Tadhg Kennelly

Infobox afl player | firstname = Tadhg
lastname = Kennelly




birthdate = Birth date and age|1981|7|1|df=y
birthplace = Ireland
originalteam = County Kerry (Gaelic Football)
heightweight = 190cm / 86kg
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 14, 8 July 2001
debutteam = Sydney Swans
debutopponent = Carlton
debutstadium = Sydney Cricket Ground
playingteams = Sydney Swans (2001-)

158 games, 29 goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 2008
careerhighlights =

*International Rules Series 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 (representing Ireland)
*AFL premiership 2005

Tadhg Kennelly (born 1 July 1981) is a former Gaelic football player from Listowel, County Kerry, who is now a backline Australian rules football player for the Sydney Swans, in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early and private life

Kennelly was born in Listowel in 1981. He is the son of Tim Kennelly, a former All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winner with Kerry. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/kennellys_champion_irish_dad_dies_after_being_there_for_tadghsswansfairytale/2005/12/07/1133829661245.html] . Kennelly's firstname, Tadhg is often mispronounced as "Tie" in Australia, but is in fact pronounced "Tie-g".

Tadhg grew up playing Gaelic football and was recognised as a highly talented underage player with Kerry GAA [ [http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2004/0326/sport/kfeyauauojid/ Kennelly to miss Swans' AFL opener | BreakingNews.ie ] ] In 1999, he agreed to play Australian rules with the Swans [ [http://listowelemmets.kerry.gaa.ie/historyoftheclub.html Listowel Emmets ] ] [ [http://www.rte.ie/tv/ttv/thecafe/tadhgjoe.html/ RTE TV] ] .

AFL career

After his debut in 2001 (following elevation from the rookie list), he now is a permanent fixture in the Sydney line-up as a dashing rebound defender, wearing the no. 17 guernsey. He was second (behind Leo Barry) for rebounds (77) from the defensive 50-metre arc in 2004. Tadhg has become a high-profile member of the Swans outfit, well-known for his exciting play, his nationality and his "Talking With Tadhg" articles on the Swans' website.

Kennelly became the first Irishman to win an AFL premiership medal in 2005, after playing all 26 games for the Sydney Swans that year. The hype surrounding Kennelly's appearance in the AFL Grand Final was so much that Network Ten sent out its usual game-day boundary rider, Andrew Maher, over to County Kerry to visit Tadhg's family for the week and watch the Grand Final with them. Kennelly also appeared in the 2006 Grand Final, but the Swans lost 85-84 to the West Coast Eagles. [http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2006/0930/sport/cwqlsnauauid/ BreakingNews.ie report]

In 2007 and 2008 after several seasons missing only a handful of games, Kennelly suffered the a series of serious leg and shoulder injuries which became major setbacks to his AFL career. His knee buckled from a heavy tackle from the Melbourne Demons Byron Pickett, causing an ACL tear and seeing him miss several matches and later matches due to complications. In 2008, he again injured his knee, dislocating his knee cap and injuring his shoulder.

He was selected in the Dream Team for the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match [http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/2008041512023030 Kennelly represents the world in AFL Tribute Match] from worldfootynews.com] , but later withdrew due to injury. He was quick to recover, however, and made an appearance for the Swans the following week, though again succumbed to the injury curse. During the rest of 2008, Kennelly's shoulder continually dislocated during games and his unorthodox methods of popping it back in was the subject of much media interest.

Return to Ireland

Kennelly has expressed a desire to return home to Ireland and leave the AFL, as he would like to emulate the success of his father and win an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal with his native county's team, Kerry GAA. [ [http://www.kerrygaa.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118&Itemid=2 Kerry GAA - Tadhg Kennelly to Return to Kerry Football ] ] In December 2005, Kennelly's father Tim died suddenly at age 51. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/kennellys_champion_irish_dad_dies_after_being_there_for_tadghsswansfairytale/2005/12/07/1133829661245.html] It is believed his father's death may have some bearing on Kennelly's wish to return to Ireland. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/family-man-torn-between-home-and-blood-brothers/2006/09/09/1157222378362.html Family man torn between home and blood brothers - AFL - Sport - smh.com.au ] ]

On the last day of August, 2006, Tadhg Kennelly ended months of speculation by announcing he would be staying on with the Swans for a further 3 years. Kennelly said that this would be his last AFL contract and that he would be returning to Ireland to live at the end of the three year contract. In March 2008, Kennelly announced that he would "definitely" return to Ireland in 2009 to play with Kerry, as "I want to win an All-Ireland with Kerry". [ [http://www.kerrygaa.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118&Itemid=2 Kerry GAA - Tadhg Kennelly to Return to Kerry Football ] ] [ [http://www.hoganstand.com/Kerry/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=91674 Hoganstand.com - GAA Football & Hurling ] ]

References

External links

*Sydplayer|ref=13522