Cork scored the first points of the match but Kennelly struck back to post the first point for Kerry; he ended the game with two points and was named among the best players. He also did an Irish jig after he received his medal.
Kerry scored 0-16 to Cork’s 1-9 to take home the Sam Maguire Cup. It is the fifth time this decade they have won the major prize.
Kennelly can now add an All-Ireland medal to the family collection; his dad Tim won five and his brother Noel one.
There was an Australian contingent cheering him on. Coach Paul Roos, his wife Tami, forward scout George Stone and his wife Penny, as well as former teammate Jared Crouch and Tadhg’s Australian partner Nicole Noonan were amongst the 82,286 crowd.
“The atmosphere was amazing, the game was unbelievable and it is just great that we could be here to support Tadhg and now enjoy some of the celebrations with him,” Roos said following the match.
Congratulations to Tadhg and his team Kerry for winning the 2009 All-Ireland final.