Stephen Bennett (hurler)

Stephen Bennett (born 8 October 1995) is an Irish hurler who plays for Waterford Intermediate Championship club Ballysaggart and at inter-county level with the Waterford senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a full-forward.

Playing career

Blackwater Community School

Bennett first came to prominence as a hurler with Blackwater Community School in Lismore. He played in every grade of hurling and enjoyed some success. On 23 November 2011, Bennett scored ten points for Blackwater CS in their 0-11 to 0-08 defeat of Dungarvan Community School to win the Dean Ryan Cup. He also spent four years with the Blackwater CS senior hurling team in the Dr. Harty Cup.

University of Limerick

During his studies at the University of Limerick, Bennett was selected for the college's senior hurling team. On 11 March 2015, he came on as a substitute to win a Fitzgibbon Cup medal as UL defeated the Waterford Institute of Technology by 2-18 to 1-14 in a replay of the final at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Ballysaggart

Bennett first played hurling at juvenile and underage levels with Naomh Carthach, an amalgamation of Ballysaggart and Lismore. He eventually joined Ballysaggart's top adult team.

On 27 October 2013, he scored 1-12 when Ballysaggart defeated Tramore by 1-18 to 1-09 to win the Waterford Junior Championship. On 8 December, he lined out at full-forward against Feenagh-Kilmeedy in the final of the Munster Championship. He top scored with 1-07 and collected a winners' medal after the 3-12 to 0-15 victory. On 8 February 2014, Ballysaggart faced Creggan Kickhams in the All-Ireland final. Bennett top scored with 2-07 in the 5-12 to 2-21 draw. The replay on 15 February saw Bennett score 1-01 in the 1-07 to 1-11 defeat for Ballysaggart.

Waterford

Minor and under-21

Bennett first played for Waterford when he was selected for the minor team in advance of the 2012 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance on 2 May when he scored seven points in a 1-20 to 3-13 extra-time defeat by Clare. Waterford's  championship ended with a defeat by Tipperary at the semi-final stage, however, Bennett ended the season as Waterford's top scorer with 0-12.

Bennett was eligible for the minor grade again the following year. On 23 July 2013, he scored 3-02 when Waterford suffered a 1-20 to 4-08 defeat by Limerick in the Munster Championship final. On 8 September, Bennett lined out at right wing-forward when Waterford faced Galway in the All-Ireland final. He scored four points from play in the 1-21 to 0-16 victory.

After progressing onto the Waterford under-21 team, Bennett made his first appearance for the team on 16 July 2014. He scored a point after coming on as a substitute in a 3-18 to 0-16 defeat by Cork.

On 27 July 2016, Bennett lined out in his first Munster Championship final. He scored 1-01 from right corner-forward in the 2-19 to 0-15 defeat of Tipperary. On 10 September, Bennett was moved to full-forwrad for the All-Ireland final against Galway. He scored two goals in the 5-15 to 0-14 victory and collected a winners' medal in what was his last game in the grade. Bennett ended the season by being named Player of the Year.

Senior

Bennett was just 18-years-old when he was added to the Waterford senior team. He made his first appearance on 19 July 2014 when he came on as a 62nd-minute substitute for Liam Lawlor in a 3-15 to 2-15 defeat by Wexford.

On 3 May 2015, Bennett was a late change to the Waterford team that faced Cork in the 2015 National League final. He scored a point from left corner-forward and collected a winners' medal after the 1-24 to 0-17 victory. On 12 July 2015, Bennett lined out at right corner-forward in the Munster Championship final but was substituted by his brother Shane in the 0-21 to 0-16 defeat.

In November 2015, it was announced that Bennett would miss the 2016 National Hurling League after undergoing two hip operations. He made his return to the Waterford team on 5 June 2016 when he came on as a late substitute for Michael Walsh in a 1-21 to 0-17 defeat of Clare. On 10 July, Bennett was an unused substitute when Waterford suffered a 5-19 to 0-13 defeat by Tipperary in the Munster Championship final.

On 3 September 2017, Bennett was an unused substitute when Waterford faced Galway in the All-Ireland final. Waterford eventually lost the game by 0-26 to 2-17.

Career statistics

Honours

Blackwater Community School
Dean Ryan Cup (1): 2011

University of Limerick
Fitzgibbon Cup (1): 2015

Ballysaggart
Waterford Intermediate Hurling Championship (1): 2019
Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship (1): 2013
Waterford Junior Hurling Championship (1): 2013

Waterford
National Hurling League (1): 2015
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2016
Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2016
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2013

References

Category:1995 births
Category:Living people
Category:Ballysaggart hurlers
Category:Waterford inter-county hurlers