Kelly off to a flyer

Extratime.ie reporter Rory Kelly is a bit like Clark Kent; reporter during the day but at night he goes under a different guise. Unfortunately for Kelly, he doesn’t have super hero powers but his talents were enough for Finn Harps to sign the goalkeeper.
 

With news that regular keeper Ciaran Gallagher was to be out for a month through injury Harps had just one keeper available to them; 16 year old Shaun Patton. They went looking for another keeper and Kelly answered that call. He signed just before they played First Division leaders Longford Town on Saturday night and made his debut in their fantastic 3-1 win in Flancare Park.
 

More used to conducting interviews the youngster felt it strange being the other side of the microphone after the game. “It definitely is strange,” he told extratime.ie. “I’m sort of used to doing interviews more so than giving them. I’m delighted to be actually in this position.”
 

It wasn’t exactly the baptism of fire the young netminder thought it would be. He knew playing Longford Town  in Flancare Park was going to be tough but the game couldn’t have went any better for him and his new team-mates.  

He said, “We knew it was going to be a tough place to come to. It’s never an easy place to come to. I remember a few years ago when I came down here with Derry, it was a really big battle. I’m delighted with the result and everybody put in a great performance. That’s three points more for us and it gets us up the table.”
 

Although Town took the lead in the 14th minute Kelly had a relatively quiet night. The home side didn’t make him work when they had possession and in the second half they completely bossed proceedings.

The  Donegal lad was delighted with the way his team responded after going behind to Alan Kirby’s goal.

"We got off to a bad start and it took us a wee while to get going. After about a half an hour we started to get going; we got the ball down and started playing. We looked a good team and it was just a matter of half-time came too soon because we had gathered a bit of momentum. In the second-half we brought that back out onto the pitch and obviously their keeper getting sent off played a role. I’m absolutely chuffed with that result. I think the boys put in an excellent performance. We deserved it.”
 

After being released by Derry City at the end of last season, Kelly wondered when he’d get his next break. He is grateful to both Peter Hutton and Felix Healy for giving him a chance.

“It’s obviously a worrying time whenever you don’t have a club and when I did get released. I’m delighted that Peter and Felix brought me in. They just threw me in at the deep end and I just wanted to pay them back. I think I did that. I’m a bit disappointed that I didn’t keep a clean sheet but it was a great result. It’s onwards and upwards now.”