Damien Fitzhenry
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Damien Mac Einrí | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Born |
5 July 1974 Enniscorthy, County Wexford |
||
| Nickname | Fitzy | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| 1991–2012 | Duffry Rovers | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Football | Hurling | ||
| Wexford titles | 4 | 0 | |
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
| 1993–2010 | Wexford | 56 (5-03) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 3 | ||
| All-Irelands | 1 | ||
| All Stars | 2 | ||
Damien Fitzhenry (born 5 July 1974 in Enniscorthy, County Wexford) is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling and Gaelic football with his local club Duffry Rovers and was a member of the Wexford senior inter-county hurling team from 1993 until 2010. Fitzhenry was widely regarded as Wexford's greatest ever goalkeeper.
The Fitzhenry name has been associated with the Duffry Rovers club since the 1970s. Damien, the youngest of fifteen children, currently plays his club hurling and football with 'the Rovers' and is following in the footsteps of his brothers Mark, Tom, Séamus, John, Martin, Gerard, Noel, Paddy and Fran. As well as that three of Fitzhenry's sisters, Tina, Mary and Ann, have also played camogie with Duffry Rovers. Fitzhenry joined the senior ranks of the club in late 1991 and shared in the club's famous run of seven county football titles in-a-row between 1986 and 1992.
Fitzhenry first came to prominence in the early 1992 when he joined the Wexford minor hurling panel. He quickly moved onto the under-21 panel, however, he had little success in either of these grades.
In early 1993 Fitzhenry made his senior debut in the National Hurling League quarter-final against Westmeath. Wexford went on to reach the National League final that year. The opponents on that occasion were Cork, however, the game ended in a draw. The replay saw extra-time being played, however, both sides ended level once again. At the third attempt Cork emerged victorious by 3–11 to 1–12. In spite of this defeat expectations were still high for the Leinster championship. In the final of that competition Wexford drew with arch rivals and All-Ireland champions Kilkenny and there was hope of success. The replay was a different affair as Kilkenny won handily enough by 2–12 to 0–11.
Wexford were defeated in the Leinster final again in 1994 before disappearing from the championship at the first hurdle in 1995. By 1996 things were beginning to change in Wexford, thanks in no small way to the new manager Liam Griffin. Once again Fitzhenry lined out in goals in the Leinster final. Offaly provided the opposition on that occasion; however, history was made as Wexford won by 2–23 to 2–15. It was Fitzhenry's first senior Leinster title and Wexford's first since 1977. Wexford later defeated Galway in the penultimate game of the championship, setting up an All-Ireland final meeting with Limerick. The Munster men were slight favourites going into the game. They were the beaten finalists of 1994 and had already beaten Clare, the reigning champions, in the Munster Championship. The game was far from a classic; however, it did provide excitement. Tom Dempsey was the hero of the day as he scored a goal after nineteen minutes to give Wexford a major advantage. His side led by 1–8 to 0–10 at half-time in spite of having Éamonn Scallon sent off. Wexford took a four-point lead in the second-half; however, this was whittled back to two points as Wexford hung on for the last twenty minutes. The final score of 1–13 to 0–14 showed how vital Dempsey's goal was. It was Fitzhenry's first All-Ireland medal and Wexford's first since 1968.
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