Joseph Holden (born 2 July 1990) is an Irish hurler who plays as a full-back for Kilkenny Senior Championship club Ballyhale Shamrocks. He is a former captain of the Kilkenny senior hurling team. Holden, having failed to make the minor and under-21 teams, first appeared on the inter-county scene with the Kilkenny senior team, going on to make a combined total of 54 league and championship appearances across eight seasons. He won ten major trophies with Kilkenny; two All-Ireland titles, six Leinster Championships and three National Hurling League titles. Holden served as captain of the team during the 2015 All-Ireland title-winning season and is also an All-Star-winner. Holden joined the Ballyhale Shamrocks senior team when he was 17 and has been a regular for the team since then. Regarded as one of the most underrated but consistent defenders, he has won a four All-Ireland Club Championships. Holden has also won eight County Championship titles. Playing career Ballyhale Shamrocks Holden joined the Ballyhale Shamrocks club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. He enjoyed much championship success in the under-21 grade before eventually joining the club's top adult team in the Kilkenny Senior Championship. On 26 October 2008, Holden was selected on the bench when Ballyhale Shamrocks faced James Stephens in the final. He remained on the bench for the entire game but collected a winners' medal following the 2-11 to 0-12 victory. On 30 November 2008, Holden won a Leinster Championship medal as a non-playing substitute following Ballyhale's 2-13 to 0-11 defeat of Birr in the final. Holden was again listed amongst the substitutes when Ballyhale Shamrocks faced James Stephens in a second consecutive final on 25 October 2009. He remained on the bench for the entire game but claimed a second successive winners' medal after a 1-14 to 1-11 victory. On 29 November 2009, Holden won a second Leinster Championship medal as a non-playing substitute following Ballyhale's 1-16 to 1-08 defeat of Tullamore in the final. He was again listed amongst the substitutes when Ballyhale faced Portumna in the All-Ireland final on 17 March 2010. Holden was introduced as a 47th-minute substitute for Michael Fennelly and ended the game with a winners' medal following the 1-19 to 0-17 victory. On 23 October 2011, Holden lined out at left wing-back when Ballyhale Shamrocks faced James Stephens in the final for the third time