Billy Nolan (hurler) explained

Billy Nolan
Irish:Liam Ó Nualláin
Occupation:Student
Birth Date:1998
Birth Place:Waterford, Ireland
Sport:Hurling
Code:Hurling
County:Waterford
Province:Munster
Club:Roanmore
Clcounty:0
Colleges:Waterford Institute of Technology
Fitz:0
Colyears:2017-present
Counties:Waterford
Icyears:2017-present
Icposition:Goalkeeper
Icapps(Points):1 (0-00)
Icprovince:0
Icallireland:0
Nhl:0
Allstars:0
Icupdate:17:17, 29 November 2020

Billy Nolan (born 1998) is an Irish hurler who plays for Waterford Senior Championship club Roanmore and at inter-county level with the Waterford senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a goalkeeper.

Playing career

Waterford Institute of Technology

As a student at the Waterford Institute of Technology, Nolan quickly joined the senior hurling team. He became the first choice goalkeeper for the 2019 Fitzgibbon Cup and made his first appearance on 20 January 2019 in a 0-16 to 0-14 defeat by DCU Dóchas Éireann.[1]

Roanmore

Nolan joined the Roanmore club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels before eventually joining the club's top adult team in the Waterford Intermediate Championship.

Waterford

Minor and under-21

Nolan first lined out for Waterford as a 15-year-old on the minor team during the 2014 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance as goalkeeper on 9 April in 1-13 to 0-11 defeat of Clare.[2] On 13 July, Nolan lined out in goal for Waterford's 2-17 to 3-14 draw with Limerick in the Munster final.[3] He retained his position in goal for the replay on 22 July, which Waterford lost by 0-24 to 0-18.[4]

Nolan was retained as goalkeeper for the minor team for the 2015 Munster Championship. His season in this grade ended after defeats by Tipperary and Limerick.[5]

Nolan was eligible for the minor grade for a third successive season the following year. He made three appearances as goalkeeper for Waterford during the Munster Championship and played his last game in the grade on 29 June 2016 in a 0-19 to 0-17 defeat by Limerick.[6]

Nolan was just 16-years-old and in his first year with the Waterford minor team when he was also added to the under-21 for the Munster Championship. He made his debut in that grade on 17 June 2015 in a 1-21 to 1-11 defeat of Cork.[7]

A rule change prevented the then 17-year-old Nolan from lining out with the under-21 team in 2016. As of 1 January 2016, all under-21 players at inter-county level had to be over 18 years and under 21 years of age.[8] The rule change cost Nolan a place on Waterford's All-Ireland Championship-winning team.[9]

Nolan resumed his place as goalkeeper on the under-21 team for the 2017 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance in two seasons on 13 July in a 2-17 to 1-19 defeat by Cork.[10]

Nolan was again eligible for the under-21 team for the 2018 Munster Championship. Lining out in his third and final season in the grade, he made his only appearance on 20 June in a 0-23 to 1-17 defeat by Cork.[11]

Senior

Nolan was added to the Waterford senior team prior to the start of the pre-season Munster League in 2017. He made his first appearance on 8 January, lining out at right wing-forward, and top scored for Waterford with 0-06 in a 0-24 to 1-14 defeat by Limerick.[12] Nolan was later omitted from Waterford's panel for the National League.

On 27 January 2019, Nolan made his first appearance in the National League when he lined out in goal in Waterford's 2-28 to 0-07 victory of Offaly.[13] On 31 March, he was an unused substitute when Waterford suffered a 1-24 to 0-19 defeat by Limerick in the National League final.[14] On 8 June, Nolan made his Munster Championship debut when he replaced Stephen O'Keeffe as goalkeeper in Waterford's 2-30 to 2-17 defeat by Cork.[15]

On 14 November 2020, Nolan was an unused substitute when Waterford suffered a 0-25 to 0-21 defeat by Limerick in the 2020 Munster final.[16]

Career statistics

TeamYearNational LeagueMunsterAll-IrelandTotal
DivisionAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScore
Waterford Minor201440-0020-0060-00
201520-0020-00
201630-0030-00
Total90-0020-00110-00
Waterford U21201520-0020-00
2016
201710-0010-00
201810-0010-00
Total40-0040-00
Waterford2017Division 1A
2018
2019Division 1B40-0010-0050-00
2020Division 1A20-0100-0000-0020-01
Total60-0110-0070-01
Career total60-01140-0020-00220-01

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bergin and Crummey sink WIT. Irish Independent. 21 January 2019. 12 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Waterford sink Clare with late blitz. 10 April 2014. Irish Examiner. 26 January 2019. Diarmuid. O'Flynn.
  3. Web site: Lyons piles praise on Deise 'honesty' effort as Limerick denied. 14 July 2014. Irish Independent. 26 January 2019.
  4. Web site: Limerick blitz shakes off Déise. Irish Examiner. 23 July 2014. 23 June 2015.
  5. Web site: Carey finds range as Tipperary edge past Waterford in minor hurling quarter-final. 9 April 2015. Irish Examiner. 26 January 2019. Jackie. Cahill.
  6. Web site: Limerick's great hurling week continues as they defeat Waterford to reach Munster final. 29 June 2016. The 42. 26 January 2019. Tomás. McCarthy.
  7. Web site: Munster U21 HC: Ne Deise power past Rebels. 17 June 2015. Hogan Stand. 26 January 2019.
  8. Web site: Rule scuppers Billy Nolan's Waterford dream. 20 December 2015. Irish Examiner. 26 January 2019. John. Fogarty.
  9. Web site: All-Ireland U21 HC final: dazzling Deise surge past Tribesmen. 10 September 2016. Hogan Stand. 30 July 2018.
  10. Web site: Late Dalton goal hands 14-man Cork dramatic win over Waterford in Munster U21 semi-final. 13 July 2017. The 42. 5 July 2018. Fintan. O'Toole.
  11. Web site: Cork through to Munster hurling final after second-half comeback against Waterford. 20 June 2018. Irish Examiner. 5 July 2018. Denis. Hurley.
  12. Web site: Fitzgibbon and Dempsey key in helping new Limerick boss claim win over Waterford. The 42. 8 January 2017. 23 February 2019. Fintan. O'Toole.
  13. Web site: 0-16 for Bennett as Waterford hit the ground running with 27-point win over Offaly. The 42. 27 January 2019. 23 February 2019. Conor. Kane.
  14. Web site: Limerick end 22-year with for league honours in style with final win over Waterford. 31 March 2019. The 42. 31 March 2019. Fintan. O'Toole.
  15. Web site: Cork's quest for third straight Munster title still alive after seeing off Waterford at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. 8 June 2019. Irish Independent. 12 June 2019. Dermot. Crowe.
  16. Web site: Limerick made to work by Waterford for historic Munster SHC crown. 15 November 2020. Irish Examiner. 23 November 2020. John. Fogarty.