All rounder Kenny just drifted towards race walking

DAVID Kenny didn’t really take race walking seriously until he became a student at the Cork Institute of Technology.

That put him on a path where he met Brendan Boyce, and eventually became a key element of Rob Heffernan’s stable of athletes.

Up to then, the 21-year-old had been a sporting jack of all trades.

“Yeah, I was stuck in everything up to then. I didn’t focus properly on the walking until CIT. Growing up, I was always within touching distance of making the Irish underage teams, without actually making them,” he said.

“Then I got a scholarship to Cork, said that I would give it a lash, and just went from strength to strength then. In my first year, I broke the college 10km record and was brought into the Irish team then. I actually made the senior Irish team before I had even made my age grade team! I was doing everything backwards!

“I played gaelic football with Firies up to minor level, but I gave up then as you couldn’t focus on everything. I would watch absolutely anything when it comes to sport. I am a Manchester United fan. I think it will take them another few years to get back to the top. We’ll see.”

Since the lockdown began, Kenny is now restricted to home life in Ballyhar, and he continues to work in Super Valu in Killarney as he is yet to receive any form of national funding.

“I was talking with Paul McNamara, who is over the endurance side of Athletics Ireland, and he said that I would be put on some form of funding. He was actually going to sort it out on the week that everything ground to a halt.

“Now Athletics Ireland don’t know where the budget or money will come from, there are no Athletics Ireland events at the moment, so it’s all on hold now. Any funding that was previously granted is ok for people, but, for the likes of me, it is now on the long finger. That’s fair enough.

“I am working in Super Valu in Killarney, and that is very handy at the minute. I work the days that I have an easy training routine. It’s totally my social outlet as well at the moment, it keeps me busy. You would be sick of staying at home all day! It’s great to be able to get out of the house for a while.”

At home again in Ballyhar with dad Noel and mum Mary, Kenny has three sisters – Sarah (24) is working in St James’ Hospital in Dublin, Laura (18) is preparing for her Leaving Cert, and Rebecca (16) is in Transition Year. They have all been affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

“Yeah, Sarah is up in a house in Dublin on her own now. She’s a dietician in James’. Her message is really just telling everyone to stay at home, and that helps to take the pressure off all the hospital workers.

“Laura is studying for the Leaving, and like all the students, they just want that bit of confirmation. Saying that the exams will now be in July or August isn’t a massive help to them. They could easily be pushed out even further than that. The longer it drags on, the worse it is for all of them.”

Just like it is for up and coming sportsmen like David

Kenny.