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Johnny Kelly (hurler)

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Johnny Kelly
Personal information
Irish name Seán Ó Ceallaigh
Sport Hurling
Position Left wing-back
Born 1971
Portumna,
County Galway, Ireland
Occupation Facilities manager
Club(s)
Years Club
Portumna
Club titles
Galway titles 2
Connacht titles 2
All-Ireland Titles 1
Club management
Years Club
2005-2010
2013-2014
2015-2016
2015-2016
2017-2020
Portumna
Kiladangan
Coolderry
Abbeyknockmoy
Borris-Ileigh
Inter-county management
Years Team
2016-2017
2022-
Roscommon
Offaly

Johnny Kelly (born 1971) is an Irish hurling manager and former player who is the current manager of the Offaly senior hurling team. He previously managed a range of club sides, having played club hurling with Portumna.

Playing career

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Kelly played hurling while at secondary school at Portumna Community School. He captained the school's senior team to a Ryan Cup victory over St Raphael's College in 1989. Kelly's performances at school level earned an call-up to inter-county level with Galway and he was part of the minor team in 1989.[citation needed]

After lining out in the juvenile and underage ranks with the Portumna club, Kelly eventually progressed to adult level. He was part of the Portumna side that beat Kilconieron to win the Galway IHC title in 1992.[1] Kelly's club career ended with All-Ireland Club SHC success as a member of the Portumna team's extended panel when they beat Newtownshandrum in the 2006 All-Ireland club final.[2][3]

Management career

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Kelly's playing career with Portumna had just ended when he took over as team manager in 2007. His tenure in charge yielded consecutive All-Ireland Club SHC titles in 2008 and 2009, before being beaten by Ballyhale Shamrocks in a third consecutive final appearance in 2010.[4]

A few seasons as manager of the NUI Galway team in the Fitzgibbon Cup was followed by a North Tipperary SHC title as coach of Kiladangan in 2013.[5] A move to the Coolderry club in 2015 yielded an Offaly SHC title in the first of his two seasons in charge.[6] Kelly simultaneously held the position of Abbeyknockmoy manager, securing county and provincial successes in 2015, before being beaten by Bennettsbridge in the 2016 All-Ireland Club IHC final.[7]

Kelly made his first move into inter-county management during a concurrent three-year stint with Galway's intermediate and under-21 teams. He was a selector when Galway beat Cork to win the All-Ireland IHC title in 2015.[8] Kelly later spent one season as manager of the Roscommon senior hurling team.[9] He returned to club activity as Borris-Ileigh manager and guided the team to an All-Ireland Club SHC final appearance against Ballyhale Shamrocks in 2020.[10]

Kelly returned to the inter-county scene in 2019 when he was named as one of Offaly senior hurling team manager Michael Fennelly's selectors.[11] His three seasons in this role yielded National League Division 2A and 2021 Christy Ring Cup titles in 2021.[12] Kelly succeeded Fennelly as Offaly manager in 2022.[13] He guided the team to further Division 2A success in 2023 and a Joe McDonagh Cup title in 2024.[14]

Honours

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Player

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Portumna Community School
  • Ryan Cup: 1989 (c)
Portumna

Management

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Portumna
Kiladangan
Coolderry
Abbeyknockmoy
Borris-Ileigh
Galway
Offaly

References

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  1. ^ "The Borris-Ileigh cat is the out of the bag - Johnny Kelly's men have the hurling to go along with the heart". Tipperary Live. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  2. ^ "2003 roll of honour: football - hurling". Galway GAA website. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Canning duo lift Portumna". Irish Independent. 18 March 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Ballyhale Shamrocks end Portumna's reign". RTÉ Sport. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Whirlwind finish keeps NUIG in the mix". Irish Examiner. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Late drama in Offaly as Coolderry seal their 30th SHC title". The 42. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  7. ^ "All-Ireland club IHC final: Morrissey the hero for Bennettsbridge". Hogan Stand. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Third quarter surge sends Cork on way". Irish Examiner. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Kelly to take Roscommon hurling reins". Hogan Stand. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  10. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (18 January 2020). "Ballyhale retain All-Ireland club title for first time with win over battling Borris-Ileigh". The 42. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Fennelly names his selectors". Hogan Stand. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Derry defeated but no disgrace as Offaly lift Christy Ring Cup in Croke Park". Derry Journal. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Johnny Kelly to be named as Offaly manager". RTÉ Sport. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Offaly overcome Laois fightback to land Joe McDonagh Cup". Irish Examiner. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.