Kevin Kinahan

Kevin Kinahan
Personal information
Irish name Caoimhín Ó Coinneacháin
Sport Hurling
Position Full Back
Born 1971
Clareen, County Offaly, Ireland
Club(s)
Years Club
Seir Kieran
Club titles
Offaly titles 3
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
1992-2002 Offaly 29
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 2
All-Irelands 2
NHL 0
All Stars 3

Kevin Kinahan (born 1971) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a full-back for the Offaly senior hurling team.

Regarded as one of Offaly's greatest-ever full-backs, Kinahan made his first appearance for the team during the 1991-92 National League and subsequently became a regular member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the 2001 championship. During that time he won two All-Ireland medals, two Leinster medals and three All-Star awards. Kinahan was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.[1]

At club level Kinahan is a three-time county club championship medalist with Seir Kieran.

Playing career

Club

Kinahan played his club hurling with the Seir Kieran club and enjoyed much success.

Having ended up on the losing side in a number of county finals, Seir Kieran reached the championship decider once again in 1995. St. Rynagh's provided the opposition on that occasion. After a 1-13 apiece draw, Seir Kieran went on to win the replay. It was Kinahan's first championship medal.

Both Seir Kieran and St. Rynagh's met again in the 1996 championship decider and, once again, the game was a close affair. Kinahan's side were two points in arrears with two minutes to go, however, Seir Kieran battled back to win by 0-13 to 1-8. It was a second championship medal for Kinahan.

Three-in-a-row proved beyond Seir Kieran, however, the club qualified for a fifth successive championship decider in 1998. Once again St. Rynagh's provided the opposition, however, a draw was the result on that occasion.[2] Seir Kieran went on to win the replay by 1-11 to 0-6, giving Kinahan a third championship medal in four seasons.

Inter-county

Kinahan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Offaly under-21 hurling team. He won a Leinster medal in this grade in 1991 following a 2-10 to 0-12 defeat of Kilkenny. Offaly later reached the All-Ireland decider with Galway providing the opposition. A 2-17 to 1-9 trouncing was the result for Kinahan's side on that occasion.

Offaly retained their provincial title in 1992, with Kinahan winning a second Leinster under-21 medal following a 1-15 to 2-10 defeat of Kilkenny. Once again Offaly reached the All-Ireland final, this time with Waterford providing the opposition. A 4-4 to 0-16 draw was the result on that occasion, however, Waterford were more effective in the replay.[3] A 0-12 to 2-3 score line resulted in a second All-Ireland defeat for Kinahan.

Kinahan made his senior debut for Offaly in a National Hurling League game against Tipperary in 1992. He was a regular during the next few National League campaigns but was an unused substitute during the championship.

In 1994 Kinahan made his championship debut for Offaly in a provincial semi-final against Kilkenny. He later lined out in his first provincial decider. A 1-18 to 0-14 defeat of Wexford gave Kinahan his first Leinster medal.[4] After defeating Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final, he later lined out against Limerick in the All-Ireland final. With five minutes left in the game Limerick were five points ahead and were coasting to victory. It was then that one of the most explosive All-Ireland final finishes of all-time took place. Offaly were awarded a close-in free which Johnny Dooley stepped up to take. Dooley was told by the management team to take a point; however, he lashed the ball into the Limerick net to reduce the deficit. Following the puck-out Offaly worked the ball up the field and Pat O'Connor struck for a second goal. The Offaly forwards scored another five unanswered points in the time remaining to secure a 3-16 to 2-13 victory. This sensational victory gave Kinahan a second All-Ireland medal. He finished off the year by collecting his first All-Star award.

Offaly retained the Leinster title following a 2-16 to 2-5 trouncing of Kilkenny in 1995. It was Kinahan's second provincial medal. Down fell to Offaly in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final, allowing Offaly to advance to the championship decider and attempt to put back-to-back All-Ireland titles together for the first time ever. It was the first-ever meeting of Offaly and Clare in the history of the championship. The game developed into a close affair with Offaly taking a half-time lead. Four minutes from the end substitute Éamonn Taaffe first timed a long range free straight into the net to give Clare a one-point lead. After a quick equaliser Anthony Daly sent over a 65-metre free to give his team the lead again. Jamesie O'Connor pointed soon afterwards and at the full-time whistle Clare were the 1-13 to 2-8 winners. In spite of this defeat Kinahan later collected a second All-Star award.

After a couple of seasons in the doldrums Offaly emerged again in 1998, however, the year was not without controversy. That year Kinahan's side reached the Leinster final but lost by five points to Kilkenny. This defeat prompted their manager, Babs Keating, to describe the Offaly hurlers as "sheep in a heap", and he promptly resigned. It looked as if Offaly's championship hopes were in disarray, however, they overcame Antrim in the All-Ireland quarter-final and qualified to meet Clare in the semi-final. That game ended in a draw 1-13 apiece draw and had to be replayed. The replay, however, was ended early because of a time-keeping error by the referee Jimmy Cooney. Following a protest on the pitch of Croke Park by the Offaly supporters it was decided that Clare and Offaly would meet for a third time. Kinahan's side won the third game and qualified to play Kilkenny in the final in a repeat of the provincial decider.[5] On that day Brian Whelahan delivered one of his greatest performances. Despite suffering from flu, he started in defence and was later moved to full-forward where he scored 1-6. Offaly reversed the Leinster final defeat by winning the All-Ireland final by six points.[6] Kinahan secured a second All-Ireland medal before later winning a third All-Star award.

Offaly surrendered their championship crown the following year but returned to the All-Ireland decider again in 2000 in a repeat of the Leinster final. Kilkenny's D.J. Carey capitalised on an Offaly mistake after just six minutes to start a goal-fest for "the Cats". Carey scored 2–4 in all, sharing his second goal with Henry Shefflin who also scored a goal in the second-half. At the full-time whistle Kilkenny were the champions by 5–15 to 1–14.[7]

Kinahan retired from inter-county hurling in January 2002.[8]

Inter-provincial

Kinahan also lined out with Leinster in the inter-provincial series of games.

Honours

Team

Seir Kieran
Offaly

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Hogan, Vincent (19 January 2002). "Kevin Kinahan the giant oak guard on Offaly's porch gives up sentry duty". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  2. ↑ Hogan, Vincent (9 November 1998). "Dooley's perfect ten rescues Seir Kieran". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "Offaly: The glory years". Irish Independent. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  4. ↑ "Wexford hold edge in previous meetings". Offaly Express. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  5. ↑ "Scannal: Long Hot Summer". RTÉ Television. 17 March 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  6. ↑ Moran, Seán (14 September 1998). "Offaly tune in, step up and prove an unstoppable force". Irish Times. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  7. ↑ Crowe, Dermot (10 June 2001). "Cocky 'keeper mauled by Cats". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  8. ↑ "Kinahan calls it a day". Hogan Stand website. 16 January 2002. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
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