Ray Kelly joined Malahide CC from Balbriggan CC in 1970 when he was 20 years of age. At the time, Malahide was the only Senior 1 club in the Fingal region and Ray was determined to test himself. Previously, he had served warning of his talent when playing for Balbriggan. There was talk in the Fingal of slip cordons on the boundary! He was tall, near six foot three, bowled from a height with a good action and on his day was as quick as anyone. All mention his smooth, economical, slightly angled run up with much of the speed generated in the delivery stride.
In 1970 Kelly served his apprenticeship in Malahide playing mostly on the second team. The selectors began to take notice after his performance against top Edinburgh side Watsonians during Malahide’s mid season tour of Scotland. Kelly, by all accounts, was very quick and hostile and removed five of their top batters.
In 1971 he forced his way onto the Malahide 1st XI and played a major role in the undefeated double League and Cup winning team of that year. He won the John Player No 6 Man of the Match (awarded by JC Boucher) in the 1971 Leinster Senior Cup Final v Clontarf in Castle Avenue. In a game that stretched over three days of the August Bank Holiday weekend due to weather, Malahide batted first and were bundled out for 102. On day two, Kelly, second change, turned the game on its head when he ripped out batsmen 1, 2 and 3 (Bunworth, Carroll and McDermott). Kelly finished up with match winning figures of 5 for 16. 1971 was a busy year for Ray Kelly as he also won the Oulton Cup, the coveted Senior 2 premier bowling award.
1971 Cup Final v Clontarf
Overs Mdens Runs Wickets
13 6 16 5
Ray also played in the epic Leinster Senior Cup Final the following year 1972 v Pembroke CC in Sydney Parade. This was the first year when limited overs were introduced. Again, Malahide batted first and were tossed out for a meagre 79 on a tricky wicket. However, Malahide fought back and at one stage had Pembroke on the ropes at 27 for 7. Pembroke held out and went on to win by 1 wicket. Ray again played an important role taking one for 17. Unwittingly, Ray was involved in a pivotal moment which changed the temperature in that game batting at number 10. Sean Pender, Cricket Correspondent, reported in The Irish Times as follows:
“Kelly mistakenly believing that he had been bowled by Gordon Mellon after the ball had come back off Harry Hill’s pads to dislodge the bails, started to walk and was stumped by Hill, who had to uproot a stump to perform the feat.”
1972 Cup Final v Pembroke
Overs Mdens Runs Wickets
12 4 17 1
Alan Hughes, former International bowler and team mate commented that “On his day, Ray was a very quick bowler and there is every chance that if he had stuck with the game that he would have gone on to play for Ireland.”
Malahide CC Senior 1 Career 1970-1973
Matches Wickets Average
40 92 13.60
5 wickets in an Innings: 2
Martin Russell now of The Hills CC but who played in the early days with Ray in Balbriggan said “When I kept to him my hands were always in bits after the game, he was so fast. Even at an early stage, tactically he was ahead of his contemporaries. For example, he might say look out for the third ball in the over where he would try something different. Above all he was a team player.”
Former International Ray Daly who was his captain in Malahide described Kelly as a strike bowler who attacked the stumps. He said Kelly formed part of a very strong quartet of seam bowlers led by former International Dougie Goodwin and included Bobby Shaw and Gerry Ward. He said Kelly was easy going and fitted in very well with the team.
Ray Kelly left Malahide at the end of the 1973 season and then played a couple of years with The Hills.
Although Ray Kelly played only briefly for Malahide he made a significant contribution to a very successful period in Malahide’s history.
Ray passed away recently in April 2020.
May He Rest in Peace
BGilmore