Consistent Kenny looking ahead to a big year for both club and county

Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon

Sarsfields and Galway defender Tara Kenny may come from a family and club that boasts of many fine accomplishments on the hurling and camogie fields but, for all that, she is one of the few in the parish who can make a very special boast indeed.

In 2013, Kenny was one of six players – along with her club-mate Orlaith McGrath, Rebecca Hennelly (Ardrahan), Aoife Donoghue (Mullagh) and Kinvara duo Colette Gill and Sinead Keane – to win an All-Ireland intermediate title at Croke Park before, later in the afternoon, togging out for the senior squad in their historic All-Ireland triumph over Kilkenny at GAA HQ.

For Kenny and McGrath, who grew up in houses and a community where All-Ireland county and club medals are almost ten-a-penny, to win two All-Ireland medals in the one day placed them in a league of their own. “Yeah, two All-Ireland medals on the same day! It is one our dads can’t say they have done!” she remarks with a grin.

Such is life in Sarsfields, where there is always that bit of friendly rivalry between fathers – her dad Tommy was a key player for Sarsfields’ in their All-Ireland club victories in 1993 and ‘94 –  and their sons or daughters or, in Kenny’s case, also among the siblings.

In 2015, her brothers Ivan and Eric won county senior hurling medals with the club – before she claimed hers in 2016 and ’17 – and she laughs this also led to some banter. “So, a lot of slagging goes on between us because the lads won in 2015 and we won in 2016, which was our first time. Then we won in 2017 so there is a bit of pressure on the lads now,” she chimes.

While Kenny comes across as a bubbly, affable character, her on-field persona is one of a true competitor. This was no more underlined in 2017 when she picked up the ‘Player of the Match’ on two occasions for Galway seniors – including in their All-Ireland quarter-final win over Tipperary – and, later in the year, in Sarsfields’ county final success over Mullagh.

Remarkably, although Sarsfields were the reigning champions, many pundits tipped Mullagh for county honours at the radio broadcasted preview evening in the build-up to the final – much to the chagrin of Kenny and their iconic manager, Michael ‘Hooper’ McGrath.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.