Galway brothers are on the ball

It’s been a jam-packed summer of sport for Moycullen brothers Paul and Sean Kelly who continue to distinguish themselves in their respective fields at home and abroad.

Both brothers are Croker bound on the weekend of August 11 and 12, after they helped the Galway footballers qualify for All-Ireland semi-finals at senior and minor level.

They are following in the footsteps of their late father, Pádraig ‘Dandy’ Kelly, a five-time Connacht champion who soldiered with the Galway footballers during the 1980s.

Sean Kelly scored a point in Galway’s win over Kildare in the Super 8s and also made his mark in the Tribesmen’s first championship win over Kerry in 53 years the week previous.

The lively wing-forward, who’d run all day, is expected to line-out in Pearse Stadium this Saturday against Monaghan in the final game of the Super 8s, the result of which will determine who Galway play having reached the last four of the All-Ireland for the first time since 2001.

Sean Kelly is one of the young guns who has grasped the opportunity to play for Galway footballers, having been blooded by manager Kevin Walsh in the FBD League in January. Since getting his start, Sean has been a regular in maroon and white and scored the first goal in their Connacht semi-final win over Sligo.

Meanwhile, his younger brother, Paul Kelly, is as handy on the basketball court as he is on the football field.

Paul starred in the Ireland U18 basketball squad that won bronze in thrilling fashion at the FIBA European Championship Division C in Kosovo last week.

Though he was side-lined through injury for the semi-final and third place play-off, Paul made a huge contribution to the cause in the earlier games.

The St Mary’s student scored 14 points in Ireland’s 80-71 win over Monaco but it was against Malta that Paul shone brightest as he led by example, finishing the game with 11 rebounds, 16 points and eight assists as Ireland enjoyed an 84-69 win over Malta.

Fellow Galwayman, and Bish student James Connaire also featured prominently in Kosovo, netting nine points against Malta. James also made a huge contribution in the bronze-medal play-off last Sunday – as well as scoring 13 points, he was involved in a dramatic finish

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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