Galway siblings enjoy success across the sporting codes

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-times 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 after scoring Galway’s first goal against Sligo in the 2018 Connacht semi-final at Pearse Stadium.

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 St Joseph’s ‘The Bish’ student James Connaire also featured prominently in Kosovo, netting nine points against Malta. Both young men netted six points in Ireland’s 87-70 win over Moldova while James Connaire 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.

Connaire had ice in his veins at the free throw line to send Ireland ahead by one (90-89) with 20 seconds to go, but a turnover by the boys in green led to an easy lay-up for Monaco and they were ahead by one with the clock ticking down rapidly.

Limerick native Nate Moore – who had been one of the sharpshooters for Ireland throughout the tournament – took it in his stride though, and with 2.3 seconds to go, found space and hit the three-pointer to clinch it for Ireland and the stadium erupted.

In Paul Kelly’s absence, the Galway minor footballers beat Clare in the All-Ireland quarter-final last weekend in Tullamore after overcoming an initial scare.

Paul featured in the Connacht final triumph over Roscommon last month and was particularly effective in the second half and in previous round robin games; Galway will be hoping that he recovers from the injury picked up in Kosovo to slot in at midfield again when they take on Meath in the All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park.

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