{{Short description|Galway hurler (born 1996)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox Gaelic games player | image = Conor Whelan cropped.jpg | name = Conor Whelan | irish = Conchúir Ó Faoláin | nickname = Whelo | occupation = Head of Well-Being & Business Development at Castle Group | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|31|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Kinvara]],<br>[[County Galway]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] | height = {{convert|1.81|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | sport = Hurling | code = Hurling | county = Galway | province = Leinster | club = [[Kinvara GAA|Kinvara]] | clyears = 2013– | clposition = Full Forward | clapps(points) = | clcounty = 0 | clprovince = | clallireland = | colleges = [[University of Galway]] | fitz = 0 | counties = [[Galway county hurling team|Galway]] | icyears = 2015– | icposition = Right corner-forward | icapps(points) = 58 (16–126) | icprovince = 2 | icallireland = 1 | nhl = 2 | allstars = 2 | clupdate = | icupdate = match played 21 June 2025 }} '''Conor Whelan''' (born 31 October 1996) is an Irish [[Hurling|hurler]] who plays as a right corner forward for club side [[Kinvara GAA|Kinvara]] and at senior level for the [[Galway county hurling team|Galway county team]].
==Playing career== ===University of Galway===
As a student at the [[University of Galway]], Whelan has been a regular player on the university's senior hurling team in the [[Fitzgibbon Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/fitzgibbon-cup-previews-466553.html|title=Fitzgibbon Cup previews|date=1 February 2018|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=9 August 2018|first=Eoghan|last=Cormican}}</ref>
===Kinvara===
Whelan joined the [[Kinvara GAA|Kinvara]] club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels before joining the club's intermediate team.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
===Galway=== ====Minor and under-21====
Whelan first played for Galway as a member of the minor hurling team on 28 July 2013. He made his first appearance in a 1-19 to 0-13 [[All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship|All-Ireland quarter-final]] defeat of [[Laois GAA|Laois]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/whelan-strike-turns-tide-as-tribesmen-march-on-29455685.html|title=Whelan strike turns tide as Tribesmen march on|date=29 July 2013|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=10 August 2018|first=Jackie|last=Cahill}}</ref> On 8 September 2013, Whelan was at right corner-forward in Galway's 1-21 to 0-16 defeat by [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]] in the All-Ireland final at [[Croke Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/waterford-beat-galway-all-ireland-minor-hurling-final-1074442-Sep2013/|title=Waterford end 65-year wait for All-Ireland minor title|date=8 September 2013|publisher=The 42|access-date=10 August 2018|first=Paul|last=Fennessy}}</ref>
Whelan's second and final season with the Galway minor team ended with a 1-27 to 2-09 All-Ireland semi-final defeat by [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] on 17 August 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/limericks-power-surge-shuts-down-outclassed-tribesmen-30514961.html|title=Limerick's power surge shuts down outclassed Tribesmen|date=18 August 2014|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=10 August 2018|first=Liam|last=Kelly}}</ref>
As a member of the Galway under-21 hurling team, Whelan made his first appearance on 22 August 2015 in a 1-20 to 0-17 [[All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship|All-Ireland semi-final]] defeat by [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/limerick-too-good-for-galway-in-under-21-semi-final-1.2325868|title=Limerick too good for Galway in Under-21 semi-final|date=22 August 2015|publisher=Irish Times|access-date=10 August 2018}}</ref>
On 10 September 2016, Whelan scored two points in a 5-15 to 0-14 defeat by Waterford in the All-Ireland final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hoganstand.com/article/index/260712|title=All-Ireland U21 HC final: dazzling Deise surge past Tribesmen|date=10 September 2016|publisher=Hogan Stand|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref>
Whelan ended the 2017 championship by being named on the Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/limerick-u21-hurling-all-ireland-gillane-3626268-Oct2017/|title=Gillane the star man as Limerick, Kilkenny, Galway and Cork players make U21 team of the year|date=2 October 2017|publisher=The 42|access-date=5 August 2018|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}}</ref>
====Intermediate====
On 1 July 2015, Whelan made his first appearance for the Galway intermediate hurling team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/galway-kilkenny-intermediate-semi-final-2192837-Jul2015/|title=Michael Rice returns - but it's first blood for Galway in a big week against Kilkenny|date=1 July 2015|publisher=The 42|access-date=10 August 2018|first=Brian|last=McDonald}}</ref> He later won a [[Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship|Leinster Championship]] medal following Galway's 1-20 to 0-11 defeat of [[Wexford GAA|Wexford]] in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/galway-wexford-leinster-intermediate-final-2015-2218869-Jul2015/|title=Senior stars shine in historic Leinster title win for Galway against the champions|date=16 July 2015|publisher=The 42|access-date=10 August 2018|first=Michael|last=Dwyer}}</ref>
====Senior====
Whelan made his debut for the Galway senior team on 26 July 2015, scoring 1-02 from play in a 2-28 to 0-22 [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|All-Ireland quarter-final]] defeat of [[Cork GAA|Cork]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/galway-hand-debut-to-whelan-for-cork-clash-31402945.html|title=Galway hand debut to Whelan for Cork clash|publisher=Irish Independent|date=25 July 2015|access-date=27 July 2015|first=John|last=Fallon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/galway-untroubled-by-lacklustre-cork-performance-688259.html|title=Galway untroubled by lacklustre Cork performance|date=26 July 2015|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=9 August 2018|first=John|last=Fogarty}}</ref> On 6 September 2015, Whelan scored two points from right wing-forward in a 1-22 to 1-18 defeat by [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]] in the All-Ireland final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/clinical-kilkenny-retain-all-ireland-hurling-title-1.2342014|title=Clinical Kilkenny retain All-Ireland hurling title|date=6 September 2015|publisher=Irish Times|access-date=10 August 2018|first=Seán|last=Moran}}</ref>
