J. J. Delaney - Playing Career - Senior

Senior

In 2001 Delaney joined the Kilkenny senior team for the first time. He made his debut in the provincial championship and later collected his first senior Leinster medal as Kilkenny completely overpowered Wexford. After such a huge win ‘the Cats’ were hot favourites to retain their All-Ireland title, however, Delaney’s side were outsmarted by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.

‘The Cats’ bounced back in 2002 with Delaney claiming a first National Hurling League medal. He subsequently claimed a second Leinster medal before later lining out in his first senior All-Ireland final. Clare, who were defeated in the first-round of the Munster championship but had made it to the final via the newly introduced qualifier system, put up a good fight in that game. A combined tally of 2-13 for both Henry Shefflin and D.J. Carey gave Kilkenny a seven-point victory and secured a first senior All-Ireland winners' medal for Delaney.

In 2003 Delaney captured a second National League title before later winning a third consecutive Leinster winners' medal. Kilkenny later faced Cork in an exciting and close All-Ireland final. The Leinstermen never led by more than four points and only secured victory with a late Martin Comerford goal. Delaney won his second All-Ireland medal that day and he was later honoured with an All-Star award.

In 2004 Kilkenny were aiming for an elusive third All-Ireland victory in-a-row. For the first time in seven years, however, Kilkenny failed in their bid to become Leinster champions as a last-gasp Wexford goal ended an almost unprecedented run of success at the semi-final stage. Kilkenny took the scenic route via the qualifiers system, however, after a scare against Clare they still reached the All-Ireland final. For the second year in-a-row Cork provided the opposition on a gloomy and overcast day. The sides were level for much of the game, however, in the final twenty minutes Cork scored nine points without reply and secured the victory. Kilkenny ended the year with no silverware, however, in spite of this Delaney was still presented with a second All-Star award.

Kilkenny were back in form in 2005, with Delaney winning a third National League medal following a huge 3-20 to 0-15 victory over Clare. Kilkenny later defeated Wexford by 0-22 to 1-16 in the provnicial decider, giving Delaney a fourth Leinster winners' medal. While a third successive All-Ireland showdown with Cork seemed likely, Galway defeated Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final in one of the game's of the decade.

In 2006 Delaney captured a fourth National League title following a 3-11 to 0-14 victory over Limerick. Delaney later won his fifth Leinster title following another facile victory over Wexford. In the build-up to the All-Ireland final against Cork, Delaney injured his cruciate ligament while training. It was an injury which forced him to miss the game which Kilkenny went on to win. In spite of missing the game, Delaney’s prowess earned him a third All-Star award.

Initial concerns that he would be absent for most of 2007 proved unfounded, as surgery revealed that 75% of the ligament remained undamaged and intact. He returned to full training early in January of that year and made his return to the Kilkenny side during the National League campaign. After losing the league final, the team moved on and Delaney collected a sixth Leinster medal following another facile victory in the provincial decider. Kilkenny later qualified for the All-Ireland final where, Limerick provided the opposition. Kilkenny got off to a flying start with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin scoring two goals within the first ten minutes. Kilkenny won the game by 2-19 to 1-15. It was Delaney’s third All-Ireland medal on the field of play.

2008 saw Kilkenny launch an all-out attack in an attempt to capture a third All-Ireland title in a row. He collected a seventh Leinster winners' medal after a 5–21 to 0–17 defeat of Wexford in the provincial final, before later lining out in the All-Ireland decider. Waterford provided the opposition, however, Kilkenny recorded a 3–30 to 1–13 victory. It was a fourth All-Ireland winners' medal for Delaney. A fourth All-Star award quickly followed.

Delaney won his fifth National League winners' medal in 2009 following a 4-17 to 2-26 defeat of Tipperary. An eighth Leinster medal quickly followed before Kilkenny set out to make history by becoming the second team in hurling history to win four successive All-Ireland finals. Tipperary were the opponents and, for much of the match, it looked as if they would pull off a shock and deny 'the Cats' the title. Two quick goals in the space of a minute, one from a penalty by Henry Shefflin, sealed a 2–22 to 0–23 victory. It was Delaney's fifth All-Ireland medal.

Delaney added a ninth Leinster winners' medal to his collection in 2010 following a 1-19 to 1-12 defeat of new provincial rivals Galway. Kilkenny faced a number of injury worries going into an historic All-Ireland final, and ultimately failed in their 'drive for five' as Tipperary won by 4-17 to 1-18. In spite of the defeat, Delaney later won a fifth All-Star award.

In 2011, 'the Cats' continued their provincial dominance with Delaney winning a tenth Leinster winners' medal following a defeat of Dublin. Kilkenny later qualified for a sixth consecutive All-Ireland final. For the third year in succession, Delaney's side faced Tipperary; however, on this occasion Kilkenny were slight underdogs going up against the new champions. Kilkenny started quickly and never surrendered the lead in the 2-17 to 1-16 victory. It was Delaney's sixth All-Ireland winners' medal. He was also named as man of the match for his performance in the final.

2012 began well for Kilkenny. A trouncing of old rivals Cork gave Delaney a sixth National League winners' medal. A broken finger ruled him out of the subsequent Leinster final defeat by Galway. Both sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland decider and Galway nearly pulled off a victory courtesy of goals from Joe Canning and Niall Burke. A 2-13 to 0-19 draw was the result, a first drawn All-Ireland final in over half a century. The replay saw Kilkenny claim a 3-22 to 3-11 victory, with Delaney picking up a seventh All-Ireland winners' medal.