Michael Kavanagh (born 6 April 1979) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a right corner-back for the Kilkenny senior team.Born in Freshford, County Kilkenny, Kavanagh 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 joined the senior team during the 1998 championship. Kavanagh immediately became a regular member of the starting fifteen, and won seven All-Ireland medals, ten Leinster medals and five National League medals on the field of play. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on three occasions. As a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, Kavanagh won two Railway Cup medals. At club level he is an All-Ireland medallist with St. Lachtain's in the intermediate grade. In addition to this he has also won a set of Leinster and championship medals. Throughout his career Kavanagh made 48 championship appearances. He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 9 February 2012.In 2002 Kavanagh won the first of four All-Star awards. He was also chosen as one of the 125 greatest hurlers of all-time in a 2009 poll. That same year Kavanagh was chosen on the Leinster team of the past twenty-five years.In retirement from playing Kavanagh became involved in team management and coaching. In 2015 he was appointed trainer to the Wicklow senior team.