Tadhg Kennelly has been honoured for his eight year career with the Sydney Swans by being inducted into the club's Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Wdnesday night. The Kerry native, who was undoubtedly the most successful GAA export to the AFL since the legendary Jim Stynes, tweeted how honoured he was to receive the award.
The club's website has published an article in conjunction with the honour and it really does show just how much of an impact Kennelly made in Australia.
Little did the AFL know in 1999 that it was not only unearthing a superstar of the game but, much in the same mould as the late Jim Stynes, pave the way and encourage future international recruits to learn and love Australian Rules football.
Kennelly acclimatized to the game strikingly well, his natural athleticism and sheer determination earning him a round 14 debut against Carlton in 2001. He entrenched himself in the Swans’ line-up and would go on to play an integral role in the club’s back-to-back grand final appearances in 2005 and 2006.
Kennelly returned to his roots with Kerry in 2009 and helped the Kingdom to an All Ireland title that year, before he headed back to Sydney for a final flourish before calling it a day in 2011.
