Tony Kelly (hurler)

Tony Kelly
Personal information
Irish nameAntoine Ó Ceallaigh
SportHurling
PositionCentre Forward
Born15 December 1993
Ennis, Ireland
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
OccupationStudent
Club(s)
YearsClub
2010-Ballyea
Colleges(s)
YearsCollege
UL
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles1
Inter-county(ies)
YearsCountyApps (scores)
2012-Clare10 (2-26)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles0
All-Irelands1
NHL0
All Stars1

Anthony "Tony" Kelly (born 15 December 1993) is an Irish hurler who plays as a centre-forward for the Clare senior team.

Born in Ballyea, County Clare whilst still at school in St. Flannan's College he arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Clare minor team, before later lining out with the under-21 side. He made his senior debut in the 2012 championship.[1] Since then he has gone on to become a regular member of the team, and has won one All-Ireland medal. Kelly works at The Local Inn in Drumquin Ballynacally he got his primary education at Ballynacally N.S when he lived in Ballynacally. He then moved to Balleya and went to St.Flannhans

At club level Kelly plays hurling with Ballyea and Gaelic football with Clondegad.

Kelly is widely regarded as one of the best players in the current game. As well as an All-Star, he is the only player in history to have won the Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year awards in the same year.[2]

Playing career

Minor and under-21

Kelly first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Clare minor team in 2010. He won his first Munster medal that year following a 1-16 to 1-11 defeat of Waterford.[3] Clare subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland decider against Kilkenny, however, Kelly's side faced a narrow 2-10 to 0-14 defeat.[4]

In 2011 Kelly was appointed captain of the Clare minor team. He won a second consecutive Munster medal that year following a 1-20 to 3-9 defeat of Waterford once again.[5] The subsequent All-Ireland semi final saw Clare defeated by Galway after extra time.

Kelly also became a member of the Clare under-21 team in 2011, however they were defeated in the Munster Semi-final by Limerick on a scoreline of 2-19 to 1-15 despite a contribution of 3 points from play from Tony Kelly. This remains Kelly's only defeat in the Munster Minor and Under-21 Championships. Kelly won his first Munster medal in that grade as Clare defeated Tipperary by 1-16 to 1-14 in the 2012 Munster Final in Cusack Park in Ennis.[6] After trailing at half-time, Clare outscored Kilkenny by 1-10 to 0-4 in the second period of play to secure a 2-17 to 2-11 victory in the All-Ireland final of the same year.[7] It was Kelly's first All-Ireland medal in the grade.

Clare dominated the under-21 series once again in 2013. A 1-17 to 2-10 defeat of Tipperary in the provincial decider gave Kelly a second Munster medal.[8] The subsequent All-Ireland saw Clare face first-time finalists Antrim. In a complete mismatch, Clare powered to a 2-28 to 0-12 victory, with Kelly collecting a second consecutive All-Ireland medal.[9]

Senior

Kelly made his senior championship debut at left wing-forward and scoring 1-2 in a 1-16 to 0-16 defeat of Dublin on 7 July 2012.[10]

On 8 September 2013 Kelly lined out against Cork in his first All-Ireland final. Three second-half goals through Conor Lehane, Anthony Nash and Pa Cronin, and a tenth point of the game from Patrick Horgan gave Cork a one-point lead as injury time came to an end. A last-gasp point from corner-back Domhnall O'Donovan earned Clare a 0-25 to 3-16 draw.[11] The replay on 28 September was regarded as one of the best in recent years. Clare's Shane O'Donnell was a late addition to the team, and went on to score a hat-trick of goals in the first nineteen minutes of the game. Horgan top scored for Cork, however, further goals from Conor McGrath and Darach Honan secured a 5-16 to 3-16 victory for Clare.[12] It was Kelly's first All-Ireland medal. He rounded off the season by collecting his first All-Star award, while also becoming the only player in the history of the scheme to have won the Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year awards in the same year.[13][14]

In June 2014, Kelly featured in the Sky Sports television advert to promote their new broadcasting deal with the GAA.[15]

Honours

Team

Clondegad
Ballyea
Clare
University of Limerick

Individual

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "All change for Banner as Morey and Kelly debut". GAA website. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  2. ↑ O'Rourke, Steven (7 November). "Tony Kelly wins Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year awards". The Score website. Retrieved 9 November 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ↑ Cahill, Jackie (12 July 2010). "Another Clare boost as 21-year wait ends". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  4. ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (6 September 2010). "Kilkenny pushed to the limit". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  5. ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (11 July 2011). "Banner flies high once again". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  6. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 August 2012). "Bannermen celebrate redemption". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  7. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (17 September 2012). "Dynamic duo drive Clare to glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  8. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (8 August 2013). "Banner's rise irresistible". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  9. ↑ O'Riordan, Ian (14 September 2013). "Clare win pulling up to take third title in five years". Irish Times. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  10. ↑ Crowe, Dermot (8 July 2012). "Dublin defeat leaves Daly future in doubt". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  11. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 September 2013). "An emotional, riveting roller-coaster". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  12. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (30 September 2013). "A day borrowed from the hurling gods". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  13. ↑ O'Rourke, Steven (7 November). "Tony Kelly wins Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year awards". The Score website. Retrieved 9 November 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ↑ "MDMA and Tony Kelly scoop top gongs at GAA GPA All Star Awards". Irish Independent. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  15. ↑ "Tony Kelly spent 10 hours soloing in front of the cameras for Sky Sports GAA ad". The Score. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.


Achievements
Preceded by
Paul Flanagan
(Clare)		 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Final
winning captain
2014 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Awards
Preceded by
Johnny Coen
(Galway)		 All Stars Young Hurler of the Year
2013 		Succeeded by
Cathal Barrett
(Tipperary)
Preceded by
Henry Shefflin
(Kilkenny)		 All Stars Hurler of the Year
2013 		Succeeded by
Richie Hogan
(Kilkenny)