Jamesy Kelleher


Jamesy Kelleher was an Irish hurler who played as a full-back for the Cork senior team.
Born in Dungourney, County Cork, Kelleher first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-three when he first linked up with the Cork senior team. He made his senior debut during the 1900 championship. Kelleher immediately became a regular member of the starting team, and won two All-Ireland medals and seven Munster medals. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on four occasions.
At club level Kelleher was a three-time championship medallist with Dungourney.
Throughout his career Kelleher made 47 championship appearances. He retired from inter-county hurling following the conclusion of the 1914 championship.
Kelleher was posthumously honoured by being named in the right corner-back position on the Cork Hurling Team of the Century.

Playing career

Club

Kelleher was just fourteen-years-old when he first played for Dungourney in 1892 and immediately became a regular member of the team.
After defeat by Redmonds in the 1900 championship decider, Kelleher was captain of the team two years later when they faced Shanballymore in the final. A 3-10 to 2-5 victory gave Kelleher, and his club, their first championship title.
In 1907 Kelleher was captain of the Dungourney team that faced Castletownroche in the county decider. A comprehensive 5-17 to 0-3 victory gave him a second championship medal.
Back-to-back titles eluded Dungourney once again, however, the club was back in the decider again in 1909. Sarsfield's provided little opposition as Dungourney powered to a 6-10 to 1-8 victory. It was Kelleher's third championship medal.

Inter-county

Beginnings

Kelleher made his senior championship debut on 3 November 1901 in a delayed 0-12 to 0-9 Munster semi-final defeat by Tipperary.

Early successes

The 1901 championship was also delayed due to organisational difficulties, however, Kelleher found himself to be a regular on the team. He was at centrefield that year as Cork defeated Clare by 3-10 to 2-6 in the provincial decider. It was his first Munster medal. On 2 August 1903 Cork faced London in what was the 1901 All-Ireland final. Kellher's side were the overwhelming favourites against a team of exiles which was made up of nine Cork men. A downpour made the underfoot conditions difficult as London settled better and Cork floundered. A goal for London with ten minutes left in the game sealed Cork’s fate and Kelleher ended up on the losing side by 1-5 to 0-4.
Kelleher was captain of the Cork team for the 1902 championship. He added a second Munster medal to his collection following a 2-9 to 1-5 defeat of Limerick. On 11 September 1904 Cork faced London in the delayed 1902 All-Ireland decider, in what was also the official opening of the Cork Athletic Grounds. Cork made no mistake on this occasion, and powered to a 3-13 to 0-00 victory. It was Kelleher's first All-Ireland medal.
Cork made it a three-in-a-row of provincial titles in 1903. A 5-16 to 1-1 defeat of Waterford gave Kelleher a third successive Munster medal. On 12 November 1905 Cork faced London in the All-Ireland decider for the third successive year. Cork were well on top for the entire game and secured a 3-16 to 1-1 victory. It was Kelleher's second consecutive All-Ireland medal.
Kelleher won a fourth successive Munster medal in 1904 following a 3-10 to 3-4 defeat of Tipperary. The subsequent All-Ireland final was delayed until 24 June 1906, Kilkenny providing the opposition. It was the beginning of a hugely successful era for "the Cats" as Cork were heading into decline. A first half goal by Dick Doyle put Kilkenny in the driving seat, while goalkeeper Pat "Fox" Maher made a save in the dying moments of the game to help Kilkenny to a 1-9 to 1-8 victory.
In 1905 Cork set the all-time record by winning a fifth successive provincial title. The 7-12 to 1-4 trouncing of Limerick gave Kelleher his fifth Munster medal overall. The subsequent All-Ireland final on 14 April 1907 saw Kilkenny provide the opposition once again. The game was a high-scoring affair with Cork winning by 5-10 to 3-13. The game, however, had to be replayed as Cork goalkeeper Daniel McCarthy was a British army reservist and Kilkenny’s Matt Gargan had earlier played with Waterford in the Munster championship. The replay was another high-scoring one, with Jimmy Kelly scoring 5-2 for Kilkenny. A puck-out by Kelleher is said to have bounced and hopped over the Kilkenny crossbar. Kilkenny won the game by 7-7 to 2-9, with all seven of their goals coming in a thirty-minute spell.

Decline

Six-in-a-row of provincial titles proved beyond Cork, however, the team bounced back in 1907 with Kelleher taking over as captain for a second time. A 1-6 to 1-4 defeat of Tipperary gave Kelleher a sixth Munster medal. On 21 June 1908 Cork faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider for the third time in four years. A high-scoring, but close, game developed between these two rivals once again. As the game entered the final stage there was little to separate the two sides. Jimmy Kelly scored three first-half goals while Jack Anthony scored Kilkenny's winning point at the death. Cork went on two late goal hunts, however, the final score of 3-12 to 4-8 gave Kilkenny the win. The game became the benchmark by which all subsequent All-Ireland performances were judged.
Cork went through a period of transition over the next few years and it was 1912 before the team bounced back. A 5-1 to 3-1 defeat of Tipperary that year gave Kelleher a seventh and final Munster medal. On 17 November 1912 Cork were scheduled to face Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider, however, Kelleher had to withdraw from the team due to injury. Kilkenny won the game by 2-1 to 1-3.
Kelleher retired from inter-county hurling following Cork's exit from the 1914 championship.

Personal life

Born in Dungourney just outside Midleton, County Cork in 1878, Kelleher received a brief education at the local national school and, like many of his contemporaries, he subsequently earned his livelihood as a farmer. Kelleher remained a non-smoker and a non-drinker throughout his life. As well as hurling he also bred and trained many first class horses and won several cross-country trophies. His victory in a steeplechase against many of the leading gentry was widely acclaimed.
Kelleher lived in his native Dungourney until his death in 1943.