Tony Kelly keen to recapture magic of 2013

Fame. It was never a friend of Tony Kelly’s nor did he ever want it to be. Sure, he featured in that omnipresent Sky Sports TV ad two years back but he dodged most of the garlands flung his way.

And there were plenty. Before Kelly, no player had ever claimed hurler and young hurler of the year awards in the same season. No player so young had ever been prominent in an All-Ireland winning season.

But none of it went to his head. He wouldn’t be allowed anyway, he laughs. “It’s easy enough at home. It’s easy enough to block things out with the mother. I don’t really pay too much attention to those things. I suppose you couldn’t really see me in the Sky Sports ad with the helmet on. To be honest, I wouldn’t be one for enjoying all of those things. I’m not one for being in the spotlight that much. It’s easy enough to be grounded in my house, I tell ya.”