Johnny Kelly

Johnny Kelly (born 1971) is an Irish hurling manager and former player who is the current manager of the Offaly senior hurling team. He previously managed a range of club sides, having played club hurling with Portumna.

Playing career

Kelly played hurling while at secondary school at Portumna Community School. He captained the school's senior team to a Ryan Cup victory over St Raphael's College in 1989. Kelly's performances at school level earned a call-up to inter-county level with Galway and he was part of the minor team in 1989.

After lining out in the juvenile and underage ranks with the Portumna club, Kelly eventually progressed to adult level. He was part of the Portumna side that beat Kilconieron to win the Galway IHC title in 1992. Kelly's club career ended with All-Ireland Club SHC success as a member of the Portumna team's extended panel when they beat Newtownshandrum in the 2006 All-Ireland club final.

Management career

Kelly's playing career with Portumna had just ended when he took over as team manager in 2007. His tenure in charge yielded consecutive All-Ireland Club SHC titles in 2008 and 2009, before being beaten by Ballyhale Shamrocks in a third consecutive final appearance in 2010.

A few seasons as manager of the NUI Galway team in the Fitzgibbon Cup was followed by a North Tipperary SHC title as coach of Kiladangan in 2013. A move to the Coolderry club in 2015 yielded an Offaly SHC title in the first of his two seasons in charge. Kelly simultaneously held the position of Abbeyknockmoy manager, securing county and provincial successes in 2015, before being beaten by Bennettsbridge in the 2016 All-Ireland Club IHC final.

Kelly made his first move into inter-county management during a concurrent three-year stint with Galway's intermediate and under-21 teams. He was a selector when Galway beat Cork to win the All-Ireland IHC title in 2015. Kelly later spent one season as manager of the Roscommon senior hurling team. He returned to club activity as Borris-Ileigh manager and guided the team to an All-Ireland Club SHC final appearance against Ballyhale Shamrocks in 2020.

Kelly returned to the inter-county scene in 2019 when he was named as one of Offaly senior hurling team manager Michael Fennelly's selectors. His three seasons in this role yielded National League Division 2A and 2021 Christy Ring Cup titles in 2021. Kelly succeeded Fennelly as Offaly manager in 2022. He guided the team to further Division 2A success in 2023 and a Joe McDonagh Cup title in 2024.

Honours Player

Portumna Community School Ryan Cup: 1989 (c)

Portumna All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship: 2006 Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship: 2003, 2005 Galway Senior Hurling Championship: 2003, 2005 Galway Intermediate Hurling Championship: 1992

Management

Portumna All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship: 2008, 2009 Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship: 2007 Galway Senior Hurling Championship: 2007, 2008, 2009

Kiladangan North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 2013

Coolderry Offaly Senior Hurling Championship: 2015

Abbeyknockmoy Connacht Intermediate Club Hurling Championship: 2015 Galway Intermediate Hurling Championship: 2015

Borris-Ileigh Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship: 2019 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship: 2019

Galway All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship: 2015

Offaly Joe McDonagh Cup: 2024 Christy Ring Cup: 2021 National Hurling League Division 2A: 2021, 2023 Kehoe Cup: 2020