Kenny aiming to put one more smile on peoples faces

 

By Shane Brophy

 

Certain families are synonymous with each club and Borris-Ileigh have plenty of them from the Stapletons, Stakelums, Mahers, Ryans and of course, the Kennys.

Indeed in Borris-Ileigh's first hay-day in the late 1940's and early 1950's, Paddy, Phil & Sean Kenny were not only the backbone of the club team that won county titles in 1949, 1950 and 1953, but also on the Tipperary team that won the three-in-a-row of All Ireland titles in 1949, 50 & 51.

Come the next generation in the 1980's when Borris-Ileigh won three more county senior titles in 1981, 1983 and 1986, Brian, Brendan & Philip Kenny were part of those successes, including the All Ireland victory in 1987.

Philip is the only direct link between that team and the current squad which is chasing the clubs second All Ireland title on Sunday with his son Conor in line to lift the Tommy Moore Cup as joint captain with Sean McCormack if they managed to overcome Ballyhale Shamrocks.

“It's great for the family,” admitted Conor whose early hurling was done in Kildare when his father was living and working there before Conor made the decision in 2013 relocate to his ancestral home.

“I fell in love with the game in Kildare, I played all my hurling there and then I came down to move in with my granny in 2013,” he said.

"The family moved down then and Niall came with them.”

Things seem to work in threes for the Kennys and Borris-Ileigh with Conor & Niall's cousin Shane also involved but unfortunately he damaged a cruciate ligament last summer and has had to sit out their amazing run, only returning to light training in recent weeks.

 

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