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Sevens speedster Kennedy waiting patiently for another tilt at Tokyo

Under very different circumstances, this weekend would have been the central focus of Ireland’s Sevens season.

SHANE LOWRY walking the 18th fairway at Portrush comes to mind. Times when the most cherishable sporting moments are not the instant a prize was clinched or the most perfect, nerveless execution, but that rare chance to savour an achievement before the final ball rattles into the cup.

For Terry Kennedy, his fondest memory from nearly four years among the Ireland Sevens squad is not the most impressive display of his own pace and power, but a late break that allowed him to canter the last few strides under the posts knowing it was mission accomplished. A landmark feat for a programme – never mind a team – still in its infancy.

terry-kennedy-runs-in-a-try Yu Chun Christopher Wong / INPHO Yu Chun Christopher Wong / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland were 21-7 up with less than a minute to go against the hosts at last year’s Hong Kong 7s. A clean inside pass from Adam Leavy, a deft scything angle and Kennedy was in lush open green grass, shoulders back and legs whirring to full stride.

He has scored better tries, scores that had more say on a contest’s outcome, but before touching down he was able to consider the achievement. More than a 28-7 win, this sealed Ireland’s place at the top table, the 7s World Series, for 2019/20.

“It was just a run in at the end and the game was probably over,” Kennedy downplays to The42 this week, “but we could kind of embrace the fact that we’d done it after four years building up to it.”

Four years of building and a year on from having to pick up the pieces after dreams of smooth progress into the World Series were brought crumbling by a semi-final loss to Japan in the 2018 tournament.

“The first year, it was like it was meant to be – we had won everything up to that point. Then fell at almost the last hurdle. It was tough coming back with extra pressure, but it made it all the sweeter to win it.

That was the most special day I’ve had in rugby, especially after the hardship of losing out the year before. To come back and get the job done it showed us all coming together like that.”

As luck would have it, having worked so hard to make it to the World Series Ireland’s debut season on the big tour has been short-lived. The Covid-19 pandemic forced a halt to be called on the series after March’s sixth leg in Vancouver. Remaining legs in Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris and London were quickly rescheduled for the coming Autumn, but there is still no certainty on whether they will be played.

terry-kennedy-scores-a-try Yu Chun Christopher Wong / INPHO Yu Chun Christopher Wong / INPHO / INPHO

Although the World Series was the long-standing goal for Anthony Eddy’s side, their debut round-the-world tour was always going to be overshadowed by a last-ditch attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games. Before all sport was turned upside down, the plan was to build a depth of experience, big game nous, and peak at a winner-goes-to-Tokyo tournament that was to be played this very weekend.

Tomorrow then, might have been another landmark day for Ireland’s fast-rising Sevens setup. Instead, they are resting up and looking forward to having another cut at making the now postponed Olympics.

Group training will begin again for the Sevens in Abbotstown on 6 July and Kennedy will be a key part of the bids to make it on to bigger stages again. A son of international wing Terry Snr, Kennedy Jnr cut his teeth at St Mary’s and was in the Leinster underage setup after playing an understudy’s role in Ireland’s excellent U20 season in 2016.

His name was etched in many a mind when he scored six times in a trial game that year, but with the fledgling national 7s setup up and running, he came to realise his talents were more suited to the short form of the game rather than 15-a-side.

“I had a conversation with Peter Smyth (then Leinster academy manager) after my first year. I just felt I was more suited to Sevens.

“I wasn’t getting the opportunities at Leinster. At that stage there wasn’t a full-time Sevens contract, but he said just stick at it for the time-being and…. in those next few months (contracts) were finalised. I played Sevens for that full year, really enjoyed it.

“It was an easy enough conversation to have because both parties were happy enough.”

ireland-terry-kennedy Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

His performances have proven that decision to be a prescient  one. Kennedy was named Ireland’s Sevens player of the year last May and did not ease off the pedal when the award was on the mantlepiece.

Kennedy has worked as a key weapon in Ireland’s attack. Ranked seventh for clean breaks throughout the World Series, fifth for tries scored. There aren’t many who have stats on the board to earn the right to use Jordan Conroy as a mere dummy runner and break 55 metres from centre field to the corner for his own score. Yet that’s exactly what the 23-year-old did to seal a momentous win over Australia in Cape Town in December.

World Rugby / YouTube

The last few months have brought a rare opportunity for Kennedy and his team-mates to steer clear of airports and planes and get lengthy stint on the home front. Aside from catching up on sporting autobiographies – Andre Agassi and Philly McMahon’s piqued his interest – Kennedy has put down some groundwork for life away from the field.

He completed a degree in commerce in UCD in 2018 before taking a year to focus solely on his sport. This year was to see him step into the workforce, a part-time role in AIB to fill his non-training Wednesdays. Obviously, the Coronavirus spiked all best-laid plans, so the flyer has instead put his mind to online courses in corporate banking and investment finance to give himself a boost when he’s not wearing boots.

As long as he has them on, though, Tokyo will keep calling out.

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    May 2nd 2020, 8:59 AM

    We could certainly be doing with a Ferris or two in the green jersey nowadays. One of the best ever to wear the jersey. Pity career ended prematurely. I do enjoy him on the punditry. Very honest.

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    May 2nd 2020, 1:02 PM

    @Ray Ridge: So powerful, quality player indeed, thought he started his punditry on the bitter side, taken some time for the competitor in him to fade a little, he’s decent enough now tho in fairness.

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    Mute Cathal
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    May 2nd 2020, 5:11 PM

    He would have made any world 15 in his prime, absolutely quality player. Such a shame his career ended so early

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    Mute JackSimpson
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    May 2nd 2020, 8:09 PM

    When on form and injury free he was up there with Kaino as the best no.6 in the world.

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    Mute Spailpeen Farrell
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    May 2nd 2020, 9:11 AM

    Is Impactful code for always injured?

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    Mute Barra Mac An Bhaird
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    May 2nd 2020, 12:30 PM

    @Spailpeen Farrell: stupid comment. He was a class player

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    Mute ThatLJD
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    May 2nd 2020, 10:04 PM

    @Spailpeen Farrell: Always injured? Yes injury blighted the last year or so for him, but always injured, that’s a laugh. The reckless way he put himself about was possibly what didn’t help him have a long career but he never went missing in games and without needing to talk about what irishness meant to him he did his bit and more for the game here. Top class 6.

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    Mute Pat O'Leary
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    May 3rd 2020, 12:58 AM

    What a brilliant player – such a shame he had to retire so early. Always thought he could have managed himself a little better in terms of injuries, but guess that was just the competitor in him / always wanted to be back out in the thick of it.

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    Mute Boseph Stalin
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    May 3rd 2020, 2:06 PM

    I train at the same gym as him nowadays and hes STILL a beast!

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    Mute Conor Pocock
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    May 4th 2020, 6:08 AM

    Jaysis Ireland really had a glorious chance in 2011 to win the World Cup. Full panel of players to chose from……..Welsh defence was unreal that day though

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    Mute Jonny Walls
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    May 5th 2020, 3:12 PM

    Not sure we played New Zealand in Croker in 2010, think it was Aviva Stadium.

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