His league and championship career with the Tipperary senior team lasted seven seasons from 1986 to 1992.
Kennedy made his debut on the inter-county scene when he was selected for the Tipperary minor team.
He enjoyed one championship season with the minor team, culminating with the winning of an All-Ireland medal as captain.
Kennedy subsequently joined the under-21 team and won an All-Ireland medal in this grade in 1985.
[citation needed] After being chosen on the Munster inter-provincial team for the first time in 1987, Kennedy was an automatic choice on the starting fifteen for the following two years.