Aidan Kearney

Aidan Kearney (born 27 February 1984) is an Irish hurler who plays as a left corner-back for the Waterford senior team.

Kearney joined the team during the 2006 championship and has become a regular member of the starting fifteen over subsequent seasons. Since then he has won one Munster medal and one National Hurling League medal. Kearney has ended up as an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At club level Kearney plays with Tallow.

Playing career

Club

Kearney plays both hurling and Gaelic football with Tallow, however, he has enjoyed little success in either code.

Inter-county

Kearney first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Waterford minor and under-21 hurling teams, however, he enjoyed little success in these grades.

In 2006 Kearney made his senior championship debut for Waterford in an All-Ireland qualifier against Westmeath.

The following season Kearney became a regular member of the starting fifteen. He won a National Hurling League medal that year when Waterford defeated Kilkenny by 0-20 to 0-18 in the final.^[1] He later claimed a first Munster medal as Waterford defeated Limerick by 3-17 to 1-14 in the provincial decider.^[2] While Waterford were viewed as possibly going on and winning the All-Ireland title for the first time in almost half a century, Limerick ambushed Kearney's side in the All-Ireland semi-final.

2008 began poorly for Waterford as the team lost their opening game to Clare as well as their manager Justin McCarthy. In spite of this poor start Kearney's side reached the All-Ireland final for the first time in forty-five years. Kilkenny provided the opposition and went on to trounce Waterford by 3-30 to 1-13 to claim a third All-Ireland title in-a-row.^[3]

In recent seasons Kearney has remained on the Waterford panel but has failed to make an impact on the starting fifteen.

References