Joachim Kelly
Encyclopedia
Joachim Kelly is a retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Lusmagh and with the Offaly
senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1993.
, County Offaly
in 1955. He was educated locally and later attended the Presentation Brothers Secondary School in Birr
. It was here that he first made a name for himself at the game of hurling
. Kelly later became a member of An Garda Síochána.
. He made his debut for the Offaly minor team in 1971 and was part of the county's under-21 set-up a couple of years later. Kelly lined out for the county senior team for the first time in the autumn of 1974 and marked his arrival with a point against Antrim
in a National Hurling League
game.
Success was slow in coming for Kelly, particularly since Offaly had no great hurling tradition. All this changed in 1980 when Offaly came from nowhere to defeat Kilkenny
and capture their first Leinster
title. Kelly played a huge role in that amazing victory, however, Offaly's fairytale season ended with a defeat by Galway
in the All-Ireland semi-final. In spite of not claiming the All-Ireland title Kelly was still presented with his first All-Star
award. Offaly bounced back in 1981 with Kelly capturing a second consecutive Leinster medal. This victory allowed Offaly a straight passage into the All-Ireland final where Galway provided the opposition. Things looked bad for Offaly as the second-half saw Galway take a six point lead. The men from the West failed to score for the final 23 minutes of the game, allowing Offaly to capture a 2-12 to 0-15 win. Kelly had finally captured his first All-Ireland
medal.
Offaly surrendered their provincial crown to Kilkenny in 1982 and 1983, however, the team bounced back in 1984 to win the Leinster title for the third time. A facile win over Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final resulted in Offaly being installed as hot favourites to claim their second All-Ireland. Cork provided the opposition in the championship decider in the first ever meeting of these two teams. Offaly's favourites tag was unjustified as Cork swept them off the field on a score line of 3-16 to 1-12. In spite of this loss Kelly was presented with a second All-Star award. In 1985 Offaly retained their provincial crown, giving Kelly a fourth Leinster title. This victory allowed Offaly to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where Galway provided the opposition. In an exciting game Offaly emerged victorious giving Kelly his second All-Ireland title. The next few years saw Kilkenny reclaim the Leinster title. Offaly returned to their winning ways in 1988 with Kelly capturing a fifth Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final resulted in a loss for Kelly's side. The following year he added a sixth Leinster medal to his collection. The All-Ireland semi-final produced one of the biggest hurling shocks of all-time. Antrim came from nowhere to defeat the men from the Faithful County on a score line of 4-15 to 1-15. The significance of Antrim's victory was not lost on the Offaly team, who provided a guard of honour for the Ulstermen as they left the field.
In 1990 Kelly won a sixth Leinster medal, however, defeat soon followed in the All-Ireland semi-final. 1991 began well as Offaly captured their first National League title, however, Offaly surrendered their provincial crown to Kilkenny. Kelly played his final championship game for Offaly against Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final of 1993.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He won one Railway Cup title following a victory over Connacht
in 1979.
senior hurling team. In his first year in charge Westmeath won promotion to Division 2 of the National League. In Kelly's second year in charge his team won the All-Ireland 'B' title in Croke Park
.
After his two-year stint with the Westmeath Kelly joined Éamonn Cregan
's Offaly backroom team in 1995. He remained a selector for just over a year, having tendered his resignation after the Leinster final defeat to Wexford
in July 1996.
At club level Kelly had a two-year spell as manager of Loughmore-Castleiney
in Tipperary. In 1997 he devoted his time to the management of Kilcormac-Killoughey. In 1999, he managed the Wexford senior hurling team for one season, ending in a heavy championship defeat to Offaly.
In 2008 Joachim was announced as manager of the Offaly Junior Camogie Team which is their main team. In his first year they reached the All-Ireland Junior Camogie Final. They lost to Clare after a late late goal by Shonagh Enright. However just one year later in 2009 they did in fact capture the All-Ireland Camogie title.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Lusmagh and with the Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1993.
Early & private life
Kelly was born in LusmaghLusmagh
Lusmagh is an area and townland in County Offaly, Ireland. It is also a Roman Catholic parish, in the Diocese of Clonfert, the only one east of the River Shannon.-People:...
, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
in 1955. He was educated locally and later attended the Presentation Brothers Secondary School in Birr
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
. It was here that he first made a name for himself at the game of hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
. Kelly later became a member of An Garda Síochána.
