Edward Peter Keher (/ˈkɛər/; born 14 October 1941) is an Irish former hurler who played as a centre-forward at senior level for the Kilkenny county team.
[1][2][3] Born in Inistioge, County Kilkenny, Keher first played competitive hurling whilst at school in St. Kieran's College.
Keher's career tally of 35 goals and 336 points was a record score which stood until 20 June 2010 when it was surpassed by Henry Shefflin.
Keher attended the famous St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny, a virtual nursery for young hurling talent.
[9] St. Kieran's continued their dominance in 1958, with Keher adding a second Leinster medal to his collection following a 10–4 to 3–4 thrashing of Cistercian College, Roscrea.
Abbey CBS, Tipperary provided the opposition, however, a 2–13 to 4–2 victory gave Keher a second All-Ireland medal, while he also had the honour of lifting the Croke Cup as captain.
After fifteen minutes he was introduced as a substitute for Johnny McGovern, who was forced off after a recurrence of a shoulder injury he'd picked up in the drawn game.
[11] In 1962 Keher was a regular member of the starting fifteen, and captured his first silverware when Kilkenny defeated Cork to take their first National Hurling League in almost thirty years.
"The Cats" entered the game as underdogs, however, Keher proved to be the difference with a magnificent display in which he scored fourteen points.
The All-Ireland final on 6 September 1964 saw Kilkenny enter the game as firm favourites against fierce rivals Tipperary.
John McKenna scored Tipp's first goal after ten minutes as the Munster champions took a 1–8 to 0–6 interval lead.
After surrendering their provincial crown in 1965, Kilkenny bounced back the following year by reaching the National league decider.
Kilkenny were the favourites, however, two goals by Colm Sheehan and a third from John O'Halloran gave Cork a merited 3–9 to 1–10 victory.
Kilkenny retained their provincial crown in 1967, with Keher adding a fourth Leinster medal to his collection following a 4–10 to 1–12 defeat of Wexford after a scare in the opening half.
In spite of this, Kilkenny laid to rest a bogey that Tipperary had over the team since 1922, and a 3–8 to 2–7 victory gave Keher a second All-Ireland medal.
Wexford put an end to Kilkenny's hopes of retaining the title in 1968, however, the Noresiders bounced back the following year with Keher, who was now captain of the side, collecting a fifth Leinster medal following a 3–9 to 0–16 defeat of Offaly.
The Leesiders got into their stride following an early goal by Charlie McCarthy and led by six points coming up to halftime when Kilkenny raised a green flag themselves.
[15] The victory gave Keher a third All-Ireland medal, while he also had the honour of collecting the Liam MacCarthy Cup as captain.
On 5 September 1971, Kilkenny faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland final, the first to be broadcast in colour by Telefís Éireann and the only eighty-minute meeting between the two sides.
One of the most abiding memories of that game is of Keher grabbing the sliotar out of the sky and racing up the wing in the shadow of the Hogan Stand.
After scoring that goal an almost emotionless Keher simply turned around to go back to his normal playing position with blood pouring out of a cut over his eye, having been hit by Tony Maher's hurley.
On 7 September 1975, Keher lined out in an impressive tenth All-Ireland final, with surprise semi-final winners Galway providing the opposition.
Leinster made it two in a row the following year, with Keher collecting a second Railway Cup medal following a 3–11 to 0–9 defeat of Munster.
Keher played a key role in all of these wins, and ended his career with nine Railway Cup medals, a record for a Leinster player.
After taking umbrage to the description of the Kilkenny team as the Stepford Wives of hurling, Keher insisted that Cusack's criticisms were unjustified and stated that if he had received a present of the best-seller last Christmas, it would have gone "straight in the bin.
"[21][22][23] Following the drawn All-Ireland final between Kilkenny and Galway in 2012, Keher became involved in a war-of-words with Joe Canning following his comments about Henry Shefflin's sportsmanship.
The university marked "the achievement of this remarkable hurling legend who is also well-known for his work with young people and in humanitarian causes.
His father, a member of the Garda Síochána, was a native of Donamon and had played Gaelic football for Roscommon, before later lining out with Kilkenny.
He subsequently worked in the Allied Irish Bank branches in St. Stephen's Green and Capel Street in Dublin.
The organisation was established in 1978 and is devoted to providing alternative venues to public houses for young people and now has about 30 branches across the country.