John Fenton (born 11 December 1955) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a midfielder and forward for the Cork senior team.
He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Cork minor team, before later joining the under-21 side.
As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, Fenton won three Railway Cup medals.
In 1978 he enjoyed his first major success when he captured a championship medal in the intermediate grade as Midleton defeated Newtownshandrum by 1-12 to 1-10.
A 1-18 to 2-9 victory gave Midleton their first title since 1916, while Fenton, who collected his first championship medal, also had the honour of lifting the cup.
The following year Midleton were back in the decider, however, Fenton was relegated to the substitutes' bench as the club secured a 1-18 to 1-10 defeat of Blackrock.
In a game of fluctuating fortunes Cork looked likely to succeed but were deprived of victory when Kilkenny 'keeper Kevin Fennelly made two great saves from Con Brassil and Finbarr Delaney in the closing stages.
The subsequent All-Ireland decider on was a replay of the previous year, with Cork facing Kilkenny as underdogs.
Fenton made his senior championship debut as a substitute on 27 July 1975 in a 3-14 to 0-12 provincial final defeat of Limerick.
Fenton was back on the starting fifteen in 1979 as Cork had the opportunity of capturing a record-equalling fourth successive All-Ireland.
Age and the exertions of the three previous campaigns finally caught up with Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final and a 2–14 to 1–13 defeat by Galway brought the four-in-a-row dream to an end.
[3][4] Fenton added a National Hurling League medal to his collection in 1980, as Limerick were defeated after a thrilling draw and a replay.
Midleton's club success in 1983 paved the way for Fenton to be appointed captain of the Cork team for 1984, the centenary year of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
[6] The subsequent All-Ireland final on 2 September 1984, played at Semple Stadium in Thurles, saw Cork take on Offaly for the first time ever in championship history.
In 1985 Fenton added a sixth Munster medal to his collection as Cork defeated Tipperary by 4–17 to 4–11 in the provincial decider once again.
The men from the west were the red-hot favourites against a Cork team in decline, however, on the day a different story unfolded.
Four Cork goals, one from Fenton, two from Tomás Mulcahy and one from Kevin Hennessy, stymied the Galway attack and helped the Rebels to a 4–13 to 2–15 victory.
Playing in his usual midfield position he struck the sliotar on the ground and scored a goal from forty-five yards out.
Fenton added a third Railway Cup medal to his collection in 1985 as a Galway team representing Connacht were narrowly defeated by 3-6 to 1-11.