Club
Kelly played his club hurling with his local Lusmagh club. He enjoyed some success culminating in the winning of a senior county title. This was the first, and since then the only, county title that Lusmagh had ever won.Inter-county
Kelly first came to prominence on the inter-county scene at a time when it was unfashionable to play hurling for OffalyOffaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
. He made his debut for the Offaly minor team in 1971 and was part of the county's under-21 set-up a couple of years later. Kelly lined out for the county senior team for the first time in the autumn of 1974 and marked his arrival with a point against Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
in a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
game.
Success was slow in coming for Kelly, particularly since Offaly had no great hurling tradition. All this changed in 1980 when Offaly came from nowhere to defeat Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
and capture their first Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
title. Kelly played a huge role in that amazing victory, however, Offaly's fairytale season ended with a defeat by Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in the All-Ireland semi-final. In spite of not claiming the All-Ireland title Kelly was still presented with his first All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award. Offaly bounced back in 1981 with Kelly capturing a second consecutive Leinster medal. This victory allowed Offaly a straight passage into the All-Ireland final where Galway provided the opposition. Things looked bad for Offaly as the second-half saw Galway take a six point lead. The men from the West failed to score for the final 23 minutes of the game, allowing Offaly to capture a 2-12 to 0-15 win. Kelly had finally captured his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal.
Offaly surrendered their provincial crown to Kilkenny in 1982 and 1983, however, the team bounced back in 1984 to win the Leinster title for the third time. A facile win over Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final resulted in Offaly being installed as hot favourites to claim their second All-Ireland. Cork provided the opposition in the championship decider in the first ever meeting of these two teams. Offaly's favourites tag was unjustified as Cork swept them off the field on a score line of 3-16 to 1-12. In spite of this loss Kelly was presented with a second All-Star award. In 1985 Offaly retained their provincial crown, giving Kelly a fourth Leinster title. This victory allowed Offaly to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where Galway provided the opposition. In an exciting game Offaly emerged victorious giving Kelly his second All-Ireland title. The next few years saw Kilkenny reclaim the Leinster title. Offaly returned to their winning ways in 1988 with Kelly capturing a fifth Leinster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final resulted in a loss for Kelly's side. The following year he added a sixth Leinster medal to his collection. The All-Ireland semi-final produced one of the biggest hurling shocks of all-time. Antrim came from nowhere to defeat the men from the Faithful County on a score line of 4-15 to 1-15. The significance of Antrim's victory was not lost on the Offaly team, who provided a guard of honour for the Ulstermen as they left the field.
In 1990 Kelly won a sixth Leinster medal, however, defeat soon followed in the All-Ireland semi-final. 1991 began well as Offaly captured their first National League title, however, Offaly surrendered their provincial crown to Kilkenny. Kelly played his final championship game for Offaly against Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final of 1993.
Provincial
Kelly also lined out with LeinsterLeinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He won one Railway Cup title following a victory over Connacht
Connacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
in 1979.
Managerial career
Four years before his retirement from inter-county hurling Kelly had already ventured into hurling management. He broke his leg in 1990 which ruled him out of playing for some time. To stay involved in the game he took charge of the WestmeathWestmeath GAA
The Westmeath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Westmeath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Westmeath...
senior hurling team. In his first year in charge Westmeath won promotion to Division 2 of the National League. In Kelly's second year in charge his team won the All-Ireland 'B' title in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
.
After his two-year stint with the Westmeath Kelly joined Éamonn Cregan
Éamonn Cregan
Éamonn Cregan is an Irish former Gaelic footballer, hurler and manager. He is best remembered for his success with Limerick, as a player in the 1970s and then as manager of various club and inter-county teams in the 1980s and 1990s.-Club:...
's Offaly backroom team in 1995. He remained a selector for just over a year, having tendered his resignation after the Leinster final defeat to Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
in July 1996.
At club level Kelly had a two-year spell as manager of Loughmore-Castleiney
Loughmore-Castleiney GAA
Loughmore-Castleiney GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Tipperary, Ireland. The club draws its players and support from the small parish of the same name. The area comprises the villages of Loughmore and Castleiney and their surrounding hinterland.-History:Loughmore-Castleiney has...
in Tipperary. In 1997 he devoted his time to the management of Kilcormac-Killoughey. In 1999, he managed the Wexford senior hurling team for one season, ending in a heavy championship defeat to Offaly.
In 2008 Joachim was announced as manager of the Offaly Junior Camogie Team which is their main team. In his first year they reached the All-Ireland Junior Camogie Final. They lost to Clare after a late late goal by Shonagh Enright. However just one year later in 2009 they did in fact capture the All-Ireland Camogie title.