Blues trying to lure Stephen Kelly away from GAA

[LFC in Exile]

Taken from eleven-a-side.com


New Limerick FC manager Noel O’Connor has confirmed that he has initiated talks with Limerick Gaelic football star Stephen Kelly about a possible deal to tie him to soccer for 2005.

Kelly spent time on trial at Cork City last season, making a favourable impression at the Turners Cross club despite the fact that no professional contract was agreed between the respective parties.

A talented Gaelic footballer, Kelly helped the Limerick county side to a McGrath Cup victory over Waterford IT last weekend, coming off the bench to fire the only goal of the game 12 minutes into the second half.

But he may be ready to turn his back on Gaelic games and enter a commitment with Limerick FC, according to a Wednesday newspaper report.

New Blues manager O’Connor – who was a member of the Cork City coaching staff during Kelly’s trial last summer – told the Irish Sun: “I’ve spoken to Stephen and he is keen on the idea. We had him down at Cork City for a few weeks towards the end of last season and he impressed. It is early days yet but he’s interested in playing soccer.”

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Anyone ever seen him play proper football? I presume he is a striker.

[clownboy]

I saw him play a couple of times...Obviously he is very quick..I saw him play on the wing for the desmond Oscar Traynor team.Very left footed ,He doesent seem to be an exceptional finisher But definately would be a good additio for the left hand side or as another striker option..He has the pace and im sure he would improve under the current set up.

[4tothefloor]

He was a great central midfielder all the way up the schoolboy ranks. As a junior player he has mostly played up front, or on the left wing. I've seen him quite a lot, and can safely say that he is a far better striker than a winger. In fact, he's not a very good winger at all, as he isn't very skillfull in terms of taking players on. He's more of a direct player with bags of pace, and a great finisher in front of goal, especially in one-on-one situations.

Definately worth signing, would be surprised though if he decided to give up the football so soon. He doesn't exactly see eye to eye with Liam Kearns, as he has been dropped by Kearns on quite a number of occasions for playing soccer with Broadford\Newcastle West\ and now Ballingarry. He's had bust-ups with Kearns last year for playing with Newcastle West, and threatened to walk away from the bog-ball at one stage after a training session. This led to the Cork City trial apparantly. It's common knowledge in West Limerick that if you see Kelly's name mentioned in the Desmond League soccer notes in the papers, you can put your house on it that he'll be on the bench for the footballers the following Sunday.....maybe he's getting sick of it, as he certainly has no intentions of giving up soccer. So why not get paid for it?

[LFC Blue]

I was in Newtownshandrum last night for the McGrath Cup game between Limerick and Kerry and eventhough Steven Kelly was named in the half forward line for Limerick there was no sign of the man anywhere. It was strongly rumoured that he had yet another bust up with Liam Kearns and had walked!!

[LFC Blue]

Between Limerick and Cork sorry!! the torrential sleet and snow back there impaired my vision a bit

[dutchie]

one has got to guestion would stephen kelly be a good signing,he seems to have a bust up with managers every few weeks,also id have to ask about his loyalty to a team.He has changed from newcastlewest to broadford,back to newcastlewest then to ballingarry,signed for ballingarry because they were the first team to ask him to sign,i know a lot of players sign for different clubs in the ldmc every year,but in the desmond league there would be a sence of loyalty to your local team whether premier div. or div 3.if i was noc i wouldnt rush too fast to get his signature.

[LFC in Exile]

one has got to guestion would stephen kelly be a good signing,he seems to have a bust up with managers every few weeks,also id have to ask about his loyalty to a team.He has changed from newcastlewest to broadford,back to newcastlewest then to ballingarry,signed for ballingarry because they were the first team to ask him to sign,i know a lot of players sign for different clubs in the ldmc every year,but in the desmond league there would be a sence of loyalty to your local team whether premier div. or div 3.if i was noc i wouldnt rush too fast to get his signature.

From what I understand he has bust ups with manager (singular) not managers (plural). Are those clubs in different divisions - may be he wants to play at the highest level possible. If so, that's the kind of guy we want. I am not saying you're wrong - don't know anything about him - but if he is a good playerhe should be considered.

[gael353]

well according to tonghts leader he has left the football team but is saying nothing about joining Limerick FC. He has (like me) a ****te job in dell, swing shift and cant commit to full time sport, so this is where we can swell our panel.

[4tothefloor]

Well I can tell you that Stephen has changed jobs more times than he has changed soccer clubs in the last 3 years. He's in Dell now?! Last I heard, he was working for John Ryan, the bogball P.R.O., before that he had a rep job, and before that, he has driven for a number of different companies.

As far as changing soccer clubs go, Kelly is basically a glory hunter. Originally with NCW, they started to struggle, almost relegated actually a few years back. Broadford Utd were on the verge of great things, so he joined them, and they subsequently swept all before them. He then went back to NCW last season, who were building a very decent young side. He won the Desmond cup with NCW, and for long periods they looked like they were going to win the league as well, but Ballingarry won it in the end. Guess who Kelly has joined now? Yup, Ballingarry!

I've been told that he opted out of the Gaelic because he is considering his options. He has offers for a potential rugby career, LOI Soccer, as well as his Gaelic career, and it's basically make-your-mind-up time.

[LFC Blue]

Kelly quits Limerick team

THE LIMERICK footballers have been dealt a massive blow by the withdrawal of Stephen Kelly from the squad as they prepare for arguably their biggest season since Liam Kearns took charge.

Kelly informed Kearns over the weekend that he wasn't in a position to give the commitment for the coming season.

The flying forward has also scotched rumours that he is about to sign for Limerick FC instead.

"I'm not in a position to give commitment to any team at the moment," said Kelly, a member of the international rules squad that toured Australia in 2003.

Kearns was named in the squad for last Monday night's McGrath Cup match under lights against Cork in Newtownshandrum after coming on as a substitute in the previous round against Waterford IT.

At a meeting last week, Kearns asked for absolute commitment from all his squad players present, but after thinking it over Kelly decided he wasn't in a position to do so.

"I'm gone for the foreseeable future. Liam asked everyone for commitment at a meeting on Tuesday night and I thought things over for a few days before telling him.

"I'll see how things are down the line, but I just feel I need a break from it. There's nothing major behind the decision," he said.

Kelly admitted he did speak to the new Limerick FC manager Noel O'Connor who has taken an interest in his soccer ability in the last few months.

"I told Noel I couldn't commit to him either," admitted Kelly.

[4tothefloor]

Watch this space. Kelly and Keating will be playing soccer for Limerick FC, next season at the very latest. They'll tell you themselves that this is probably their last year playing bogball, providing Limerick footballers aren't successful in the summer. That's what makes Kelly's decision to opt out all the more peculiar