Career
Born in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Whelan first played hurling without success during his school days. Although never playing minor hurling at inter-county level, he arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-one when he made his senior debut in the 1960-1961 National Hurling League. Whelan later played with London, but returned to Kilkenny and made several cameo appearances over the following four years, winning one All-Ireland medal and one Leinster medal on the field of play.
At club level Whelan began and ended his career with Thomastown.
Whelan retired from inter-county hurling after winning a second All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute in the 1967 championship.
