Don Kenealy Explained

Donald Kenealy
Fullname:Daniel James Kenealy
Birth Date:13 February 1893
Birth Place:Te Puke, New Zealand
Height:5ft 1.5in
Weight:144lb
Club1:Eden Ramblers
Year1start:1911
Year1end:13
Appearances1:14
Tries1:4
Goals1:11
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:34
Club2:City Rovers
Year2start:1913
Year2end:15
Appearances2:16
Tries2:2
Goals2:1
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:8
Teama:Auckland
Yearastart:1911
Yearaend:13
Appearancesa:8
Triesa:1
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:3
Teamb:New Zealand
Yearbstart:1912
Appearancesb:4
Triesb:0
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:0
New:yes

Don Kenealy was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand.

Early life

He was known as Daniel James Kenealy but went by Don or Donald throughout life. On occasion his war records say Donald and at other times Daniel. He grew up in the Te Puke area where he attended Te Puke Primary School.[1] He later moved to Auckland and went to Sacred Heart College where he excelled as a cricketer and rugby footballer.[2] He left school in 1909 and in 1910 was playing rugby for Marist Brothers second grade team.[3]

Playing career

Kenealy switched to rugby league in 1911 and played for Eden Ramblers from their foundation in 1911 to 1913. He was a back and captained the side in 1913. During the 1913 season the Eden senior team disbanded and Kenealy was granted a transfer by Auckland Rugby League to the City Rovers.[4] He was selected for the Auckland in 1911 and played 3 matches for them.[5] In 1912 he played 4 matches for Auckland and scored 1 try.

In 1912 he was selected to play for New Zealand on the tour of Australia. No test matches were played on the tour.[6] Following the 1915 season he stopped playing. He was a carpenter and lived at Belvedere, New North Road in Mount Albert after marrying.

War

Donald Kenealy served in World War I. At the time of his enlistment he was living in Mount Albert and was working at Brooke Bros. in the same suburb.

Personal life

In 1917 he married Dorothy Harrison Hills in Christchurch. They lived together soon after in Mount Albert in Auckland however. He was a carpenter by trade according to his war recruitment form.

Notes and References

  1. News: Te Puke Primary School Roll 1883-1905. Sooty. 1909-12-10. 2019-12-25.
  2. News: Sacred Heart College/Annual Prize Distribution. 7. New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14240. 1909-12-10. 2019-12-25.
  3. News: Second Grade. 7. Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 178. 1910-07-29. 2019-12-25.
  4. News: Meeting of Committee. 9. New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15326. 1913-06-12. 2019-12-25.
  5. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. .
  6. http://nzleague.co.nz/pages/kiwis_players.php?player=79&name=KENEALY, Donald James KENEALY, Donald James (1912)