Introduction
Rory Kavanagh (Irish: Ruairí Ó Caomhánach; born 23 August 1982) is a Gaelic footballer with Donegal. Alongside Colm McFadden and Christy Toye, he would have been considered one of the experienced members of the Donegal senior football panel in his final days.
Club: Naomh Adhamhnáin (St Eunan's GAA) , Kavanagh lives in Letterkenny
Playing career
Educated at Saint Eunan's College in Letterkenny, Kavanagh was part of the victorious college team that brought the McLarnon Cup back to the school for a third time in 2000, the first win since 1979. He is currently a teacher at Scoil Colmcille in Letterkenny.
Mickey Moran first called up Kavanagh for the Donegal senior panel in 2001.
Against Armagh in the 2004 Ulster final at Croke Park, he came on as a substitute for the injured Christy Toye. Against the same opponents at the same venue he played in the 2006 Ulster final, scoring 0-01. Having spent much of the campaign on the bench, he came on as a substitute in the 2007 NFL Final against Mayo, scoring 0-01.
Again against Mayo, he started at midfield in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle from his team hotel in Dublin the following morning, he was still a wee bit hoarse himself and described the win as "surreal". He was nominated for an All Star in 2012, but missed out unluckily according to many experts.
At the end of 2014 Rory decided to retire from the county set up. In 2016, he came out of retirement to be back on the Donegal panel. In January 2017, Kavanagh retired from the inter-county game.
Honours
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (1): 2012
- Ulster Senior Football Championship (3): 2011, 2012, 2014
- National Football League (1): 2007
- National Football League, Division 2 (1): 2011
- Dr. McKenna Cup (1): 2009
- Donegal Senior Football Championship (6): 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014
- Railway Cup (1): 2012