Ned Wheeler (8 May 1932 – 6 June 2019[1]) was an Irish hurler who played for Wexford Senior Championship club Faythe Harriers. He played for the Wexford senior hurling team for 16 years, during which time he usually lined out at midfield but was also deployed at full-forward. A master of the overhead stroke, his blonde hair and long, sweeping strides made him a cult hero of Wexford hurling.[2][3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Éamonn Ó Faoláir | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Midfield | ||
| Born |
8 May 1932 Rathdowney, County Laois, Ireland | ||
| Died |
6 June 2019 (aged 87) Waterford, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Occupation | Oil salesman | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
|
St Martin's Faythe Harriers | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Wexford titles | 3 | ||
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1949–1965 | Wexford | 39 (8–16) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 7 | ||
| All-Irelands | 3 | ||
| NHL | 2 | ||
| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 17:28, 7 June 2019. | |||
Wheeler began his hurling career at club level with St Martin's. At 16 years of age he experienced his first success when the club won the 1948 Wexford Junior Championship title. He later captained the club to the Wexford Minor Championship in 1950. Wheeler later transferred to the Faythe Harriers club, with whom he won Wexford Senior Championship medals in 1960, 1962 and 1965.
At inter-county level, Wheeler joined the Wexford senior team as a 17-year-old in 1949. From his debut, he was ever-present either at half-back, midfield or full-forward and made numerous National League and Championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in 1965. During that time Wheeler was part of three All-Ireland Championship-winning teams – in 1955, 1956 and 1960. He also secured seven Leinster Championship medals and two National Hurling League medals.[4]
At inter-provincial level, Wheeler was selected to play in several championship campaigns with Leinster, with Railway Cup medals being won in 1954, 1956 and 1964.
Honours
edit- St Martin's
- Wexford Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1948
- Wexford Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1950
- Faythe Harriers
- Wexford Senior Hurling Championship (3): 1960, 1962, 1965
- Wexford
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (3): 1955, 1956, 1960
- Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (7): 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1962, 1965
- National Hurling League (2): 1955–56, 1957–58
- Leinster
- Railway Cup (3): 1954, 1956, 1964
References
edit- ^ "Death of Wexford hurling legend Ned Wheeler". Hogan Stand. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Greatest Wexford hurling team named". Hogan Stand. 11 January 2002. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
- ^ Breheny, Martin & Keys, Colm (5 November 2009). "The 125 greatest stars of the GAA: 51–75". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "'A gentle giant' – Wexford three-time All-Ireland champion Wheeler dies aged 87". The 42. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.