John Cavanagh (died 1819) was an Irish sportsman, regarded as the greatest fives player in Regency London.
At one point he lived in Buckbridge Street in St Giles-in-the-Fields, which was associated with London's Irish Catholic community.
[3] In his essay 'The Indian Jugglers', William Hazlitt – an enthusiastic fives player himself[4] – described Cavanagh's play as follows: Whenever he touched the ball there was an end of the chase.
He saw the whole game, and played it; took instant advantage of his adversary's weakness, and recovered balls, as if by a miracle and from sudden thought, that every one gave for lost.
[3]Hazlitt remarked that the only unusual aspect of Cavanagh's game was that he: ... never volleyed, but let the balls hop; but if they rose an inch from the ground he never missed having them.