A member of the Newcestown club, Kehily won Southwest Schools' Shield and Divisional Juvenile Championship titles in his early playing days.
He also lined out with Bandon and won Munster Colleges' titles as a dual player with Hamilton High School.
During that time he won three Munster Championship and two All-Stars, however, his university studies in London resulted in him missing Cork's defeat of Galway in the 1973 All-Ireland final.
[4][5] Kehily's occupation as a physical education instructor resulted in him being appointed trainer of the Cork senior hurling team in 1975.
Kehily also had a spell in charge of the Courcey Rovers club before returning as Cork senior hurling team trainer in 1993.