Aidan Fogarty (Kilkenny hurler)

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| code= Hurling

| sport = Hurling

| image =

| name =

| irish = Aodán Ó Fógartaigh

| fullname = Aidan Fogarty

| feet = 6

| inches = 0

| occupation = Electronics engineer

| nickname = Taggy

| county = Kilkenny

| province = Leinster

| club = Emeralds

| clubs =

| clyears =

| clapps(points) =

| clcounty =

| clprovince=

| clallireland =

| counties = Kilkenny

| icposition = Left corner-forward

| icyears = 2003-2014

| icapps(points) = 38 (10-41)

| icprovince = 10

| icallireland = 8

| nhl = 3

| allstars = 0

| clupdate=|

| icupdate=19:17, 29 November 2014

| birth_date={{Birth date and age|1982|7|20|df=yes}}

| birth_place=Urlingford, County Kilkenny, Ireland

}}

Aidan Fogarty (born 20 July 1982) is an Irish hurler who played as a left corner-forward for the Kilkenny senior team.{{cite web|url=http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/page/Aidan%20Fogarty|title=Player profile: Aidan Fogarty|publisher=Kilkenny GAA website|access-date=26 August 2012}}

Born in Urlingford, County Kilkenny, Fogarty first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-one when he first linked up with the Kilkenny intermediate team, before later joining the under-21 side. He joined the senior panel during the 2003 championship. Fogarty quickly became a regular member of the starting fifteen, and won five All-Ireland medals, four Leinster medals and three National League medals on the field of play. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, Fogarty won three Railway Cup medals. At club level he has won one junior championship medal with Emeralds.

Throughout his career Fogarty made 38 championship appearances. He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 26 November 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/brian-hogan-aidan-fogarty-and-john-obrien-retire-from-intercounty-hurling-30776174.html|title=Brian Hogan, Aidan Fogarty and John O'Brien retire from intercounty hurling|work=Irish Independent|date=26 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2014/1126/662654-kilkennys-hogan-and-fogarty-hang-up-boots/|title=Kilkenny's Brian Hogan and Aidan Fogarty hang up inter-county boots|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=26 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/3/2611140849-cats-duo-brian-hogan-and-aidan-fogarty-retire/ |title=Cats duo Brian Hogan and Aidan Fogarty retire |publisher=GAA website |date=26 November 2014 |access-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205214745/http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/3/2611140849-cats-duo-brian-hogan-and-aidan-fogarty-retire/ |archive-date= 5 December 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/sport/gaelic-games/fogarty-steps-into-retirement-1-6438908|title=Fogarty steps into retirement|publisher=Kilkenny People|date=26 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014|first=John|last=Knox}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/kilkenny-lose-two-more-hurlers-to-retirement-1.2015543|title=Kilkenny lose two more hurlers to retirement|work=The Irish Times|date=26 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/hurling-news/hurling-heroes-brian-hogan-aidan-4697363|title=Hurling heroes Brian Hogan and Aidan Fogarty of Kilkenny and Tipperary's John O'Brien retire from inter-county game |work=Irish Mirror|date=26 November 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}}

In 2020, Fogarty appeared on the fourth season of the Irish edition of Dancing with the Stars.{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/aidan-fogarty-dancing-with-the-stars-5051407-Mar2020/|title =Backing Kilkenny to thrive in knockout championship, dancing on TV and the 'Alex Ferguson of hurling'|date=22 March 2020|work=The 42|access-date=25 March 2020}}

Playing career

=Club=

In 2000 Fogarty was in his last year with the Emeralds minor hurling team when he played in the championship decider. A 1-12 to 0-7 defeat of Shamrocks gave him a championship medal.

The following year Fogarty had established himself on Emeralds top team. A 3-11 to 1-11 defeat of Windgap in the junior decider gave him a championship medal in that grade.

=Under-21 and intermediate=

Fogarty first played for Kilkenny in 2003 when he joined the under-21 side. He won his sole Leinster medal that year following a 0-12 to 1-4 defeat of Dublin. Kilkenny later faced Galway in the All-Ireland decider, beating them with on a scoreline of 2-13 to 0-12, and giving Fogarty an All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship medal.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2003/0922/ireland/top-cats-tame-galway-681777771.html|title=Top cats tame Galway|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=22 September 2003|access-date=4 September 2009|first=Jim|last=O'Sullivan}}

That same year Fogarty was a member of the Kilkenny intermediate team. He won a Leinster medal that year following a 4-20 to 1-10 win over Dublin in the decider. Kilkenny were later beaten 1-21 to 0-23 by Cork in the All-Ireland decider.

