[1][2] Kelly played for club side Lusmagh and was a member of the Offaly senior hurling team for 19 seasons, during which time he usually lined out at midfield.
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.
At inter-provincial level, Kelly was selected to play in several championship campaigns with Leinster, with his sole Railway Cup medal being won in 1979.
As a manager, selector, coach and trainer, Kelly has previously worked with club sides: Lusmagh, Loughmore-Castleiney, Kilcormac-Killoughey, Portumna, Shinrone and Coolderry, and inter-county teams Westmeath, Wexford and Roscommon.
Kelly joined the Lusmagh club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels.
He was still eligible for the minor grade when he joined the club's top adult team during the 1971 Offaly Junior Championship.
On 26 November 1973, Kelly was at wing-forward when Lusmagh faced Ballinamere in the final of the Offaly Junior Championship.
On 13 July 1980, Kelly lined out at midfield when Offaly faced Kilkenny in what was only their second Leinster final appearance in 50 years.
This victory gave Offaly a straight passage to the All-Ireland final against reigning champions Galway on 6 September.
[5] Kelly lined out in his by now customary position of midfield when Offaly qualified for a third successive Leinster final on 25 July 1982.
For the ninth successive season, Offaly qualified for the Leinster final on 2 August 1987 with Kelly lining out at midfield.
After his two-year stint with the Westmeath, Kelly joined Éamonn Cregan's Offaly backroom team in 1995.
He remained a selector for just over a year, having tendered his resignation after the Leinster final defeat to Wexford in July 1996.
In 1999, he managed the Wexford senior hurling team for one season, ending in a heavy championship defeat to Offaly.
[8] He has been announced as the trainer for Roscommon senior hurling team for 2014, working with manager Justin Campbell, a former Galway hurler.
[10] Kelly was appointed interim manager of the Offaly senior hurling team on 20 May 2019, following Kevin Martin's removal from the position.