Éamonn Kelly (born 1968) is an Irish hurler who played as a full-forward for the Tipperary junior hurling team.[1]

Éamonn Kelly
Personal information
Irish name Éamonn Ó Ceallaigh
Sport Hurling
Born 1968
Puckane, County Tipperary, Ireland
Occupation Agency Development Manager
Club(s)
Years Club
Kildangan
Club titles
  Football Hurling
Tipperary titles 0 0

Born in Puckane, County Tipperary, Kelly first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Tipperary minor teams as a dual player, before later joining the under-21 hurling team. He joined the junior team for the 1987 championship. Kelly went on to play a key role for Tipperary over the next few years, and won one two All-Ireland medals in the junior grade.

At club level Kelly played both hurling and Gaelic football with Kildangan.

In retirement from playing, Kelly became involved in team management and coaching. He was an All-Ireland-winning manager with the Kildangan intermediate hurling team in 2005, as well as serving as a manager and as a selector with the Tipperary under-21 and intermediate hurling teams.

Kelly was appointed manager of the Kerry senior hurling team in January 2014.[2] He led the county to a National Hurling League Div 2A title with a win over Carlow. His side then lost a controversial play-off to Offaly, missing out on a pace in Div 1B. His side regrouped to make it to the final of the Christy Ring Cup for the fourth time in five seasons. They faced Kildare but for the second year in a row lost out by a 2 points.

In July 2015, Kelly stepped down from the position as Kerry manager.[3] In September 2015, Kelly was named as the new manager of the Offaly hurling team.[4][5] In September 2016, Kelly stepped down as manager of the Offaly team, saying "Having reviewed the season just gone and considered the increasing personal and business demands on my time at present, I have informed Offaly County Board that I will not be in a position to continue as manager of the Senior Hurling team for 2017."

Later that year, Kelly was named as manager of neighbouring county Laois for the forthcoming season. Following two years at the helm of the O’Moore County and a relegation battle in Division 1B with Antrim, Kelly stepped down as Laois manager to return to club management henceforth after the county were knocked out of the Joe McDonagh Cup, saying: “I have enjoyed the last two years and made many friends. I am disappointed not to have built on the progress we made last year and I wish Laois every success going forward.” [6]

Career statistics

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Manager

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As of match played 2 July 2016.
Team From To Pre-season League Ring Cup Provincial All-Ireland Total
G W D L G W D L G W D L G W D L G W D L G W D L Win %
Kerry 27 January 2014 21 July 2015 2 0 0 2 14 11 1 2 8 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 18 1 5 75
Offaly 8 September 2015 14 August 2016 2 1 0 1 6 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 5 3 0 2 1 0 0 1 14 7 0 7 50

Honours

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Team

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Tipperary

Manager

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Kildangan
Kerry

References

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  1. ^ "Hurler profile: Éamonn Kelly". Tipp GAA archives website. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Tipp duo to take Kerry hurling reins". Hogan Stand website. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Tipperary native steps down as Kerry hurling manager". The 42. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Eamonn Kelly to become new Offaly hurling manager". Irish Independent. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Eamonn Kelly confirmed as Offaly hurling manager". RTÉ Sport. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Manager wanted! Offaly need new hurling boss after Kelly steps down". The 42. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.