Tadhg Kennelly

Who is Tadhg Kennelly?

Tadhg Kennelly is an Irish sportsperson known for his top level careers in both Gaelic football and Australian rules football. He is the only holder of both an AFL Premiership medallion and a Senior All-Ireland Championship medal, the highest possible achievement in both sports. He has also represented Ireland in the International Rules Series.

Kennelly grew up playing Gaelic football with Listowel Emmets in Kerry, but moved to Australia to play professional Australian rules football in the Australian Football League. He is best known in Australia as the first Irish-born player to have received an AFL Premiership medallion and the first AFL player to represent Ireland against Australia in the International Rules Series. After Jim Stynes he is the second most experienced player associated with the Irish experiment.

Kennelly returned to his native Listowel to play in the 2009 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. On 20 September 2009, he started the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final as part of Kerry's All-Ireland winning side, scoring two fantastic points during the game and thus becoming the first person to win an AFL Premiership and a Senior All-Ireland Championship. After achieving his dream, he returned to the AFL to play for Sydney, after missing one season.