Kelly on Loughrea’s remarkable three-in-a-row: our aim at the start was to make a semi-final

Loughrea’s manager Tommy Kelly. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

This is dreamland. Tommy Kelly led his club to their third successive Galway SHC title as Loughrea edged out Tommy Larkin’s in a dogfight.

It is their fifth ever crown. Kelly previously had inter-county backroom team roles with Dublin and Clare as well as Cuala, but home was always going to call.

“I was with Gavin Keary; we were working with Dublin at the time,” he recalled, speaking on the field in Pearse Stadium after their one-point triumph.

“The players came to us to ask would we step into the role, we were talking about it going up and down in the car. We were humming and hawing about it. We probably thought we were a bit too early going in, really.

“But, when I was talking to Gavin going up and down in the car that time to Dublin, I said, ‘wouldn’t it be unbelievable to get these lads to a county semi-final in Galway.’ That is huge, a massive day in club hurling.

“Usually a double-header, a little different this year with two single games, but that double-header in front of a big crowd and let them express themselves, let them hurl. That was our aim. It would be unbelievable to get out of the group, try to win a quarter-final and get them to a semi-final. It all stemmed from there.” 

 Kelly has coached several of their current side, including match-winner Tiernan Killeen.

“He is a class act, isn't he? And not alone that, the way the ball was worked up the field as well, just a fantastic piece of play. And then for him to have the composure to nail it. 

"He has done that from nearly the same position back in 2022, I think, to equalise a county final as well when the pressure was even more on. It's alright to do it when it’s level, but when you're on a point down he'd done it before as well and he'll stay continuing to do that.” 

He continued: “It was fantastic to coach those lads coming along and you get to know them as they grow up. You know when you can give them a kick up the arse and when you can give them a pat on the shoulder. You learn about lads inside out. That is important as well. I’m just really proud of those guys, proud of the whole panel. I’m proud of my club. I love my club.”