Offaly County Board announced recently that former All Ireland winner and Lusmagh native Joachim Kelly will take over as Senior Hurling Manager for the remainder of the Joe McDonagh Cup.
Joachim is joined by Paddy Kirwan and former Senior Inter County stars Brian Carroll and Ger Oakley.
Joachim and was a member of the Offaly senior hurling team for 19 seasons, during which time he usually lined out at midfield. He began his hurling career at club level with Lusmagh and broke onto the club’s top adult team as a 15-year-old in 1971 and enjoyed his first success in 1973 when the club won the Offaly Junior Hurling Championship. Kelly later won a Senior Hurling Championship medal in 1989 when Lusmagh won their first and only title. He ended his club career with the Lusmagh junior B in 2003.
At inter-county level, he began his career at minor level in 1973 before progressing onto the Offaly under-21 team. He joined the Offaly senior team in 1974. From his debut, Kelly lined out in a variety of positions, including midfield, half-forward, corner-forward and centre-back, and made a record 171 National League and Championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in 1993.
During that time he was part of two All Ireland-winning teams – in 1981 and 1985. Joachim also secured seven Leinster Championship medals and a National League medal. An All Star winner in 1980 and 1984.
Offaly have two more games remaining in the Joe McDonagh Cup group stages, when we welcome Antrim to Bord na Mona O’Connor Park on Saturday 1st June at 1pm and then make the trip to Kerry on Saturday 15th June.
By kenny Mon 27th May
