Brian Whelahan (born 23 August 1971) is an Irish former hurler who played as a left wing-back at senior level for the Offaly county team.
He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of fifteen when he first linked up with the Offaly minor team, before later lining out with the under-21 side.
As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, Whelahan won two Interprovincial Cup medals.
Throughout his career, Whelahan made 55 championship appearances, second only to Joe Dooley in Offaly's all-time rankings.
During his playing days, he won four All-Star awards, as well as being the first person to be named Texaco Hurler of the Year on two occasions.
Whelahan was educated locally at St Brendan's Presentation Brothers National School, where he started off his hurling career under the tutelage of Bro.
Darren Hanniffy scored the only goal of the game after just five minutes and gave Birr a lead that they would never surrender.
[8] Whelahan won further championship medals in 2000 against Seir Kieran and in 2001 against St. Rynagh's, as Birr retained their status as the kingpins of Offaly hurling.
A Declan Pilkington goal inside sixty seconds was the perfect start, although the Westerners did recover to lead by 1–4 to 1–2 at the break.
[13] He later added a sixth Leinster medal to his collection following a low-scoring 2–5 to 1–2 defeat of Young Irelands in deplorable conditions.
A record six-in-a-row proved beyond Birr, however, Whelahan won his ninth championship medal in 2005 as his side trounced Coolderry by 0–20 to 0–5.
[18][19] Later that year Whelahan won his seventh and final Leinster medal as Birr narrowly defeated Ballyboden St. Enda's by 1–11 to 0–13.
Two years later in 1989 Whelahan was captain of the minor side as he captured a second Leinster medal following a 4–13 to 0–13 trouncing of Kilkenny in a replay.
After an exciting game Offaly were the winners by 2–16 to 1–12, giving Whelahan a second All-Ireland medal in the minor grade.
Galway provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland decider, however, Whelahan's side were completely outclassed, as the men from the West won by 2–17 to 1–9.
He added a third Leinster medal to his collection, following a 1–15 to 2–10 defeat of Kilkenny, before later leading his team out in the All-Ireland final.
Whelahan was still a member of the Offaly minor team when he made his senior championship debut in the All-Ireland semi-final against Antrim on 6 August 1989.
Wexford were the opponents on that occasion, however, after a tense game Offaly secured a 2–6 to 0–10 victory and Whelahan collected a National League medal.
Dooley was told by the management team to take a point; however, he lashed the ball into the Limerick net to reduce the deficit.
Following the puck-out Offaly worked the ball up the field and Pat O'Connor struck for a second goal.
1994 was not without its controversy for Whelahan either, as he was named Texaco Hurler of the Year but, due to irregularities in the voting system, he was sensationally omitted from the All-Star team.
On 3 September 1995, he lined out in a second consecutive All-Ireland decider, this time with Clare providing the opposition.
Four minutes from the end substitute Éamonn Taaffe first timed a long range free straight into the net to give Clare a one-point lead.
[28] It looked as if Offaly's championship hopes were in disarray, however, they overcame Antrim in the All-Ireland quarter-final and qualified to meet Clare in the semi-final.
[29] Whelahan's side won the third game and qualified to play Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final on 13 September 1998.
[30] Whelahan had captured his second All-Ireland medal and was once again honoured as Texaco Hurler of the Year, the first player to win the title on two occasions.
[35][36] His tenure got off to a difficult start as Offaly were trounced by Kilkenny in Nowlan Park in the opening round of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.
That same year Whelahan married his wife Mary and together they have four children – Aaron, Dawn, Aoibhe and Brooke.