Joe Kelly (hurler)
Encyclopedia
Fr. Joe Kelly is a retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Glen Rovers
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1944 until 1947.
club on the north side of Cork city. He enjoyed little success at minor level before joining the club’s senior team. In spite of ‘the Glen’ going through a hugely successful period during the 1940s, Kelly helped the team to many county senior championship
titles but never played in a county final.
title in this grade in 1941 as Cork accounted for Tipperary
in the provincial decider. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against Galway
. The men from ‘the West’ were completely outclassed as Cork won by 3-11 to 1-1. This victory gave Kelly a coveted All-Ireland
minor winners’ medal.
Kelly subsequently joined the Cork senior hurling team; however, it was 1944 before he broke onto the starting fifteen. That year he was also declared an Irish sprint champion and brought a blistering pace to the championship. Cork faced Limerick
in the Munster final on that occasion. The game ended in a 4-13 to 6-7 draw and had to be replayed; however, as full-time approached in that game the possibility of another draw seemed likely. With just minutes remaining Christy Ring
caught the sliotar in his own half-back line, made a solo run past a succession of challenges and, from forty yards out, hammered a shot into the Limerick net. Cork went on to win the game giving Kelly a first Munster
winners' title. Once again Cork went on to face Dublin
Dublin in the All-Ireland final and, like the previous two years, the Munstermen had an easy win. Dublin could only manage to score 1-2 compared to Cork's 2-13, resulting in Cork taking the title. Kelly had just won his first All-Ireland
senior winners' medal.
Cork lost their provincial crown to Tipperary in 1945, however, the team returned in 1946 with Kelly picking up a second Munster winners' medal after another defeat of Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against old rivals Kilkenny
for the first time since 1939. Two quick goals just before half-time, one from the stick of Christy Ring, put Cork in the driving seat. Five more goals followed in the second period as Cork were the 7-5 to 3-8 winners. It was a second All-Ireland title in three years for Kelly.
Kelly won a third and final Munster title following a second consecutive defeat of Limerick in 1947. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year as Cork and Kilkenny did battle again. In what has been described by many as the greatest hurling decider of all-time Mossy O'Riordan
and Kelly himself scored two goals that almost won the game for Cork. Kilkenny, however, fought back with Terry Leahy
and Jim Langton
leading the charge and eventually won the game by 'the usual point' on a score line of 0-14 to 2-7. That defeat saw the break-up of the great four-in-a-row team of the 1940s.
Kelly was ordained a priest in June 1949 and effectively brought his inter-county career to an official end. He emigrated to New Zealand
in October of that year and spent the rest of his life ministering in Christchurch
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
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 Glen Rovers
Glen Rovers GAA
Glen Rovers is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballyvolane and Blackpool areas of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1916 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-Colours:...
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1944 until 1947.
Club
Kelly played his club hurling with the famous Glen RoversGlen Rovers GAA
Glen Rovers is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Ballyvolane and Blackpool areas of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1916 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling.-Colours:...
club on the north side of Cork city. He enjoyed little success at minor level before joining the club’s senior team. In spite of ‘the Glen’ going through a hugely successful period during the 1940s, Kelly helped the team to many county senior championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
titles but never played in a county final.
Inter-county
Kelly first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor hurling team in the early 1940s. He won a MunsterMunster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
title in this grade in 1941 as Cork accounted for Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
in the provincial decider. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against 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,...
. The men from ‘the West’ were completely outclassed as Cork won by 3-11 to 1-1. This victory gave Kelly a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
minor winners’ medal.
Kelly subsequently joined the Cork senior hurling team; however, it was 1944 before he broke onto the starting fifteen. That year he was also declared an Irish sprint champion and brought a blistering pace to the championship. Cork faced Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
in the Munster final on that occasion. The game ended in a 4-13 to 6-7 draw and had to be replayed; however, as full-time approached in that game the possibility of another draw seemed likely. With just minutes remaining Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
caught the sliotar in his own half-back line, made a solo run past a succession of challenges and, from forty yards out, hammered a shot into the Limerick net. Cork went on to win the game giving Kelly a first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster 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 Munster in Ireland....
winners' title. Once again Cork went on to face Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
Dublin in the All-Ireland final and, like the previous two years, the Munstermen had an easy win. Dublin could only manage to score 1-2 compared to Cork's 2-13, resulting in Cork taking the title. Kelly had just won 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....
senior winners' medal.
Cork lost their provincial crown to Tipperary in 1945, however, the team returned in 1946 with Kelly picking up a second Munster winners' medal after another defeat of Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Cork against old rivals 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...
for the first time since 1939. Two quick goals just before half-time, one from the stick of Christy Ring, put Cork in the driving seat. Five more goals followed in the second period as Cork were the 7-5 to 3-8 winners. It was a second All-Ireland title in three years for Kelly.
Kelly won a third and final Munster title following a second consecutive defeat of Limerick in 1947. The All-Ireland final was a repeat of the previous year as Cork and Kilkenny did battle again. In what has been described by many as the greatest hurling decider of all-time Mossy O'Riordan
Mossy O'Riordan
Maurice Francis "Mossy" O'Riordan was an Irish sportsperson who played hurling with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s....
and Kelly himself scored two goals that almost won the game for Cork. Kilkenny, however, fought back with Terry Leahy
Terry Leahy (hurler)
Terry Leahy was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Emeralds in Kilkenny and Faughs in Dublin...
and Jim Langton
Jim Langton
Jim Langton was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Éire Óg and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1954. Langton's inclusion on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium mark him out as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:Langton played his...
leading the charge and eventually won the game by 'the usual point' on a score line of 0-14 to 2-7. That defeat saw the break-up of the great four-in-a-row team of the 1940s.
Kelly was ordained a priest in June 1949 and effectively brought his inter-county career to an official end. He emigrated to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in October of that year and spent the rest of his life ministering in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
.