Mick Kennefick
Encyclopedia
Mick Kennefick was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club St. Finbarr's
and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1942 until 1944. Kennefick captained Cork to the All-Ireland
title in 1943.
with the famous St. Finbarr's
club in Cork
. He was only out of minor ranks when he won back-to-back senior county championship
titles in 1942 and 1943. These were Kennefick’s only county victories.
winners' medal in that grade before later lining out in the All-Ireland final. Galway
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Cork were the victors with Kennefick collecting a coveted All-Ireland
minor medal.
In 1942 the minor hurling championship was cancelled due to ‘the Emergency’, however, Kennefick joined the senior panel at the age of seventeen. In his first game in the Munster Senior Championship
he was given the almost impossible task of marking Limerick
’s Mick Mackey
, one of the all-time greats of hurling. He succeeded in this task and later collected his first senior Munster title. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final with Dublin
providing the opposition. Cork took a 1-7 to 2-1 lead at half-time and held on to win the game by 2-14 to 3-4. It was Kennefick’s first All-Ireland
medal.
In 1943 Kennefick, at the age of eighteen, was appointed captain of the Cork senior hurling team. That year he guided his native-county to a 2-13 to 3-8 defeat of Waterford
and collected his second consecutive Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Antrim
provide the opposition. It was the first time that a team from Ulster
had qualified for the championship decider. The economic reality of the war saw an unusual exchange take place prior to the game as Kennefick presented a quantity of tea to Antrim captain Jimmy Walsh
, who in turn handed over butter to his opposite number. The game, however, turned into a rout. Cork took a 3-11 to 0-2 lead at half-time and went on to claim the three-in-a-row on a score line of 5-16 to 0-4. It was Kennefick’s second All-Ireland winners' medal, while he also had the honour of being one of the youngest captains ever to collect the Liam McCarthy Cup
..
By this stage Kennefick had come to be regarded as something of a teenage prodigy, however, his story is one of the great ‘might-have-beens’. In the first-round of the 1944 Munster Championship Kennefick’s wrist was broken by Tipperary
player James Ryan. The injury proved detrimental to his career as Kennefick never played for Cork again.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He first played for his province in 1943. On that occasion he collected his first and only Railway Cup winners’ medal as Munster defeated Leinster
.
, win three of his five All-Ireland
hurling titles with Cork in the 1970s.
Mick Kennefick died in 1984.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club St. Finbarr's
St. Finbarr's GAA
St. Finbarr's National Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Togher area of Cork city, County Cork, Ireland....
and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1942 until 1944. Kennefick captained Cork to the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
title in 1943.
Club
Kennefick played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with the famous St. Finbarr's
St. Finbarr's GAA
St. Finbarr's National Hurling and Football Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Togher area of Cork city, County Cork, Ireland....
club in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. He was only out of minor ranks when he won back-to-back senior county championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
titles in 1942 and 1943. These were Kennefick’s only county victories.
Inter-county
Kennefick’s skill as a hurler was soon spotted and he quickly joined the Cork minor hurling team. In 1941 he won a MunsterMunster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
winners' medal in that grade before later lining out in the All-Ireland final. Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Cork were the victors with Kennefick collecting a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
minor medal.
In 1942 the minor hurling championship was cancelled due to ‘the Emergency’, however, Kennefick joined the senior panel at the age of seventeen. In his first game in the Munster Senior Championship
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
he was given the almost impossible task of marking Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
’s Mick Mackey
Mick Mackey
Michael ‘Mick’ Mackey was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the famous Ahane club from 1930 until 1948 and was a member of the Limerick senior inter-county team from 1930 until 1947. Mackey is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game...
, one of the all-time greats of hurling. He succeeded in this task and later collected his first senior Munster title. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final with Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
providing the opposition. Cork took a 1-7 to 2-1 lead at half-time and held on to win the game by 2-14 to 3-4. It was Kennefick’s first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal.
In 1943 Kennefick, at the age of eighteen, was appointed captain of the Cork senior hurling team. That year he guided his native-county to a 2-13 to 3-8 defeat of Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
and collected his second consecutive Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
provide the opposition. It was the first time that a team from Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
had qualified for the championship decider. The economic reality of the war saw an unusual exchange take place prior to the game as Kennefick presented a quantity of tea to Antrim captain Jimmy Walsh
Jimmy Walsh (Antrim hurler)
Jimmy Walsh is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club O'Connell's and with the Antrim senior inter-county team in the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in Belfast, County Antrim.-Club:...
, who in turn handed over butter to his opposite number. The game, however, turned into a rout. Cork took a 3-11 to 0-2 lead at half-time and went on to claim the three-in-a-row on a score line of 5-16 to 0-4. It was Kennefick’s second All-Ireland winners' medal, while he also had the honour of being one of the youngest captains ever to collect the Liam McCarthy Cup
Liam McCarthy Cup
The MacCarthy Perpetual Challenge Cup is a trophy awarded annually by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the hurling team that wins the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.-The trophy:...
..
By this stage Kennefick had come to be regarded as something of a teenage prodigy, however, his story is one of the great ‘might-have-beens’. In the first-round of the 1944 Munster Championship Kennefick’s wrist was broken by Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
player James Ryan. The injury proved detrimental to his career as Kennefick never played for Cork again.
Provincial
Kennefick also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He first played for his province in 1943. On that occasion he collected his first and only Railway Cup winners’ medal as Munster defeated Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
.
Death
In retirement from the game Kennefick maintained a keen interest in the game. He lived to see his son-in-law, Jimmy Barry-MurphyJimmy Barry-Murphy
James "Jimmy" Barry-Murphy is a former Irish hurler, Gaelic footballer and association footballer and is the current manager of the Cork senior hurling team...
, win three of his five All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
hurling titles with Cork in the 1970s.
Mick Kennefick died in 1984.