=Senior=

==Beginnings==

Fogarty was still eligible for the under-21 grade when he was added to the Kilkenny senior panel in 2003. That year he shared in his county's National Hurling League, Leinster and All-Ireland triumphs, however, Fogarty was yet to make his debut.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/stunning-kilkenny-snatch-and-grab-raid-25945806.html|title=Stunning Kilkenny snatch and grab raid|date=6 May 2003|work=Irish Independent|access-date=1 August 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2003/0609/ireland/class-tells-as-cats-overpower-brave-dubs-643039211.html|title=Class tells as Cats overpower brave Dubs|date=9 June 2003|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=24 November 2014|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2003/0915/world/kilkenny-stand-firm-under-cork-onslaught-707695375.html|title=Kilkenny stand firm under Cork onslaught |date=15 September 2003|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=1 August 2014|first=Jim|last=O'Sullivan}}

On 13 June 2004, Fogarty made his senior championship debut when he was introduced as a substitute in a 2-15 to 1-16 Leinster semi-final defeat by Wexford.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2004/0614/ireland/jacob-takes-the-biscuit-426990171.html|title=Jacob takes the biscuit |publisher=Irish Examiner|date=14 June 2004|access-date=14 March 2009|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}} Kilkenny were later defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland decider, however, Fogarty remained on the bench for that 0-17 to 0-9 loss.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2004/0913/ireland/cork-savour-sweet-victory-510326420.html|title=Cork savour sweet victory|date=13 September 2004|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=1 August 2014}}

==Four-in-a-row==

In 2006 Fogarty won his first National League medal on the field of play following a 3–11 to 0–14 victory over Limerick.{{cite web|url=http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/shefflin-goals-shatter-limerick-s-title-dream-by-jerome-o-connell-1-2176359 |title=Shefflin goals shatter Limerick's title dream |publisher=Limerick Leader |date=5 May 2006 |access-date=9 March 2009 |first=Jerome |last=O'Connell |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130702075334/http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/shefflin-goals-shatter-limerick-s-title-dream-by-jerome-o-connell-1-2176359 |archive-date= 2 July 2013 }} On 3 September 2006 Kilkenny faced a Cork team who were presented with the opportunity to become the first side in nearly thirty years to secure three successive All-Ireland championships. Like previous encounters neither side took a considerable lead, however, Kilkenny had a vital goal from Fogarty. Cork were in arrears coming into the final few minutes, however, Ben O'Connor scored a late goal for Cork. It was too little too late as the Cats denied Cork on a score line of 1-16 to 1-13.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/a-glorious-29th-for-kilkenny-12414.html|title=A glorious 29th for Kilkenny|date=4 September 2006|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=1 August 2014|first=Jim|last=O'Sullivan}} Fogarty collected his first All-Ireland medal on the field of play. He was later named man of the match.

On 2 September 2007 Kilkenny faced defeated Munster finalists and surprise All-Ireland semi-final winners Limerick in the championship decider. Kilkenny got off to a flying start with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin scoring two goals within the first ten minutes to set the tone. Limerick launched a second-half comeback, however, "the Cats" were too powerful and cruised to a 2-19 to 1-15 victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/match-reports/cats-cruise-to-30th-title-41563.html|title=Cats cruise to 30th title|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=3 September 2007|access-date=24 November 2014|first=Jim|last=O'Sullivan}} It was Fogarty's second All-Ireland medal.

Kilkenny secured the Leinster crown in 2008, with Fogarty collecting a first winner's medal on the field of play following a 5-21 to 0-17 defeat of Wexford.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/football/wexford-out-to-move-on-from-little-blip-68853.html|title=Wexford out to move on from little blip|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=2 August 2008|access-date=26 November 2014|first=Donal|last=O'Flynn}} On 8 September 2008 Kilkenny faced Waterford in the All-Ireland decider for the first time in forty-five years. In a disappointingly one-sided final, Kilkenny produced a near perfect seventy minutes as Waterford endured a nightmare afternoon. A 23-point winning margin, 3-24 from play, only two wides in the entire match and eight scorers in all with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin leading the way in a 3-30 to 1-13 victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2010/0904/ireland/classic-final-2008-kilkenny-3-30-waterford-1-13-129847.html|title=Classic Final: 2008 – Kilkenny 3-30, Waterford 1-13|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=4 September 2010|access-date=15 May 2013|first=Jim|last=O'Sullivan}} It was Fogarty's third All-Ireland medal.

Fogarty collected a second National League medal in 2009, as Kilkenny beat Tipperary by 2-26 to 4-17 with a thrilling extra-time victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/hogan-goes-extra-yard-of-plucky-tipperary-26533407.html|title=Hogan goes extra yard of plucky Tipperary|work=Irish Independent|date=4 May 2009|access-date=26 November 2014}} He later won a second successive Leinster medal, as new challengers Dublin were bested by 2-18 to 0-18.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2009/0706/sport/cats-hold-off-dublins-final-charge-95722.html|title=Cats hold off Dublin's final charge|work=Irish Examiner|date=6 July 2009|access-date=10 November 2009|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}} On 6 September Kilkenny were poised to become the second team ever in the history of hurling to win four successive All-Ireland championships when they faced Tipperary in the decider. For long periods Tipp looked the likely winners, however, late goals from Henry Shefflin and substitute Martin Comerford finally killed off their efforts to secure a 2-22 to 0-23 victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2009/0907/sport/where-theres-an-iron-will-theres-a-way-100342.html|title=Where there's an iron will, there's a way|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=7 September 2009|access-date=14 May 2013|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}} Fogarty had collected his fourth All-Ireland medal.

