"On his day, he's capable of racking up huge scores, but also tends to have switch-off games where his main contribution is from frees. Nevertheless, he remains the type of player that opponents fear and to whom Waterford look for something inspirational."
(Martin Breheny, January 2011)
In a question and answer session during 2005, Eoin Kelly was asked what proportion of training time does he spend on the skills of the game? “80 per cent” he replied. “Justin (McCarthy) is very good with skills and involves them in the running part of training also. Might even be 90 per cent.”
When presented with a fitness programme by the new management ahead of his eleventh campaign in a Waterford shirt, Kelly didn’t address it with the vigour or application that Michael Ryan would have liked. Kelly’s passion for playing inter county hurling is unquestionable and showed in his continued commitment to the Deise cause this past week and rubbished any talk of retirement despite this controversy. Fitness at this time of year clearly doesn’t rate highly on his radar but his physical condition has rarely come against him on the big occasion. Unfortunately rational like that rarely washes with new management in town.
As always these matters rarely come in the black and white variety. The fact that the two time All Star was asked to train in isolation didn’t help his cause in reaching the targets required. Kelly’s frustration with this arrangement is understandable. What’s also understandable is Michael Ryan’s eagerness to put in place a set of standards for the whole panel to reach and an appropriate level of fitness. The management team clearly wanted to nip this one in the bud at an early stage especially when the player declined an invitation to discuss the matter. This failure to find a middle ground and the resulting stalemate has led to Kelly’s omission from the 2012 panel. But can Waterford afford to lose the services of a creative influence such as Eoin Kelly even in his latter years at inter county level?
As he readily admits himself, Kelly can play anywhere from 8 to 15 on the field, a trait picked up during Justin McCarthy’s forward rotation system. His total belief in his abilities have meant an over exuberance at times which has grated on supporters both inside and outside the county. In the 2009 Munster final he clearly targeted an early goal and after a couple of failed attempts, he blasted a close in free past Brendan Cummins. Despite his lack of form in 2011 against both Limerick and Galway he again backed himself to strike for goal from placed balls. In the early years of his inter county career, he developed a trait of long range point taking as best displayed against Cork in 2005. In latter times however his goal scoring rate has increased and can boast 13 championship goals to his credit. He thrived on the open spaces especially in the Justin years and at times could be described as being too loose. He has also hit the self destruct button on occasion but brushes with disciplinary action have been brief down the years.
Kelly burst onto the scene in 2002, starring at wing forward during that memorable Munster final day on Leeside. He followed that up with a blistering four point burst in Croke Park which provided one of the few highlights of a forgettable semi final defeat to Clare. After the dreaded second season dip in form during 2003, Kelly began the 2004 championship with eight points in the demolition of Clare. He will be best remembered however for Waterford’s opening green flag during the Munster final epic against Cork. He shook off the attentions of Jerry O’Connor under the Old Stand before angling a drive over the head of Donal Óg Cusack from an acute angle. In a recent TG4 programme charting the Top 50 hurling goals, this strike ranked at number 18. Against the same opposition a year later, he ran riot with six spectacular points from play but still couldn’t prevent a narrow defeat. Towards the latter end of 2006 and into 2007, the responsibility of free taking rested on his shoulders taking over the mantle from Paul Flynn.
While Justin McCarthy’s methods suited Kelly’s style of play, he carried Waterford’s scoring burden for large parts of Davy Fitzgerald’s tenure. In the 2008 campaign, especially in the narrow escapes against Offaly and Wexford, Kelly’s ability to rack up big tallies kept the show on the road. He then delivered a man of the match display in the memorable semi final ambush of Tipperary. He ended his most consistent year with an All Star and as top championship scorer on 7-43. He followed that up in 2009 with 2-47 in five games, finishing as the second highest marksman in the country. Even in 2010 he delivered a blockbuster of a goal past Donal Óg Cusack to revive an ailing Munster final challenge. Kelly’s inter county career has been on the cliff edge however since his substitution 51 minutes into the All Ireland semi final defeat to Tipperary later that year. He failed to hit the ground running in 2011, only receiving 55 minutes of game time in the National League. His introduction against Limerick and involvement in John Mullane’s winning goal provided a glimpse that all was not lost. He regained a starting place at corner forward against Galway and Kilkenny but mixed the good with the bad. Against the Tribesmen he went for goal from an early free which resulted in Shane Walsh eventually firing to the net. He chipped in with a point from play in both games but struck three wides and received a yellow card against the Cats before his substitution.
While the perception of a poor attitude continues to linger throughout the county, the decline in Kelly’s form and below par fitness levels appear more pressing concerns for management. Instead of making the heat of the moment decision to pack it in, that many would have predicted, Kelly has shown a degree of calmness about the matter. Clearly he believes he can get back on the horse but reaching the high levels of performance that he regularly churned out over the past decade no longer comes so easily. Facing into the long winter slog once more and clashing early doors with the new management team proved a battle Kelly didn’t want to fight, at least at this point.
Another question to consider is can Waterford absorb the loss of so much experience in a relatively short period? In less than 12 months, Ken McGrath, Clinton Hennessy, Eoin Murphy and now Kelly have all stepped aside. While the pool of young talent remains deep, soaking up the loss of all these leaders remains a concern. Also in the last couple of years the forward unit has not hit the heights required (John Mullane apart) on the white knuckle championship Sundays. 1-18 is the highest tally Waterford have raised against either Tipperary or Kilkenny in the last two championships.
The fact that Kelly ruled out retirement offers encouragement but with the first round of club matches not until early May, the chances of a recall look slim at best. Once he remains on the outside looking in, while others impress in training and league games, Kelly’s only hopes rest with some big performances for Passage. Even if he does produce on the club scene it may come too late. Both parties were keen to stress that the door remains open for a reprieve but lines have been clearly drawn in the sand at the same time.
In a 2009 interview with Michael Moynihan, Kelly stated that “there’s no good in being remembered for playing in good matches – you play in order to win medals.” Before last year’s Munster final he echoed those sentiments and reaffirmed the long held belief that ultimate glory was within touching distance. “When you know you are that close and you think you can win it, it’s hard to walk away.” The ball now rests in Kelly’s court to keep that drive for an All Ireland medal intact and rekindle past glories. The days of the thrill a minute hurling under Justin McCarthy may be consigned to history but Kelly, at the age of 29, can still offer further excitement to the Waterford faithful.
Eoin Kelly Stats
Championship debut: Munster championship 2002 v Cork
Championship appearances: 44
Championship scores: 13-190
Munster titles: 4 (2002, 2004, 2007, 2010)
National League: 1 (2007)
All Stars: 2 (2002, 2008)
2002 – Wing Forward
2008 – Full Forward
4 All Star nominations (2002, 2004, 2005, 2008)
2 Munster All Stars (2004, 2005)
2 Railway Cups (2005, 2007)
Waterford captain 2005
