Shaun Kelly

Defender
  • Height 5' 10"
  • Age 35 years, 8 months
  • Place of Birth Killybegs, Co Donegal
  • Nationality Republic of Ireland
  • Stats based on games populated in our system. They can be viewed below

Shaun’s Biography

Shaun is a right sided defender from Killybegs, County Donegal, who returned from over two years at Heart of Midlothian when he signed for Dundalk in January 2009. Shaun's departure from Hearts came about as a result of not enjoying his football in Edinburgh. He was soon the subject of interest from Dundalk and Finn Harps – the club he supported growing up – as well as Scottish Second Division side Raith Rovers. It was the interest that Sean Connor had shown in him during the previous 18 months, however, that swayed his decision to join Dundalk and in early January '09 he signed on at Oriel Park.

Shaun made his competitive debut for Dundalk in their opening night league defeat by Bohemians on 6 March 2009 and made 30 league appearances in all competitions during his first season with the Lilywhites who he helped to fifth place. Kelly penned a fresh one-year contract at the club on 2 February 2010.

Shaun made another 30 league appearances in 2010 but left Dundalk at the end of the season to sign for Sean Connor who had moved on to Galway United. However, financial turmoil led to Galway placing their entire squad on the transfer list and in July 2011 Shaun signed for Limerick FC and made his debut for the club against Monaghan United at Jackman Park on 22 July, going on to play 11 league games as Limerick finished third in the 2011 First Division.

Shaun played 24 league games in Limerick's First Division title winning season of 2012 and re-signed for Limerick's first season back in the Premier Division in 2013. He made 25 league appearances for the club and scored his first two Limerick goals that year. In 2014 he was handed the captain's armband after the retirement of former skipper Pat Purcell and he made a further 14 league appearances before quitting the Shannonsiders and moving to Derry City in July of 2014.

Shaun went on to play in 8 league games for Derry as they finished eighth in the 2014 Premier Division. Then in July 2015 Shaun was released from his Derry City contract having made a total of 18 league appearances (24 in all comps) for the club. On the 30th of July 2015, Shaun returned to Limerick and he went on to play a part in 10 league matches as Limerick secured a relegation play-off spot, which they lost over two legs against Finn Harps.

With Limerick relegated to the First Division in 2016, Shaun found himself part of a Limerick squad that had too much quality for lower-tier football. He made 20 league appearances in a season that saw the Blues comfortably promoted back to the Premier Division as First Division champions. In July 2017 Shaun was transfer-listed and left the club a few days later.

In January 2018, Shaun signed for Limerick in the Premier Division. Shaun then re-signed with the club for the 2019 campaign. Having signed for Ballynanty Rovers in the off-season he then joined Finn Harps for the 2020 season signing at the end of January.