Joe McKenna and Johnny Hennessey set for Munster Hall of Fame

Limerick’s Joe McKenna and Johnny Hennessey of Waterford will be inducted into the Munster GAA Hall of Fame this weekend.

Former Limerick hurler McKenna and former Waterford footballer Hennessey will be honoured at Saturday’s Munster GAA awards at Fota Island Resort.

McKenna, a native of Shinrone in Offaly, was corner-forward on the Limerick team which won the 1973 All-Ireland.

During a 15-year inter-county career, he also pocketed four Munster medals, a NHL title in 1984 and six All-Stars.

There was a brief spell as Limerick hurling manager in the middle of the last decade, but one of his greatest contributions to the green and white was still to come; that being his involvement in the establishment of the Limerick Academy which nurtured so many of the players who ended the county’s 45-year wait for Liam MacCarthy glory last August.

The football hall of face inductee, Johnny Hennessey, won three Railway Cup medals with Munster in 1975, 1977 and 1978.

The Ardmore native, who lined out at midfield for Waterford throughout the 1970s, was a key figure in the Déise’s promotion to Division 1 of the NFL during that decade. Hennessey was a selector in 2003 when Waterford shocked Kerry in the provincial U21 decider.

The U20 footballer of the year award will be presented to Kerry’s Donal O’Sullivan this weekend. The Kilgarvan teenager, who is eligible for this age-group for another two years, top-scored with four points on the evening of Kerry’s 3-11 to 0-14 Munster final win over Cork. The corner-forward contributed 1-7 in their earlier games against Limerick and Waterford.

U20 football player of the year: Donal O’Sullivan, Kerry

Distinguished Service Award: Seamus Hayes, Clare

Handballer of the Year: Kavan O’Keeffe, Waterford

Hall of Fame hurling: Joe McKenna, Limerick

Hall of Fame football: Johnny Hennessey, Waterford