Kelly made his first appearance for the team during the 1974 championship and quickly became a regular player until his retirement at the end of the 1987 championship. During that time he won two Munster winners' medals, two National League winner's medals and an All-Star award.
At club level Kelly is a double Munster medalist with Kilmallock. In addition to this he has also won six county championship winners' medals during a club career that spanned three decades.