Kilkenny represented Dublin at underage at several levels. Despite being previously offered a place on the Dublin senior hurling panel, he chose to dedicate his time solely to football. [citation needed]
Kilkenny does, however, still play hurling for his club, Castleknock.[citation needed]
Kilkenny was called up to the Dublin under 21 team in 2012. He won the Leinster Under 21 Football Championship with Dublin in March 2012. Ciaran scored a total of 1-07 in the Leinster final against Louth at Páirc Tailteann in Navan. The game finished on 1-16 to 0-08 with Dublin winning the game by a comfortable 11 point margin to become Leinster champions for the tenth time.[6] Ciaran Kilkenny scored a total of 2-25 (0-7f) for Dublin in the Leinster Championship.[7] Dublin went on to meet Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final at Portlaoise. Kilkenny scored just one point in a game in which Dublin won against the Munster champions. The game finished on a scoreline of 3-11 to 0-14.[8] Ciarán won the all-Ireland under 21 championship with Dublin against Connacht champions Roscommon in Tullamore. Kilkenny scored a total of four points in a close game against Roscommon which ended with heavy scoring from Dublin. The game finished on a scoreline of 2-12 to 1-11.[9]
Kilkenny made his debut for the Dublin senior football team against Laois in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship when he came on as a substitute for Diarmuid Connolly.[11] He made his first start for the Dublin senior football team against Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland football semi-final defeat. He scored three points in the game.[12]
Move to AFL
Kilkenny was linked to a possible move to Australia as a rookie in the Australian AFL.[13] Dublin football legend Dessie Farrell described the potential departure of Kilkenny to Australian football as "a huge loss".[14]
Hawthorn confirmed the signing on 29 September 2011, after Carlton had also tried to secure the 19-year-old's services. Kilkenny flew to Melbourne to visit Hawthorn officials at Waverley, and was scheduled to become the first Irishman to play at the club.[15] Recent changes to rookie list rules had made the recruitment of Irish players more appealing, with clubs now able to count one Irish player as an international rookie, meaning the player does not take up a main rookie spot.
After just four months and a return to Ireland for the Christmas, Kilkenny decided for personal reasons to remain in Ireland where he wished to pursue a career with Castleknock and Dublin.[16]
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