Mark Kelly (hurler)

Mark Kelly (born 2 September 1988) is an Irish hurler/Athlete who played as a forward for the Kilkenny senior team 2012–16.[1]

Mark Kelly
Personal information
Irish name Marc Ó Ceallaigh
Sport Hurling
Position Full-forward
Born (1988-09-02) 2 September 1988
Kilkenny, Ireland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Occupation Primary school teacher
Club(s)
Years Club
2006-present
 O'Loughlin Gaels
Inter-county(ies)**
Years County Apps (scores)
2012-present
 Kilkenny 5 (2-1)
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 2
All-Irelands 3
NHL 1
All Stars 0
**Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 14:48, 6 July 2015.

Born in Kilkenny, Kelly first played competitive hurling with his club O'Loughlin Gaels and holds Roinn A championship medals at u14, u16, minor and senior in recent years. During his schooling at Kilkenny CBS, Kelly won Leinster championship medals and starred in his school's run to the All-Ireland Colleges final in 2007 narrowly losing to Waterford's De La Salle. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team before later joining the under-21 side. Kelly scored 3 points from play while hurling midfield in the u21 All-Ireland final in 2009 against Clare. He joined the senior panel during the 2012 championship after excelling with his club O'Loughlin Gaels. Kelly scored two goals on his first championship start against Offaly and became a more regular member of the team since then. He has won 3 All Ireland senior medals (2012, 2014, 2015) two Leinster medals, one National Hurling League medal, one u21 All Ireland medal, two u21 Leinster Championship medals and one Leinster minor medal during his county career.

Playing career

Inter-county

Kelly first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kilkenny minor team in 2006. He won a Leinster medal that year following a heavy 4–22 to 1–5 defeat of Carlow.[2]

Three years later and Kelly was a key member of the Kilkenny under-21 team. He won a Leinster medal that year as a brace of Jonjo Farrell goals helped Kilkenny to a 2–20 to 1–19 defeat of Dublin.[3] Clare later faced Kilkenny in their first ever All-Ireland clash. A late point from midfielder Cormac O'Donovan gave Clare a narrow 0–15 to 0–14 victory.[4]

Kelly was added to the senior team in 2012, however, he played no part in Kilkenny's successful All-Ireland campaign.[5][6]

In 2014 Kelly won his first National Hurling League medal as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2–25 to 1–27 extra-time victory over Tipperary.[7] He later scored two goals on his championship debut on 7 June 2014 in a 5–32 to 1-18 Leinster quarter-final defeat of Offaly.[8] Kelly was later confined to the substitutes' bench for Kilkenny's subsequent Leinster and All-Ireland victories.[9][10][11]

Kelly won his first Leinster medal on the field of play in 2015 following a 1–25 to 2–15 defeat of Galway in the provincial decider.[12]

Honours

Player
Kilkenny

References
  1. "Profile: Mark Kelly". Kilkenny GAA website. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  2. "Cats crush outclassed Carlow". Kilkenny People. 7 July 2006. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. Keane, Paul (16 July 2009). "Farrell brace secures Cats triumph". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  4. O'Toole, Fintan (14 September 2009). "Last-gasp O'Donovan makes it a Clare day at Croker". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  5. "The Kilkenny 2011 Championship adventure". Irish Independent. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  6. O'Flynn, Diarmuid (5 September 2011). "The greatest of champions reclaim crown". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  7. "Reid fires over winners as Kilkenny edge out Tipp". RTÉ Sport. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  8. Clerkin, Malachy (7 June 2014). "Kilkenny sweep Offaly aside at Nowlan Park". Irish Times. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  9. "Reid sparkles as Cats conquer Leinster". RTÉ Sport. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  10. "Kilkenny and Tipp finish level in classic final". RTÉ Sport. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  11. "Kilkenny too strong for Tipperary in All-Ireland final replay". RTÉ Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  12. Moynihan, Michael (6 July 2015). "Canning wondergoal not enough for Galway against Kilkenny". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
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