==Continued dominance==

In 2010 Kilkenny defeated Galway in an eagerly-anticipated but ultimately disappointing provincial decider. A 1-19 to 1-12 victory gave Fogarty a third Leinster medal.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2010/0705/ireland/and-so-we-still-wait-for-that-test-124179.html|title=And so we still wait for that test...|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=5 July 2010|access-date=26 November 2014|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}} The drive for a fifth successive All-Ireland crown reached a head on 5 September 2010, when Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider. "The Cats" lost talisman Henry Shefflin due to injury, while Tipperary's Lar Corbett ran riot and scored a hat-trick of goals as Fogarty's side fell to a 4-17 to 1-18 defeat.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2010/0906/ireland/thunder-and-lightning-final-129988.html|title=Thunder and lightning final|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=6 September 2010|access-date=14 May 2013|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}

After seeing little action in 2011, Fogarty returned to championship action the following year. Kilkenny, however, were shocked by Galway in the Leinster decider, losing by 2-21 to 2-11, however, both sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland decider on 9 September 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2012/0708/328320-galway-kilkenny/|title=Galway land historic Leinster win|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=8 July 2012|access-date=30 September 2012}} Kilkenny had led going into the final stretch, however, Joe Canning struck a stoppage time equaliser to level the game at 2-13 to 0-19 and send the final to a replay for the first time since 1959.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/canning-s-nerves-of-steel-earn-galway-another-tilt-at-the-title-1.527721|title=Canning's nerves of steel earn Galway another tilt at the title|work=The Irish Times|date=10 September 2012|access-date=14 May 2013|first=Seán|last=Moran}} The replay took place three weeks later on 30 September 2012. Galway stunned the reigning champions with two first-half goals, however, Kilkenny's championship debutant Walter Walsh gave a man of the match performance, claiming a 1-3 haul. The 3-22 to 3-11 Kilkenny victory gave Fogarty a fifth All-Ireland medal.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/cats-show-up-for-king-henry-s-ninth-1.1281095|title=Cats show up for King Henry's ninth|work=The Irish Times|date=30 September 2012|access-date=14 May 2013|first=Gavin|last=Cummiskey}}

==Decline==

Kilkenny's dominance showed no sign of abating in 2013, with Fogarty winning a third National League medal following a 2-17 to 0-20 defeat of Tipperary in the decider.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2013/0505/390493-kilkenny-v-tipperary/|title=Cats claim 16th National League title|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=5 May 2013|access-date=26 November 2014}}

In 2014, Fogarty won his fourth Leinster medal as Kilkenny dethroned reigning champions Dublin by 0-24 to 1-9.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2014/0706/628898-dublin-v-kilkenny/|title=Reid sparkles as Cats conquer Leinster|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=6 July 2014|access-date=29 November 2014}} Fogarty played a bit part in Kilkenny's subsequent All-Ireland campaign, however, he collected an eighth All-Ireland medal, his third as a non-playing substitute, following a 2-17 to 2-14 defeat of Tipperary in the decider.

On 26 November 2014 Fogarty announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

=Inter-provincial=

In 2006, Fogarty was picked for the Leinster team that faced Connacht in the inter-provincial final. A disappointing contest resulted in a 1-23 to 0-17 victory for Leinster, and a first Railway Cup medal for Fogarty.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/better-organised-leinster-ease-past-connacht-17017.html|title=Better-organised Leinster ease past Connacht|date=30 October 2006|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=29 November 2014|first=Jim|last=O'Sullivan}}

After surrendering their title the following year, Leinster were back in the decider once again in 2008. Richie Power top-scored with nine points as Leinster secured a 1-15 to 1-12 victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2008/1101/240442-leinster_munster/|title=Result: Leinster 1-15 Munster 1-12|date=1 November 2008|publisher=RTÉ Sport|access-date=29 November 2014}} It was Fogarty's second Railway Cup medal.

Leinster made it two in a row in 2009, with Fogarty collecting his third winner's medal as Leinster defeated Connacht by 3-18 to 1-17.{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/gaa/leinster-win-2009-interprovincial-hurling-title-402794.html|title=Leinster win 2009 Interprovincial hurling title|date=14 March 2009|publisher=Breaking News|access-date=29 November 2014}}