Jason Kilkenny Profile

County Hurling Secretary, Anne Connaughton spoke to the new Roscommon Senior Hurling Captain, Jason Kilkenny during the week. 

• Full Name: Jason Kilkenny
• Club: Kiltormer
• Primary School: St Patricks NS Kiltormer
• Secondary School:Portumna Community School
• Height: 6.1 feet
• Weight:100 KG
• Profession: Secondary Teacher Construction and DCG in Holy Rosary Mountbellew
• How did you get started in playing hurling: Playing since age of 6 and played for Kiltormer NS in Cumann na mBunscol. Played with Portumna CC. I reached the Connaught Colleges finals but unfortunately never actually won that coveted medal.
• What is your earliest memory of playing hurling? Playing out in the front garden with my Dad Ollie and my older brother Keith when I was about 5 or 6. Keith played hurling for Roscommon as well. I was on the under 14, Under 16 and Under 21 Galway hurling panels. Keith was the captain of the Under 21 Galway hurlers.
• What is your favourite position to play in hurling? Wing back
• How long are you playing hurling for Roscommon? This is my 6^th year playing. I didn’t 2 years ago. That was the year I built my house and got married but Ive played and have been on the panel for all the other years. I got injured in an accident in school last in school. I hurled for the League but couldn’t play in the Christy Ring as I had the accident. I lost the top of my finger but I stayed involved with the panel taking the stats during the training and games.
• Why did you choose to play for Roscommon? My Mam is from Padraig Pearses, Ard na Glug.Roscommon. My Uncle Tommy lives right beside Pearses pitch. At the time Justin Campbell approached me. He’s a fellow Kiltormer man and I was delighted to have the opportunity. My brother Keith came along as well. It was a great year for us.
• Who is the toughest opponent at training? Naos Connaughton. One tough bucko to mark
• What is your most memorable moment in the Rossie jersey? Winning the Nicky Rackard Cup in 2014. I will never forget the excitement when Micheal Kelly scored that penalty in Croke Park. You just couldn’t write it. We were really proud to wear the Rossie jersey. That is my first All Ireland medal and I will always treasure it.
• What are your hopes for 2021 as you lead the Rossies into the hurling season? The goal would be to win the league and the Christy Ring. At the moment there is a great positive atmosphere in training. Everyone is giving great commitment. We have a lot of new young enthusiastic players on board this year so please God all will go well for us. It’s very difficult to be able to rate ourselves until we go out on match day as we couldn’t play any challenge games due to Covid restrictions. All we can do at the moment is to take it game by game. But our aim is to do well. And hopefully our panel or management won’t be affected by Covid