David Kelly clocks up special century at Highfield

Highfield’s David Kelly has joined a select All-Ireland League club, whose members are as rare as they are durable.

Last Saturday, the Offaly native was honoured by the Highfield hierarchy for playing in 100 consecutive games for the famous Cork club. By any stretch of the imagination, Kelly’s achievement is remarkable and testimony to his ability, form, fitness, and a considerable degree of luck in avoiding injury these last seven seasons with the WoodleighPark outfit.

The 33-year-old was recipient of a special photographic memoir from club president Eugene Carley last Saturday in the presence of his wife, parents and other members of his family.

The Ferbane native, a Cork-based accountant, was proud and more than a little grateful to coach Tim Ryan for giving him the opportunity to celebrate a rare milestone in club rugby.

“I played 50 in a row a few years ago and got a presentation from the club, and from then there was a running joke from the lads as to when I was going to pick up an injury or when I was going to get dropped. Getting closer to the 100, they were saying I was watching myself in training. I wasn’t thinking about it to be honest until the 90th odd game when I targeted the 100th.”

Kelly’s remarkable commitment to what is very much a community-orientated club disguises the fact that he is a proud holder of a Division One All Ireland League medal with Cork Constitution (2008), and that he had two seasons on a full professional contract with Connacht between 2005 and 2007 after an earlier season with the Academy. Life as a pro wasn’t very kind, Kelly spent much of those two senior seasons on the injured list. Thereafter he headed to Cork to follow his then girlfriend (and now wife) Rose who was teaching in the city, and to work and finish his accountancy exams. His one year with Constitution was enjoyable but taxing given the demands of his off-field career and he made the move across to Model Farm Road to play with then second division Highfield.

“We managed to get relegated in the first year, although in fact we won more games than either of the two teams above us who managed to survive. Unfortunately, a lack of bonus points let us down.”

It has been much better since, with the club being runaway Division 2B champions last season although because the IRFU revamped the leagues into five groups of 10 (from 16 in their section last year), they remain in 2B but with a further section of 2C beneath. Right now, they’re challenging for promotion once again. Second in the table behind City of Derry, the ‘Field have a perfect home record including a win over the leaders.