On 23 April 2017, Whelan scored five points from play when Galway defeated [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] by 3-21 to 0-14 to win the [[National Hurling League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/tipperary-shellshocked-as-galway-storm-to-10th-league-title-1.3058682|title=Tipperary shellshocked as Galway storm to 10th league title|date=24 April 2017|publisher=Irish Times|access-date=10 August 2018|first=Seán|last=Moran}}</ref> Later that season he won his first [[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|Leinster Championship]] medal after Galway's 0-29 to 1-17 defeat of Wexford in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/galway-put-down-the-wexford-revolution-1.3141068|title=Galway put down the Wexford revolution|date=2 July 2017|publisher=Irish Times|access-date=10 August 2018|first=Malachy|last=Clerkin}}</ref> On 3 September 2017, Whelan started for Galway at right corner-forward when they won their first All-Ireland in 29 years after a 0-26 to 2-17 defeat of Waterford in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/emotions-run-high-as-tribe-end-agonising-29-year-wait-458279.html|title=Emotions run high as Tribe end agonising 29-year wait|date=4 September 2017|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=5 September 2017}}</ref> He ended the season by winning an [[GAA GPA All Stars Awards|All-Star]] award as well as being named [[All Stars Young Hurler of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/andy-moran-and-joe-canning-are-football-and-hurler-of-the-year-812668.html|title=Andy Moran and Joe Canning are football and hurler of the year|date=3 November 2017|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=6 November 2017|archive-date=16 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116091121/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/andy-moran-and-joe-canning-are-football-and-hurler-of-the-year-812668.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 8 July 2018, Whelan won a second successive Leinster Championship medal following Galway's 1-28 to 3-15 defeat of Kilkenny in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/galway-hold-their-nerve-against-kilkenny-in-leinster-final-replay-853789.html|title=Galway hold their nerve against Kilkenny in Leinster final replay|date=8 July 2018|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=9 August 2018|first=John|last=Fogarty}}</ref> On 19 August 2018, he scored a goal from right corner-forward in Galway's 3-16 to 2-18 All-Ireland final defeat by [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/limerick-are-all-ireland-hurling-champions-for-the-first-time-in-45-years-following-epic-victory-over-galway-37230532.html|title=Limerick are All Ireland hurling champions for the first time in 45 years following epic victory over Galway|publisher=Irish Independent|date=19 August 2018|access-date=20 August 2018|first=Seán|last=McGoldrick}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
{{updated|match played 21 June 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !rowspan="2"|Team !rowspan="2"|Year !colspan="3"|[[National Hurling League|National League]] !colspan="2"|[[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|Leinstser]] !colspan="2"|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|All-Ireland]]
!colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score |- | rowspan="11" |[[Galway county hurling team|Galway]] |2015 |rowspan="2"|[[National Hurling League|Division 1A]] |0||0-00||0||0-00||3||1-06||3||1-06 |- |2016 |6||0-06||3||1-05||2||0-02||11||1-13 |- |2017 |rowspan="3"|[[National Hurling League|Division 1B]] |7||3-12||3||0-12||2||0-05||12||3-29 |- |2018 |5||2-05||6||2-13||3||1-06||14||5-24 |- |2019 |5||1-07||4||1-10||colspan=2|—||9||2-17 |- |2020 |rowspan="4"|[[National Hurling League|Division 1A]] |5||3-06||2||0-06||1||0-01||8||3-13 |- |2021 |5||2-11||1||1-02||1||0-03||7||3-16 |- |2022 |4||0-07||5||1-13||2||1-04||11||2-24 |- |2023 |4||1-04||6||6-11||2||1-07||12||8-22 |- |2024 | | | |5 |0-11 | colspan="2" |— |5 |0-11 |- |2025 | | | |6 |0-08 |1 |0-01 |7 |0-09 |- ! colspan="3" |Total |'''41'''||'''12-58'''||'''41'''||'''12-91'''||'''17'''||'''4-35'''||'''99'''||'''28-184''' |}
==Honours==
;Galway * [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]] (1): [[2017 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|2017]] *[[Leinster Senior Hurling Championship]] (2): [[2017 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|2017]], [[2018 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Leinster Senior Hurling Championship|2018]] *[[National Hurling League|National Hurling League Division 1]] (2): [[2017 National Hurling League|2017]], [[2021 National Hurling League|2021]] *[[Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship]] (1): [[2015 All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship#Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship|2015]] ;Club * [[Galway Intermediate Hurling Championship]] (1): [[2019 Galway Intermediate Hurling Championship|2019]] ;Awards *[[All Stars Young Hurler of the Year]] (1): 2017 *[[GAA GPA All Stars Awards]] (2): 2017, 2023 *''[[The Sunday Game]]'' Team of the Year (2): 2017, 2023
==References== {{Commons category}} {{reflist}}
{{Galway Hurling Team}} {{Navboxes |title=Conor Whelan navigation boxes |list1= {{Galway Minor Hurling Team 2013}} {{Galway Under-21 Hurling Team 2016}} {{Galway Hurling Team 2015}} {{Galway Hurling Team 2017}} {{Galway Hurling Team 2018}} {{2017 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Team of the Year}} {{2017 Hurling All Stars}} {{2023 Hurling All Stars}} {{GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whelan, Conor}} [[Category:1996 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winners]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Galway]] [[Category:Galway inter-county hurlers]] [[Category:Kinvara hurlers]] [[Category:University of Galway hurlers]] [[Category:People from Kinvara]] [[Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen]] [[Category:GAA/GPA Young Hurlers of the Year]]