Kilkenny senior team in advance of the 2014 National League. He made his first appearance for the team on 16 February 2014 when he lined out at right wing-back in a 1–16 to 0–18 defeat by Clare.[19] He was again at right wing-back when Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the National League final on 4 May 2014. Holden ended the game with a winners' medal following the 2–25 to 1–27 victory.[20] On 6 July 2014, he won a Leinster Championship medal after lining out at right wing-back in Kilkenny's 0–24 to 1–09 defeat of Dublin in the Leinster final.[21] On 7 September 2014, Holden was again at right wing-back when Kilkenny drew 3–22 to 1–28 with Tipperary in the All-Ireland final.[22] Holden was dropped from the starting fifteen for the replay on 27 September 2014 but was introduced on two occasions as a temporary substitute for both Jackie Tyrrell and J. J. Delaney. He ended the game with an All-Ireland medal following the 2–17 to 2–14 victory.[23]

On 8 December 2014 Holden was nominated for the captaincy of the Kilkenny senior team.[24] He won a second successive Leinster Championship medal on 5 July 2015 after captaining the team from full-back to a 1–25 to 2–15 defeat of Galway in the Leinster final.[25] On 6 September 2015, Holden again captained the team from full-back for the All-Ireland final against Galway. He ended the game with a second successive All-Ireland medal following the 1–22 to 1–18 victory while he also had the honour of lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup as captain.[26] Holden was later included in the full-back position on the All-Star team.[27]

Holden won a third successive Leinster Championship medal on 3 July 2016 following a 1–26 to 0–22 defeat of Galway in the final.[28] He was again at full-back for the All-Ireland final against Tipperary on 4 September 2016. Holden ended the game on the losing side following a 2–29 to 2–20 defeat.[29]

On 8 April 2018, Holden was at right corner-back when Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the National League final. He ended the game with a second winners' medal following the 2–23 to 2–17 victory.[30] Holden was switched to right wing-back when Kilkenny drew 0-18 apiece with Galway in the Leinster final on 1 July 2018.[31] He retained the position for the replay a week later and scored a point from play in the 1–28 to 3–15 defeat.[32]

On 30 June 2019, Holden was selected at left wing-back when Kilkenny qualified to play Wexford in the Leinster final. He ended the game on the losing side following a 1–23 to 0–23 defeat.[33] On 18 August 2019, Holden was selected at left corner-back when Kilkenny for the All-Ireland final against Tipperary. He was substituted by Conor Delaney in the 38th minute and ended the game on the losing side following a 3-25 the 0–20 defeat.[34]

In November 2021, Holden announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.[35]

Career statistics edit

Team Year National League Leinster All-Ireland Total
Division Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score
Kilkenny 2014 Division 1A 6 0-00 2 0-00 2 0-00 10 0-00
2015 1 0-00 2 0-00 2 0-00 5 0-00
2016 7 0-00 2 0-00 3 0-00 12 0-00
2017 3 0-00 0 0-00 1 0-00 4 0-00
2018 7 0-00 6 0-02 1 0-00 14 0-02
2019 0 0-00 3 0-01 3 0-00 6 0-01
2020 Division 1B 0 0-00 1 0-00 0 0-00 1 0-00
2021 2 0-00 0 0-00 0 0-00 0 0-00
Total 26 0-00 16 0-03 12 0-00 54 0-03

Honours edit

Ballyhale Shamrocks
Kilkenny
Individual
  • All-Star: 2015
  • AIB Club Hurler of the Year: 2023

References edit

  1. ^ "Reids lead Ballyhale to glory". Irish Independent. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  2. ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (26 October 2009). "Shamrocks in clover again". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Hard-earned win for Ballyhale". Breaking News. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  4. ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (18 March 2010). "Shefflin shines on a perfect day for Shamrocks". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Kilkenny SHC: Shefflin rescues Ballyhale". Hogan Stand. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  6. ^ Moynihan, Michael (31 October 2011). "Super Stephens find extra gear". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  7. ^ Breheny, Martin (12 November 2012). "Ballyhale pay no penalty for Henry misses". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  8. ^ Moynihan, Michael (17 November 2014). "Ballyhale stars' quality shines bright". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Leinster club SHC final: Henry and TJ are just gr-eight". Hogan Stand. 7 December 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  10. ^ Keys, Colm (18 March 2015). "Ballyhale make it six of the best with final stroll". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  11. ^ Spillane, Trevor (30 October 2016). "O'Loughlin Gaels cause an upset to claim Kilkenny senior hurling title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  12. ^ Breheny, Martin (28 October 2018). "Henry Shefflin launches managerial career as Ballyhale win Kilkenny championship". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  13. ^ Hogan, Vincent (2 December 2018). "Henry Shefflin's Ballyhale sweep aside Ballyboden to claim ninth Leinster club title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  14. ^ Breheny, Martin (17 March 2019). "Colin Fennelly inspires Ballyhale to All Ireland glory as Henry Shefflin reaches another milestone". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  15. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (4 April 2019). "6 players from kingpins Ballyhale selected in All-Ireland club hurling awards". The 42. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  16. ^ Moynihan, Michael (27 October 2019). "Ballyhale Shamrocks too much for James Stephens in Kilkenny SHC final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  17. ^ Stapleton, Shane (1 December 2019). "No more fairytales for St Mullins as ruthless Ballyhale defend their Leinster crown". The 42. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  18. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (18 January 2020). "Ballyhale retain All-Ireland club title for first time with win over battling Borris-Ileigh". The 42. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  19. ^ "Four debutants in Kilkenny team". Hogan Stand. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  20. ^ O'Rourke, Steve (4 May 2014). "Kilkenny win third Allianz Hurling League in a row with last-gasp win over Tipperary". The 42. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  21. ^ Kelly, Niall (6 July 2014). "Kilkenny rule Leinster again after swatting disappointing Dubs". The 42. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  22. ^ Fogarty, John (8 September 2014). "Game of inches adds up to a thriller". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  23. ^ "Kilkenny too strong for Tipperary in All-Ireland final replay". RTÉ Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  24. ^ O'Riordan, Ian (8 December 2014). "Ballyhale Shamrocks set to nominate Joey Holden as Kilkenny hurling captain". Irish Times. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  25. ^ Rooney, Declan (27 August 2015). "Kilkenny march past Galway to another Leinster win". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  26. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (6 September 2015). "Brilliant Kilkenny second-half showing delivers All-Ireland final win over Galway". The 42. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  27. ^ O'Rourke, Steve (2 October 2015). "Kilkenny and Galway lead the way as 2015 hurling Allstar nominations revealed". The 42. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  28. ^ McGoldrick, Seán (3 July 2016). "Galway challenge peters out as Kilkenny claim 71st Leinster crown in familiar style". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  29. ^ Keane, Paul (5 September 2016). "Tipperary blow Cats away to take All-Ireland title". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  30. ^ McGoldrick, Seán (8 April 2018). "Kilkenny whirlwind blows Tipperary away as Brian Cody claims ninth league title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  31. ^ "Leinster SHC final: Cats and Tribe must meet again". Hogan Stand. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  32. ^ Rooney, Declan (8 July 2018). "Galway retain Leinster crown after epic battle with Kilkenny". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  33. ^ O'Brien, Kevin (30 June 2019). "Wexford land first Leinster title in 15 years with thrilling victory over Kilkenny". The 42. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  34. ^ McGoldrick, Seán (18 August 2019). "Tipperary are All-Ireland champions as Liam Sheedy's men see off 14-man Kilkenny in Croke Park". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  35. ^ "Kilkenny's last All-Ireland winning captain calls time on inter-county career". The 42. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.

External links edit