[citation needed] After lining out in the juvenile and underage ranks with the Portumna club, Kelly eventually progressed to adult level.
[4] A few seasons as manager of the NUI Galway team in the Fitzgibbon Cup was followed by a North Tipperary SHC title as coach of Kiladangan in 2013.
[6] Kelly simultaneously held the position of Abbeyknockmoy manager, securing county and provincial successes in 2015, before being beaten by Bennettsbridge in the 2016 All-Ireland Club IHC final.
[7] Kelly made his first move into inter-county management during a concurrent three-year stint with Galway's intermediate and under-21 teams.
[10] Kelly returned to the inter-county scene in 2019 when he was named as one of Offaly senior hurling team manager Michael Fennelly's selectors.