Ned Wheeler

Irish hurler (1932–2019)

Ned Wheeler
Personal information
Irish name Éamonn Ó Faoláir
Sport Hurling
Position Midfield
Born (1932-05-08)8 May 1932
Rathdowney, County Laois, Ireland
Died 6 June 2019(2019-06-06) (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.

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]

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

St Martin's
  • Wexford Junior Hurling Championship (1): 1948
  • Wexford Minor Hurling Championship (1): 1950
Faythe Harriers
Wexford
Leinster

References

  1. ^ "Death of Wexford hurling legend Ned Wheeler". Hogan Stand. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Greatest Wexford hurling team named". Hogan Stand. 11 January 2002. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  3. ^ 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)
  4. ^ "'A gentle giant' – Wexford three-time All-Ireland champion Wheeler dies aged 87". The 42. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
Ned Wheeler navigation boxes
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Nick O'Donnell
Wexford Senior Hurling Captain
1961
Succeeded by
  • v
  • t
  • e
Wexford – 1951 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship runners-up
Substitutes
16 D. Hearne
17 M. Flood
18 D. O'Neill
19 S. Hearne
20 J. Rackard
  • v
  • t
  • e
Wexford – 1954 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship runners-up
Subs used
16 T. Bolger for N. O'Donnell
19 D. Hearne for Paddy Kehoe
Subs not used
17 J. Hearne
18 M. Flood
20 T. Russell
  • v
  • t
  • e
Wexford – 1955 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions (2nd title)
Subs used
21 O. Gough for N. Wheeler
11 N. Wheeler for O. Gough
16 D. Hearne for T. Ryan
Subs not used
17 T. Bolger
18 B. Wickham
19 M. Codd
20 T. Dixon
  • v
  • t
  • e
Wexford – 1956 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions (3rd title)
Subs not used
16 M. O'Hanlon
17 Paddy Kehoe
18 T. Bolger
19 T. Morrissey
20 P. Nolan
  • v
  • t
  • e
Wexford – 1960 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions (4th title)
Subs used
S. Power
M. Morrissey
John Kennedy
  • v
  • t
  • e
Wexford – 1962 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship runners-up
Subs
16 M. Bergin
17 J. Mitchell
18 J. Kennedy
19 Joe English
20 H. Doyle
  • v
  • t
  • e
Wexford – 1965 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship runners-up
Subs used
21 N. Wheeler for J. Nolan
22 O. McGrath for P. Quigley
Subs not used
16 J. Murphy
17 M. Browne
18 L. Butler
19 A. Butler
20 C. Dowdall