Michael John Kavanagh (born 6 April 2001) is an Irish former hurler who played as a right corner-back at senior level for the Kilkenny county team.
[2] Born in Freshford, County Kilkenny, Kavanagh first played competitive hurling during his schooling at St Kieran's College.
He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team, before later joining the under-21 side.
As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, Kavanagh won two Railway Cup medals.
[8] During his schooling at St Kieran's College in Kilkenny, Kavanagh established himself as a key member of the senior hurling team.
John Fitzpatrick (two) and Ollie O'Connor hit the goals that helped secure a comprehensive 3-17 to 0-10 victory and an All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship medal for Kavanagh.
[16] Kilkenny's provincial dominance continued in 2001 and a powerful 2-19 to 0-12 defeat of Wexford gave Kavanagh a fourth Leinster medal.
Kavanagh won his first National League medal, as a late Brian Dowling free secured a narrow 2-15 to 2-14 victory.
In 2003 Kavanagh won a second league medal as Kilkenny came back from eight points down to secure a stunning 5-14 to 5-13 extra-time defeat of Tipperary.
[23] After facing a shock, last-minute 2-15 to 1-16 defeat by Wexford in the Leinster semi-final in 2004, Kilkenny worked their way through the qualifiers and lined out against Cork in the All-Ireland decider on 12 September 2004.
[24] The game was expected to be a classic, however, a rain-soaked day made conditions difficult as Kilkenny aimed to secure a third successive championship.
The Leesiders were aiming for a third All-Ireland victory in-a-row; however, revenge was foremost in the minds of Kilkenny as it was Cork who denied their three-in-a-row bid in 2004.
Kavanagh collected an eighth Leinster medal in 2007, as Kilkenny asserted their provincial dominance and defeated Wexford by 2-24 to 1-12.
[30] On 2 September 2007 Kilkenny faced defeated Munster finalists and surprise All-Ireland semi-final winners Limerick in the championship decider.
Kilkenny got off to a flying start with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin scoring two goals within the first ten minutes to set the tone.
In a disappointingly one-sided final, Kilkenny produced a near perfect seventy minutes as Waterford endured a nightmare afternoon.
A 23-point winning margin, 3-24 from play, only two wides in the entire match and eight scorers in all with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin leading the way in a 3-30 to 1-13 victory.
[35] On 6 September Kilkenny were poised to become the second team ever in the history of hurling to win four successive All-Ireland championships when they faced Tipperary in the decider.
For long periods Tipp looked the likely winners, however, late goals from Henry Shefflin and substitute Martin Comerford finally killed off their efforts to secure a 2-22 to 0-23 victory.
Kilkenny faced a number of injury worries going into an historic All-Ireland final, and ultimately failed in their 'drive for five' as Tipperary won by 4–17 to 1-18.
In 1998 Kavanagh was a non-playing substitute on the Leinster team that narrowly defeated Connacht by 0-16 to 2-9 in the final of the Railway Cup.
Four years later Kavanagh made it onto the starting fifteen as Leinster faced their age-old rivals Munster in the championship decider.
A last-minute free by Henry Shefflin secured a 4-15 to 3-17 victory and a first Railway Cup medal on the field of play for Kavanagh.
Born in Freshford, County Kilkenny, Kavanagh was educated at the local national school before later completing his Leaving Certificate at St Kieran's college.