[1] Born in Newcestown, County Cork, Kehilly first played competitive football in his youth.
He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Cork minor team, before later joining the under-21 and junior sides.
[2] He made his senior debut during the 1965 championship and was a regular member of the starting fifteen for a brief period.
At club level Kehily won numerous championship medals with Newcestown.
Kehilly's brothers, Kevin and Frank, also played Gaelic football with Cork.