Kenneth Burke (hurler)

Kenneth Burke

Kenneth Burke in 2015
Personal information
Irish name	Cionnaith de Búrca
Sport	Hurling
Position	Left wing-forward
Born	1984 (age 40–41) Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Occupation	Electrician
Club(s)
Years	Club
2001-2018	St Thomas'
Club titles
Galway titles	3
All-Ireland Titles	1
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County	Apps (scores)
2003-2008	Galway	2 (0-01)
Inter-county titles
All-Irelands	0
NHL	0
All Stars	0

Kenneth Burke (born 1984) is an Irish hurling manager and former player. At club level, he played with St Thomas' and also lined out at inter-county level with various Galway teams.

Playing career

Burke first played hurling at juvenile and underage levels with the St Thomas' club. He eventually progressed to adult level and was part of the St. Thomas' team that won Galway IHC and Connacht Club IHC titles in 2004.[1] Burke later won three Galway SHC titles and was at midfield for the two-point defeat of Kilcormac/Killoughey in the 2013 All-Ireland club final.[2]

Burke's inter-county career with Galway began with a two-year association with the minor team. He was an All-Ireland MHC runner-up in his first year with the team in 2001.[3] Burke later progressed to under-21 level and captained the team to a defeat of Kilkenny in the 2005 All-Ireland under-21 final.[4] He was also a member of the intermediate team that lost out to Wexford in that year's final.[5]

By that stage, Burke had already joined the Galway senior hurling team. He made his debut in 2003, however, he remained a peripheral figure, lining out in several National Hurling League games before leaving the panel in 2008.[6]

Management career

Burke first became involved in inter-county management when he was a selector under Jeffrey Lynskey with the Galway minor team that won the All-Ireland MHC title in 2018. His association with Lynskey continued to under-20 level, and he was again a selector when the Leinster U20HC title was secured in 2021.

Burke has also been heavily involved in team management and coaching at all levels with the St. Thomas' club. He was manager of the club's senior team that won three Galway SHC titles from 2021 to 2023.[7][8] Burke also guided St. Thomas' to the All-Ireland Club SHC title in 2024 after an 0-18 to 0-17 defeat of O'Loughlin Gaels in the final.[9]

Personal life

His brother, David Burke, captained Galway to the All-Ireland SHC title in 2017.[10] Another brother, Éanna Burke, was also a member of the team.[11]

Honours

Player

St. Thomas'

• All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship: 2013
• Galway Senior Hurling Championship: 2012, 2016, 2018
• Connacht Intermediate Club Hurling Championship: 2004
• Galway Intermediate Hurling Championship: 2004

Galway

• All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship: 2005 (c)

Management

St. Thomas'

• All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship: 2024
• Galway Senior Hurling Championship: 2021, 2022, 2023

Galway

• Leinster Under-20 Hurling Championship: 2021
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship: 2018

References

1. "How St Thomas' became Galway hurling's fifth modern-day dynasty". Irish Examiner. 4 December 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
2. "St Thomas claim their first ever All-Ireland title against 13-man Kilcormac-Killoughey". Irish Independent. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
3. "Cork crush the three-in-a-row dream". Irish Times. 10 September 2001. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
4. "Late point denies Kilkenny U21s title". Irish Examiner. 18 September 2005. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
5. "Wexford claim Intermediate win over Galway". Irish Examiner. 3 September 2005. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
6. "We want medals now before emigration rips team apart – Burke". Irish Independent. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
7. "Conor Cooney on song as St Thomas' outlast Clarinbridge to make it four in a row in Galway". Irish Independent. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
8. "St Thomas' make it five in a row in Galway after dramatic win over Loughrea". Irish Independent. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
9. "Éanna Burke's magical point captures All-Ireland club title for 14-man St Thomas'". Irish Examiner. 21 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
10. "Blow for Galway as 2017 All-Ireland winning captain Burke suffers cruciate injury". The 42. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
11. "Eanna Burke: Door is open for anyone to impress Henry Shefflin in Galway SHC closing stages". Irish Examiner. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.