Seamus Kelly (footballer)

Seamus Kelly (born 6 May 1974) is an Irish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Séamus Kelly
Personal information
Full name Séamus Kelly
Date of birth (1974-05-06) 6 May 1974
Place of birth Tullamore, Ireland
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Tullamore Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1998 UCD 150 (0)
1998–2000 Cardiff City 13 (0)
2000–2003 St Patrick's Athletic
2003–2005 Bohemians
2005 → Longford Town (loan)
2006–2008 Longford Town
National team
Republic of Ireland U21
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

His brother Pádraic played as a keeper for Offaly for many years. Seamus also played as a goalkeeper for Offaly minor team in 1992.

Career

Seamus signed for UCD in the summer of 1993, making his League of Ireland debut on 19 September, from hometown club Tullamore Town and established himself as one of the league's best keepers before joining Cardiff City in 1998 as cover for Jon Hallworth.[1][2] Kelly began his Cardiff career on the bench but was called upon at the end of the 1998–99 season when Hallworth broke two ribs[3] in a match against Leyton Orient. He played in the final five matches of the season, making his debut in a 1–0 win over Southend United,[4] helping the club clinch promotion to Division Two. The following season saw the same scenario[5] at the opposite end of the table as Kelly played in the final six matches of the year[6] but was unable to help the club avoid relegation, being released at the end of the season.

Kelly returned to Dublin to sign for St Patrick's Athletic. After 3 seasons in Inchicore, Stephen Kenny took him to Bohemians where he challenged for the #1 spot with Matt Gregg. Kelly was first choice during Bohemians' UEFA Champions League campaign in 2003 but never made the goalkeeping spot his own during his time at Dalymount Park. Kelly joined Longford Town from Bohs in 2005 and played a crucial role in the club's FAI Cup run in 2007 and also their gallant battle against relegation that same season. Following a mass exodus of players at the end of that season, Kelly remained on as one of only three players for the 2008 season (the others being Daire Doyle and Alan O'Riordan) as then manager Aaron Callaghan attempted to assemble a squad almost from scratch. Due to persistent back problems, Kelly retired during the summer of 2008. In 2010, he became Goalkeeping coach with Sheloburne.

Honours
UCD

References
  1. http://www.independent.ie/sport/kelly-eyes-no1-spot-at-cardiff-26182143.html
  2. Denham, Mark (8 April 2009). "'Keeper Capers". Cardiff City F.C. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  3. "Little Orders All-Out Southend Attack". Essex Echo. 13 April 1999. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  4. "Games played by Seamus Kelly in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  5. Martin, John (10 April 2000). "Like Ain't Grand For Jinxed Jon!" (reprint). The Mirror. Farlex. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  6. "Games played by Seamus Kelly in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
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