Alan Keely

Alan Vincent Keely (10 May 1982 – 3 May 2021) was an Irish footballer who played as a defender for several League of Ireland teams between 2001 and 2009, including Shelbourne F.C., Finn Harps F.C. and Waterford United F.C.[2] He was a member of the Finn Harps' squad that won the 2004 League of Ireland First Division.[3]

Alan Keely
Personal information
Full name Alan Vincent Keely
Date of birth (1982-05-10)10 May 1982
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Date of death 3 May 2021(2021-05-03) (aged 38)
Place of death Ireland
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s) Defender[1]
Youth career
St Joseph's C.B.S.
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 22 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Shelbourne 0 (0)
2003 Kildare County 15 (0)
2004 Dublin City
2004 Finn Harps 8 (0)
2005–2006 Dublin City
2006–2007 Waterford United 21 (0)
2007–2009 Shelbourne 57 (1)
2010 Malahide United
International career
Ireland U16
Ireland U17
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life and education

Keely was born on 10 May 1982 in Dublin, Ireland.[4] The son of former League of Ireland player and manager, Dermot Keely,[5] he attended St. Joseph's CBS and was named as an All-Ireland schoolboy defender.[4][6]

Keely attended the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and was a student-athlete on scholarship with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team.[4][7] In 2002, his only season with the team, he appeared in 22 games and scored 1 goal with 2 assists.[8] The Gauchos appeared in the 2002 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, which was the first time the school had participated in the tournament.[9] He was named as the 2002 Big West Conference's Freshman of the Year and was placed on the All-Conference First Team.[10][11]

Senior career

Prior to attending UCSB, Keely began his senior career with Shelbourne F.C. in 2001 who were then under the management of his father, Dermot. He made one senior appearance for Shelbourne in 2001–02 season during a League of Ireland Cup match against Shamrock Rovers on 29 October 2001.

Keely left Santa Barbara after his first season, opting to return to Ireland.[7] It was announced in January 2003 that he signed with Kildare County F.C. for the 2003 League of Ireland season.[12] He suffered a serious groin injury mid-season and finished the season with 15 appearances for the club.[13][14]

Ahead of the 2004 League of Ireland season, Keely joined Dublin City F.C. as a free agent.[15] Unable to crack the first team squad, he was transfer listed, then released, by manager Roddy Collins.[16] Despite interest from Dundalk F.C. manager Jim Gannon, Keely signed with Finn Harps F.C. shortly after.[16][17] He featured for Finn Harps to close out the season.[18][19]

With his father Dermot named manager at Dublin City, Keely rejoined the club in November 2004 for the forthcoming 2005 League of Ireland season.[20] He remained with Dublin City through July 2006 when, 17 league games into the season, the club stopped trading and ceased to exist as a football team.[21]

After the club's demise, Waterford United F.C. signed Keely and two of his Dublin City teammates in August 2006.[22] In December 2006, he re-signed for another year with Waterford for the 2007 League of Ireland.[23]

In July 2007, Keely re-joined Shelbourne F.C.[24] He departed the club at the end of the 2009 season. In his three seasons at Shelbourne, Keely made 61 league and cup appearances, and scored one goal.

Later career and death

After his League of Ireland career ended, Keely joined Leinster Senior League side Malahide United F.C. for the 2010 season.

Keely died in May 2021 at the age of 38.[25]

Honours

Finn Harps

References
  1. "Tributes paid as former Shelbourne star Alan Keely dies aged 38". extra.ie. Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  2. "Ex-Shels player Alan Keely dies aged 38". rte.ie. RTÉ. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  3. "Sadness following death of former Finn Harps player". donegaldaily.com. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021. He joined the Ballybofey side [Finn Harps] from Dublin City in 2004 and helped the team win the First Division
  4. "UC Santa Barbara player profile: 2 – Alan Keely". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  5. "Former Shelbourne player Alan Keely dies aged 38". the42.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021. Keely, who was the son of former Shels boss, Dermot Keely, played in the League Of Ireland for almost 10 years
  6. "An ill wind". The Argus. Dundalk. 29 May 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2016 – via Irish Independent.
  7. McDonnell, Daniel (17 August 2009). "With the Irish football industry struggling and fewer opportunities in the UK, the chance to live it like Beckham while getting a top education is increasingly attractive, writes Daniel McDonnell". Irish Independent. Dublin. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  8. "2002 UC Santa Barbara Combined Team Statistics". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. 29 November 2002. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  9. "12th-Ranked Men's Soccer Hosts USD In First Round Of NCAA College Cup This Saturday". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. 21 November 2002. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  10. "2002 Year In Review" (PDF). Big West Conference. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  11. "Big West Champion Men's Soccer Places Nine Players On 2002 All-Conference Team". UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. 20 November 2002. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  12. "Familiar Name Signs For County". Kildare County F.C. 28 January 2003. Archived from the original on 23 February 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  13. "Kildare County Football Club First Team Players". Kildare County F.C. Archived from the original on 6 December 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  14. "League Table & Player Statistics Apr-Nov 2003". Kildare County F.C. Archived from the original on 4 February 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  15. "DUBLIN CITY (80/1)". Irish Independent. Dublin. 19 March 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  16. "Curran move to join former colleague at Ards is ruled out". The Argus. Dundalk. 20 August 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2016 – via Irish Independent.
  17. "Keely Joins Harps". Finn Harps F.C. 26 August 2004. Archived from the original on 14 December 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  18. "Harps go top of First Div. FINN HARPS 1 COBH RAMBLERS 0". Irish Independent. Dublin. 5 September 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  19. "Finn Harps go six points clear of Wanderers in Ballybofey". Bray People. Wicklow. 28 October 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2016 – via Irish Independent.
  20. "Keely completes busy week of player signings". Dublin City F.C. 26 November 2004. Archived from the original on 4 December 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  21. "Dublin City FC bow out of eircom League". RTÉ Sport. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  22. "Waterford United snap up Dublin City trio". RTÉ Sport. 13 August 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  23. "Keely puts pen to paper". Waterford United F.C. 21 December 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  24. Penrose, Gareth. "Summer Signing!!!". Shelbourne F.C. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  25. "Former Shelbourne player Alan Keely dies at 38". independent.ie. Irish Independent. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
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