Record-breaking O’Kelly calls time on illustrious career

WITH words of praise ringing in his ears from Leinster’s coaching and playing staff, Malcolm O’Kelly yesterday officially announced his retirement for the end of the season after a long and distinguished career, 15 of them as a professional player.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika and playing colleagues Eoin Reddan and Kevin McLaughlin, all paid homage to a man described by Cheika as a model professional.

“Everyone knows what he brought to the game. He has been a professional for a long time and the fact that he is in line to start the match against Munster this weekend pretty much says it all about him, considering he started out so long ago,” said the coach.