At club level he played with Blackrock and was also a member of the Cork senior hurling team.
After establishing himself on the club's senior team, he went on to win four County Championship titles between 1903 and 1911.
Kidney's performances at club level saw him being selected for the Cork senior hurling team and he made his first appearance in the 1903 Munster CHampionship.
Kidney's last game for Cork was a defeat by Kilkenny in the 1907 All-Ireland final.
[2] Kidney was born into a fishing family in Blackrock and spent his entire working life as a fisherman.