First published in August 2007

Waterford’s Eoin Kelly is one of those scintillating talents who grace the game of hurling maybe once or twice in each decade, writes An Fear Rua…

Yet, like previous great exponents of this noble game, he has been troubled occasionally by a mercurial temperament that – in the past – has seen him hit the media headlines for the wrong reasons.

But, Kelly is determined that 2007 will be different. This year he aims to make waves – and headlines – alright, but for his hurling skills and accomplishments on the field of play.

Waterford got off to an effective start in this year’s Allianz National Hurling League, winning their first two games easily – against Wexford and Cork. In Cusack Park today, they stuttered and stumbled against Clare and were deservedly defeated. Next time out, they should be able to overcome the obstacle of Down and move on towards the knock-out phase of the League. This end-game outcome is vital if they are to build the sharpness they need in preparation for their Munster hurling semi-final tussle on June 17th against the winners of Clare v Cork.

In all of these games so far, Kelly’s unerring marksmanship from both play and placed balls has been a key determinant in the Déise’s performances. In the opening game against Wexford he was top scorer with ten points, against Cork he scored nine of Waterford’s sixteen points (seven from frees), and he bagged a brace against Clare. Vodafone recognised his contribution by making him their ‘Player of the Month’ for February – essentially on the strength of his performance against Wexford in the opening League tie.

Kelly himself, however, is under no illusions about the transitory value of a ‘February’ award, when the sod is heavy and your opponents have yet to show their true hand: ‘It’s great to get the Vodafone ‘Player of the Month’ award. It was an OK performance in Wexford. There’s no point in saying ‘Great!’. It’s only February. If you got the award in August or September you’d know you were after doing your job.’

Kelly admits he was a little bit surprised to get the award and he is very self-critical of his first half performance against Wexford. He acknowledges that a couple of other Waterford players might have merited the award. ‘I upped it a bit in the second half’, he says. ‘I have to pick up my own performance. I think for the Wexford game, Justin said the same thing ‘ ‘You have to pick it up a small bit.’.

The Waterford star is clear on the immensity of the task ahead of him: ‘You have to perform for seventy minutes. The same is true for the season. You have to do it for the whole season. There is no point in doing it for only twenty or thirty minutes. You have to get the game long and the season long, performing the whole time.’

Towards the end of last year, as the Waterford county champions Mount Sion struggled through to an AIB club Munster final and to their seemingly inevitable annual exit at the hands of Toomevara, Kelly seemed to be in all sorts of difficulties – both private and public – with the famed Monastery Men. There was a very bitter public war of words between club and player and even some private criticism of him by other county panellists.

Eventually, the acrimonious Gordian knot was broken when Mount Sion agreed to allow Kelly to transfer to Passage East, an Intermediate club a few miles down the river Suir from Waterford city. Kelly is perhaps fortunate to ply his hurling trade in one of the counties where the mention of the ‘Parish Rule’ brings a blank expression to people’s faces, so the change of clubs was effected quickly enough.

The change has been the making of him. Mount Sion is one of the truly great clubs in the pantheon of the GAA. But it has a strong traditional ethos that may not always be the most conducive environment for a free-spirited talent like Kelly. Now you can sense the change in him. In an Intermediate club there is, paradoxically, more responsibility thrust on him. There are more people depending on him than in a big, successful club packed with stars like the McGrath brothers or Tony Browne. And Kelly is responding in the best way – the only way – possible: with his hurley on inter-county playing fields.

Eoin Kelly is settling in Passage East in more ways than one. He is building a new house there and settling down to the responsibilities of family life. Come September, a pair of medals on the side board – League and All Ireland – would really put the finishing touches to the new house.

Eoin Kelly with his Vodafone 'Player of the Month' award, along with the footballer winner, Barry Dunnion of Donegal
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Linked article:
Dunnion and Kelly Collect Vodafone GAA AllStars Monthly Awards