[1] At senior club level, Kirkwood played for Queen's University, Belfast YMCA and Lisnagarvey.

[7] During the latter tournament, during a match against Canada, Kirkwood sustained a horrific injury when he felt the full force of an opponent's stick in his face.

[7][13] Kirkwood made his debut for Great Britain at the 1987 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy tournament.

In 1985 his man of the match performance helped the club win the NCU Challenge Cup, defeating NICC in the final.

Kirkwood represented Ireland at schoolboy, under-19 and under-23 levels before making his senior international debut on 17 August 1983 against Gloucestershire.