Tag Archives: Tony Kelly

This week’s Clare Champion includes a very special, 16-page souvenir supplement to mark Clare’s success in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. In this supplement we talk to Tony Kelly, Brian Lohan, Shane O’Donnell, John Conlon, Conor Cleary, Cathal Malone, Eibhear Quilligan, Brendan Bugler, Pat O’Donnell, Tommy Corbett, Deirdre Murphy, Davy Fitzgerald and many more. We also have all the colour from before, during and after the game, the excitement from the homecoming events on Monday night and a souvenir team poster. This collector’s item is in the shops now. Below, Eoin Brennan chats to Clare captain, Tony Kelly. He was the man of the moment, the man of the hour and undoubtedly the man that left his indelible mark on the marquee hurling decider with an unparalleled All-Ireland Final display before climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand for what was the pinnacle of his illustrious career to date. After all, no other Clare player past or present has played more …

It’s a measure of the standards that Tony Kelly has set in his 13 years as a senior inter-county hurler and of his star quality that despite being subdued for the first 45 minutes of the All-Ireland semi-final that he still ended up as one of the game’s most influential players. Doing the maths tells this story – no Clare player ended up with more than him from play as he top-scored jointly with David Reidy who had a huge game in the 61 minutes of game time that he got. And for the Ballyea colossus, who has slipped into the veteran classes almost unnoticed, his three-point burst down the long home straight of this All-Ireland was a crucial part of the power-play that ultimately swamped Kilkenny and left them shellshocked at the end. And you could say that this comeback was really kickstarted by Kelly, with his opening point being the first response to the Billy Ryan goal, which …

THREE Clare players Tony Kelly, Shane O’Donnell and David Fitzgerald have secured PwC GAA/GPA All Star awards for their excellent campaigns this season. Kelly becomes only the third Clare man to secure four All Star awards, joining Brian Lohan and Jamesie O’Connor in achieving this feat. Kelly and Lohan are the only two Clare men to have been named as an All Star for three consecutive seasons. Meanwhile, O’Donnell and Fitzgerald scooped their first All Star awards after the pair produced top quality displays throughout the Championship. Fitzgerald plundered 2-18 during Clare’s run to the All Ireland semi final while O’Donnell scored 0-15. The Éire Óg man was named Player of the Month for May. O’Donnell’s return to the fold for this year’s Championship was a major boost for Lohan’s side and he certainly adapted quickly, with his aerial prowess and sniper like ability in front of the posts key to Clare’s run to the last four. Fitzgerald secured Inagh-Kilnamona’s …

Despite knocking out Wexford in three of the last four All-Ireland Senior campaigns, there is unlikely to be any shred of complacency on Clare’s part this afternoon. While Clare have had the Indian sign over Wexford in recent seasons, it was largely due to Wexford’s predictability along with the fact that the Leinster side repeatedly failed to curb Tony Kelly’s influence in any great way. It’s no coincidence that the back-to-back All-Star has been most prolific against Limerick and Wexford as they choose to zonally mark rather than employ a specific man-marker. Kelly has raided for an average of 15 points in his three championship outings against Limerick who by holding their positions, are able to snuff out most other Clare threats. Kelly’s average record against Wexford is slightly less at 0-11 in three outings since 2018 but what Darragh Egan does to counteract that could well be critical to the outcome. The conundrum for opposition managers is that by …

Following a perfect start, Clare are now focused on reaching a Munster Final as they prepare to welcome Limerick and Waterford to fortress Cusack Park over the next fortnight. That’s the view of back-to-back All-Star Tony Kelly who on Sunday became Clare’s highest ever championship scorer with 9-240 in just 45 appearances after raiding for ten points against Cork to surpass Niall Gilligan’s previous record of 21-197 (in 56 championship matches). “We’ve our eyes on the Munster Championship like every team in it so we’re not going to get away with this win. It was a great result and we’ll enjoy it but we’re fortunate to have a week to regroup and prepare for Limerick in two week’s time. “It’s in our own hands now where we want to go in the Munster Championship and it’s all about replicating those performances so far and even bringing them up a notch or two.” Having been last of the 11 counties into …

For someone with the mercurial touch of Tony Kelly, it’s intriguing to hear the Ballyea man discuss improving upon and refining his artillery for Championship combat. After requiring ankle surgery last October, Kelly was forced to watch from the sidelines as Ballyea showed remarkable grit to eventually emerge triumphant and lift the Canon Hamilton. The 28-year-old was part of the St. Flannan’s management team when the Ennis school lifted the Dean Ryan Cup in November, three days after Ballyea were crowned county champions for the third time in the club’s history. The teacher believes he can take lessons from watching his clubmates and the students he coaches between the white lines. “It gives me a different perspective when I’m watching games on the sideline. Something I enjoy doing is coaching the younger players. No matter what age you are you can pick up a thing or two watching other players. You can learn a lot from different players.” After a …

TONY Kelly is one of only three hurlers from outside of Limerick to be named on the 2021 All Star team. The Ballyea man was named at corner forward and it is third All Star, with the others having come in 2013 and 2020. Kelly was in outstanding form during the 2021 season and his selection had been widely expected. Limerick won the 2021 All Ireland with some ease, and that has been reflected with an incredible 12 of their team being named All Stars. Other than Kelly, the only other non Limerick inclusions are Kilenny’s Eoin Murphy and Conor Prunty of Waterford. In an interview with the Champion this week, Kelly said he feels Clare can enjoy a good 2022. “We are confident we are moving in the right direction. Clare were a puck of a ball away from beating Cork who got to the All-Ireland final. I know Cork got a trimming in the All-Ireland final but that …

THREE days of unbridled success for Tony Kelly and for once, he didn’t have to hit a ball, writes Eoin Brennan. Sidelined with injury as he recuperates from ankle surgery that will keep him out of playing action until the New Year, the current All-Star is instead making his mark on the sidelines. Ballyea secured their third ever Senior Hurling title on Sunday before he added a prestigious Dean Ryan Cup to his CV as mentor of St Flannan’s triumphant Under 16.5 side. Having lost provincial Under 15, Dean Ryan and Harty Cup finals during his own St Flannan’s career at the backend of the noughties, Kelly lauded the current crop of young stars for grasping their opportunity with both hands. “It’s a big day. We haven’t been in a Dean Ryan final since 2010 when Shane O’Donnell’s age group won it last. We’ve an exceptional bunch of young lads inside there that are keen to learn and keen to …