Career
Born in County Cork, Ireland, his early sports were hurling and Gaelic football, but having emigrated to Wales, he used to watch his factory co-workers in Cardiff playing the game in their breaks. At 21, he played his first competitive game for the works team He removed Street Mary's of Canton for no runs and 13 extras.
After a couple of seasons in the lower levels of the league, he was signed by Splott United States (University Settlement), and he was an instant success at the top level
In 1957 he made his debut for Wales in the annual international against England, in Liverpool. He opened the bowling and had the English at 33 for 7, but was removed after a protest over his bowling style and a series of no-balls was called.
He was also named Welsh Baseball Union player of the year. By 1962, he had joined Grange Albion, and in that year’s international he dismissed England for just 11 in their first innings and 14 in the second, with only four batsmen hitting the ball.
His devastating form came to the attention of Wales’ first-class cricket team, Glamorgan County Cricket Club, who considered that a super-fast underarm bowler could give them an advantage in the new limited overs version of their game.
As the first round of the new Gillette Cup loomed, captain Ossie Wheatley invited Hennessy for a trial in the nets at Cardiff Arms Park, with the thought of recruiting him as a ‘secret weapon’. Paddy Hennessey is mentioned in The Baseball Song, a song by The Hennessys on their album Cardiff After Dark.