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. He later moved to Auckland and went to Sacred Heart College where he excelled as a cricketer and rugby footballer. He left school in 1909 and in 1910 was playing rugby for Marist Brothers second grade team.
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 . He was selected for the Auckland in 1911 and played 3 matches for them.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. . 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.Donald James KENEALY, Donald James (1912) nzleague.co.nz 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.
References