Dave Mackey: 'Daniel Kelly's rise from Ringsend should be of no surprise. At the last count, the area can boast 38 Irish internationals.'

Dundalk have strengthened their squad further with the re-signing of winger Daniel Kelly for the 2022 season. 

The wideman had a stellar debut campaign at Oriel Park in 2019, recording nine league goals as Vinny Perth’s men came within a penalty kick of a domestic treble while 2020 saw him score in Europe for the club as they embarked upon their second Europa League Group Stages campaign. 

Having started his senior career with St Patrick’s CYFC, he spent 2016/17 with Crumlin United before returning to Pat’s in the summer of 2017. He took his first steps into the League of Ireland with current Dundalk first team manager Dave Mackey’s Bray Wanderers side. 

Speaking with dundalkfc.com, the Ringsend native paid tribute to Mackey, “I don’t think people realise how much time and effort Dave put into my career. He came to watch me when I was playing non-league for St. Pat’s CY and he was the one who took a chance on me by signing me for Bray Wanderers. I didn’t know whether I had it in me to take the step up to the League of Ireland but Dave convinced me to give it a go and I haven’t looked back.

“I owe an awful lot to him. Dave is a great coach and a great man and he has serious knowledge of the game and the league itself. He will be a huge asset to Dundalk and to Stevie and Padge and I’m really looking forward to working under the three of them.”

For his part and also speaking to his club’s media, Mackey shared a sense of enthusiasm for the season ahead, “I am delighted that Daniel has signed again for a further two years. I was fortunate to be a part of his first steps in the League of Ireland, signing him for Bray Wanderers in 2018.

"His rise from Ringsend should be of no surprise. At the last count, the area can boast 38 Irish internationals!”

“He is a player with pace to burn and he’s a natural goal scorer and next season will be his fourth at the club. In the preceding three years, he has been a Premier Division title winner, an FAI Cup winner, and he played in the group stages of European competition.

"He has shown great resilience in recovering from injuries last season and I expect him to be an important player in our plans for the new season ahead.”

Pat Hoban re-signs at Oriel as striker sets sights on Dundalk’s goalscoring record https://t.co/8ht1u0Tsrapic.twitter.com/ZCYcXhmJdj

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) December 18, 2021