John Kennedy

John Kennedy (born 1964) first appeared for the Clonoulty–Rossmore club at juvenile and underage levels, before eventually joining the club’s senior team with whom he won county championship medals in 1989 and 1997. He was one of the stars of the ’89 team at centre back and put on a stylish display on the occasion of the final vs Holycross.

As he approached his 33^rd birthday, John battled injury to line out at wing back on the victorious 1997 team; his leadership, reading of the game and class a vital element in the club getting over Mullinahone on the day.

John’s league and championship career with the Tipperary senior team lasted seven seasons from 1986 to 1992. He made his debut on the inter-county scene when he was selected for the Tipperary minor team. He enjoyed one championship season with the minor team, culminating with the winning of an All-Ireland medal as captain in 1981.

John subsequently joined the under-21 team and won an All-Ireland medal in this grade in 1985. He later joined the Tipperary senior team, making his debut during a challenge game in 1987. Over the course of the following few seasons he enjoyed much success, culminating with the winning of All-Ireland medals in 1989 and 1991. John was an ever present at wing back in ’89 as Tipperary bridged an 18-year gap by regaining the Liam McCarthy Cup.

John had the honour of captaining his county for the 1990 season and also won four Munster medals and one National League medal. A knee injury ended his inter- county career after a brief comeback in 1992.

After being chosen on the Munster inter-provincial team for the first time in 1987, Kennedy was an automatic choice on the starting fifteen for the following two years.

In 2020, his three sons, Colman, Conal, and Jack were part of the Tipperary team that won the 2020 Munster Senior Football Final against Cork on 22^nd November, Tipperary’s first in 85 years and all three brothers have enjoyed considerable success with Clonmel Commercials in the football code.