John Power

John Power (born 26 August 1992) is an Irish hurler who plays as a left corner-forward for the Kilkenny senior team.

Born in Carrickshock, County Kilkenny, Power first played competitive hurling during his schooling at St. Kieran's College. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team before later joining the under-21 side. He made his senior debut during the 2014 championship. Since then he has becaome a regular member of the team and has won two All-Ireland medals and two Leinster medals.

At club level Power plays with Carrickshock.

His father, Richie Power, Snr, and his brother Richie Power, Jnr, are also All-Ireland medallists with Kilkenny.

Playing career

Colleges

During his schooling at St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny, Power established himself as a key member of the senior hurling team. In 2010 he won his first Leinster medal following a 3-13 to 1-11 defeat of Dublin Colleges. On 3 April 2010 St. Kieran's faced Ardscoil Rís in the All-Ireland decider. Power's side trailed by five points as the game entered the final quarter, however, St. Kieran's staged a magnificent comeback, hitting 1-5 without reply including a Michael Brennan goal in the 51st minute, to claim a 2-11 to 2-8 victory. It was Power's first All-Ireland medal.

Power added a second successive Leinster medal to his collection in 2011, as St. Kieran's recorded a 3-7 to 0-7 victory over Castlecomer Community School. On 2 April 2011 St. Kieran's renewed their rivalry with Ardscoil Rís in the All-Ireland final. A Thomas O'Hanrahan goal deep into stoppage time secured a 2-10 to 1-11 victory for St. Kieran's and a second All-Ireland medal for Power.

Minor and under-21

Power first played for Kilkenny in 2009 when he joined the minor side. He won his first Leinster medal that year following Kilkenny's 1-19 to 0-11 trouncing of Wexford in the provincial decider. Galway provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland decider on 5 September 2010. A devastating second quarter display was pivotal in powering the Westerners to a 2-15 to 2-11 victory.

In 2010 Power won a second Leinster medal following a 1-20 to 0-10 trouncing of Dublin. The subsequent All-Ireland decider on 4 September 2011 pitted Kilkenny against Clare. "The Cats" were made to work hard before securing a narrow 2-10 to 0-14 victory, giving Power an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal.

Two years later Power was a key member of the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won his sole Leinster medal that year following a 4-24 to 1-13 trouncing of Laois. Kilkenny later faced Clare in the All-Ireland decider on 15 September 2012. A powerful second-half display, in which they outscored Kilkenny by 1-10 to 0-4, saw Clare take their second ever All-Ireland title in the grade.

Senior

In 2014 Power established himself on the senior team. He subsequently collected his first National Hurling League medal, as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2-25 to 1-27 extra-time victory over Tipperary. He subsequently secured a Leinster medal, as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "the Cats" a 0-24 to 1-9 defeat of Dublin. On 7 September 2014 Power was on the bench as Kilkenny drew with Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider. He was added to the starting fifteen for the subsequent replay on 27 September 2014. Goals from Power and his brother Richie inspired Kilkenny to a 2-17 to 2-14 victory. It was his first All-Ireland medal.

Power won a second successive Leinster medal in 2015 following a 1-25 to 2-15 defeat of Galway in the provincial decider. He was listed as a substitute when Kilkenny renewed their rivalry with Galway in the All-Ireland decider on 6 September 2015. The team struggled in the first half, however, a T. J. Reid goal and a dominant second half display, which limited Galway to just 1-4, saw Kilkenny power to a 1-22 to 1-18 victory. Power was introduced as a substitute for Ger Aylward and collected his second All-Ireland medal on the field of play.

Career statistics

Honours

Team

• All-Ireland Colleges Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2010, 2011
• Leinster Colleges Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2010, 2011

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2014, 2015
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (3): 2014, 2015, 2016
• Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2012
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2010
• Leinster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2009, 2010