RIP: Former Tipperary and Dublin GAA dual star passed away suddenly last weekend

Tipperary GAA expressed great sadness after learning  of the passing of former Tipperary and Dublin player Michael Kennedy last week.

A talented young hurler and footballer, Michael was a member of the Tipperary Minor Hurling panel in 1952 for the first round of the championship, although he wasn’t part of the team that went on to win the All-Ireland final.

However, he earned a place at midfield on the team the following year when they went all the way again, beating Dublin in the final. His midfield partner was Billy Quinn, father of soccer star Niall Quinn, and their hurling careers crossed paths again some years later when they both moved to Dublin and played for the Faughs club.

Michael was also on the Tipperary minor football team in 1953 and subsequently played junior and senior championship football with Tipperary.

Having initially played hurling with St. Mary’s, he transferred to Marfield in 1956. He was on a South Tipp combination team, Na Piarsaigh, that reached the County Senior Hurling Final in 1957, where they were defeated by an all-conquering Thurles Sarsfields side.

In 1956 he won a County Senior Football medal with Commercials on a team captained by Sean Cleary.

His hurling career continued to thrive when he moved to Dublin. In 1961 he was on the Dublin senior hurling panel that won the Leinster championship, beating All-Ireland champions Wexford in the final, before losing to Tipperary by a point in the All-Ireland final.

Tipperary GAA extended its sincere sympathies to Michael's wife Kitty, daughter Helen, sons Tom, Michael, Paul, and Liam and the extended members of the Kennedy family.