The City pair both started for the Matildas, with Kennedy featuring for the full 90 minutes and Fowler brought off late on for Clare Polkinghorne.
A keenly-fought contest was settled early in the second half when Steph Catley converted from the spot after former City winger Hayley Raso was brought down in the box.
Excitement levels had clearly reached fever pitch in the host country before the sides locked horns, with the venue for the meeting changed from the Sydney Football Stadium to Stadium Australia to accommodate more supporters.
As a result, over 83,000 fans packed into the arena to witness the Matildas and the Girls in Green’s first match of 2023’s prestigious competition.
However, proceedings began with a poignant and perfectly observed minutes silence after two people lost their lives and six were injured following a shooting in Auckland in the early hours.
Before a ball was kicked, news also emerged that Australia star striker Sam Kerr had been injured during a training session which would keep her out of her nation’s first two fixtures.
However, opportunity knocked for Fowler to lead the line with Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord – and City’s exciting forward more than took her opportunity.
Clear cut chances were few and far between during the opening 20 minutes of the tie with both nations’ defences thwarting any opposition attacks.
However, buoyed by netting the only goal Australia’s 1-0 friendly win over France in their previous assignment, Fowler was a constant thorn in Ireland’s side when dropping deep and looking to create chances.
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Midway through the opening 45, she collected the ball in midfield, slalomed through two green bodies before teeing up Kyra Cooney-Cross whose pinpoint cross-field ball threatened before the Ireland nullified the move.
Indeed, it was the hosts who looked most likely to break the deadlock and Foord, who netted 11 times for the Gunners in 2022/23, came close when latching onto a cut-back when curling an effort into the side netting.
That proved to be the last sight of goal in the first half with scoreline goalless at the interval.
The expectant home crowd didn’t have to wait long for the game’s first goal to arrive following the restart, though.
Only five minutes after play resumed, Raso was adjudged to have been pulled down inside the box by Marissa Sheva before a penalty was given.
Steph Catley stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards - rifling the ball into the top left corner.
Undeterred from falling behind, Ireland looked to break forward and came close to equalising with 20 minutes remaining.
A wickedly whipped corner had to be smartly patted away by Mackenzie Arnold before Louise Quinn infringed Ellie Carpenter when trying to pounce on the rebound.
With Australia looking to preserve their slender lead, record appearance holder Polkinghorne was introduced with five minutes remaining, with Fowler brought off after an energetic display.
Ireland continued to press for the equaliser, with Megan Connolly’s free-kick deflected onto the roof of the net in stoppage time, before Arnold was called into action to deny Katie McCabe from close-range.
But the co-hosts would hold on to begin the tournament with a hard-fought three points.
Fowler and Kennedy are back in action on Thursday 27 July when they face Nigeria in Brisbane.
