Kelly takes on new challenge in Qatar
THE FAI Cup has given supporters of Sligo Rovers plenty of memories over both the recent and distant past. For those who can recall them, the low of cup final defeats such as those in 1981 and 2009 only make the sweeter years of ‘ 83, ‘ 94 2010, 2011 and 2013 so much better.
A pivotal figure in both the 2010 and 2011 finals was Ciaran Kelly. The goalkeeper may not have featured in the 2010 decider had it not been for an injury to regular net minder Richard Brush. Kelly’s inclusion on that Sunday in November is now included in the very fabric and folklore of the Bit O’Red when he kept out all four of Shamrock Rovers’ penalties following a gruelling 120 minutes of football.
He played a key part again the following year after a forgettable 1- 1 draw with Shelbourne but his impact was undeniable. The Mayo man was a 119th minute replacement for Brendan Clarke. You know the rest.
Now plying his trade as Head of Coaching at the Future International Football Academy in Doha, Kelly has swapped the mid- week nights coaching Castlebar Celtic for the tropical climate of Qatar on the north eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The football academy is a training centre for the development of children in the Qatar capital from the age of two up to 16 years.
Having made the move in March, Ciaran says honing his coaching skills away from home was an early aspiration of his. The former Derry City and Athlone Town man also praised the facilities the coaches and young players had a their disposal.
In his blog on the Qatar Living website, the now 37- year- old explained: “After briefly speaking to ( the people here) I knew the football academy was where I wanted to develop as a coach and further more as a person.
“It happened very quickly and within a few weeks I knew I was moving to Doha. Meeting the team of coaches, being introduced to all the members and visiting Ain Khaled and Lekhwiya SC facilities made me realise, this was a place where I’m going to enjoy coming to work every day.
“Working abroad as an UEFA A Licenced football coach was an early ambition of mine and now has become a reality.”
At the time leading up to the move, Ciaran was preparing for his second season as both Castlebar manager and the club’s Coaching coordinator. Having claimed a decent third placed finish in Mayo Super League along with success in the Connacht Gold Cup, Celtic’s first trophy since 2011, Kelly was beginning to make his mark.
It was during his last few years at the Showgrounds that the Ballinrobe man became interested in coaching. He won three FAI Cups, one Premier Division and one EA Sports Cup in Sligo and credits his time at the club as the period in his life where he learned to win.
He continued: “My most enjoyable period was the one at Rovers where I was fortunate enough to be part of a strong squad. These years were the club’s most successful period in their history. They say winning is a habit but I have to also acknowledge that the players and staff that I shared the dressing rooms with were hungry, craved success and were as equally as ambitious as I was.”
The FAI Cup, as mentioned does give those of a red and white persuasion many moments we would rather not recall too often. With Rovers leading Sporting Fingal by a goal to nil with five to play in the 2009 final, Kelly pulled down Eamon Zayed inside the area before Colly James fired the penalty home. Five minutes later, Kelly conceded again to turn the tide and hand the cup to Fingal. The last few minutes of that stormy afternoon still sits in Ciaran’s mind but he used it as a positive going forward.
He recalls: “When I look back now I can see that this was a turning point in my life as a player and a person. I found myself in a one on one scenario. What happened next, to this day is still a blur but defined how I changed my career pathway as a person.
“After that, the feeling of guilt and the ‘ what ifs’ echoed in my head.
“This is when I realised that I wanted to start my own football academy to help younger players to develop and learn. This helped me focus on my own playing career and I do believe in the phrase ‘ good things happen to good people’.”
Twelve months later and Paul Cook’s team were back at Lansdowne Road. Shams were the opposition this time. Brush was benched with an injury towards the end of the that campaign so Kelly deputised for the last number of games. In front of the biggest crowd the Aviva has ever attracted for a cup final, Ciaran was more than ready.
“This time I was mentally prepared so that I would enjoy this occasion and relax in the environment of playing in front of over 36,000 supporters.
“Scoreless through the game, I knew the penalties would make me or break me. Still living with the experience of the 2009 final, what happened, sometimes I still pinch myself to see if it was real.”
Those few moments are precious to each and every Rovers fan who witnessed it. The on- the- field- rivalry between the upstarts Sligo Rovers and a strong Shams side was at its height. League success followed just two years later but to beat The Hoops in a cup final was something special in itself and propelled the club towards the success which followed.
Kelly’s heroics were spread across the back pages of almost every national paper the next day. But his target remained.
“Okay, yes this became a life changing experience”, he admits. “Media coverage nationally and then internationally, life became a little bit different. But my focus didn’t change regarding where my real passion was and that was helping others to over come their fears. Sport is an amazing tool and sometimes as coaches we instinctively direct our views towards that winning mentality.”