George Martin Kelly (born 12 November 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Carlisle United.
Career UCD Kelly joined UCD after a brief stint with Derry City. In 2017, Kelly scored a hat-trick against, Athlone Town, securing the top scorer title for the season.Kelly played a crucial role, as UCD returned to the top flight of Irish football. Scoring 15 times in just 17, before departing for dundalk mid season.
Dundalk After two and a half seasons in the First Division, Kelly signed with Premier Division club, Dundalk. He played his first European match against Estonian side, FCI Levadia Tallinn in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds. He ended the 2018 season with the rare double of First Division (for UCD) and Premier Division (for Dundalk) winner's medals, and also won the FAI Cup.
During the 2019 season, Kelly and Dundalk narrowly missed out on the treble, following a penalty shootout in the 2019 FAI Cup Final against Shamrock Rovers.
Loan to St Patrick's Athletic Kelly was loaned to St Patrick's Athletic for the remainder of the 2020 season on 28 July 2020. On 7 August 2020, he scored his first goals for the club, netting a brace as his side beat Finn Harps 2–0 at Richmond Park. His only other goal for the club came in a 3–2 loss away to Finn Harps on 29 October 2020.
Bohemians On 22 December 2020, Kelly signed for Bohemians for the 2021 season. Kelly scored his first Premier Division hat-trick in a 5–1 victory against Dundalk. Following a successful first season at the club, Kelly was the league's top scorer with 21 goals including a late equaliser against Sligo Rovers in the final game of the season. He was later named in the team of the year. He helped the club reach the 2021 FAI Cup Final where they eventually lost to his former club, St Patrick's Athletic.
Rotherham United In January 2022 he signed for EFL League One club Rotherham United. On 30 April 2022, Kelly scored the second goal in a 2–0 win for Rotherham over Gillingham which secured promotion to the Championship, having come on as a substitute 10 minutes beforehand to make his first team debut. He went on to score a total of 6 goals for the club in 51 appearances.
Carlisle United On 1 February 2024, Kelly signed for EFL League One club Carlisle United for an undisclosed fee, on a three-and-a-half-year deal. He failed to score in 7 appearances by the end of his first half-season with the club as they were relegated to EFL League Two.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDerry City2015LOI Premier Division30001000—40UCD2016LOI First Division2561010—313072017LOI First Division26171010—2030172018LOI First Division1714—10—001814Total68372030—517838Dundalk2018LOI Premier Division7032—10101222019LOI Premier Division2785242304243142020LOI Premier Division20————20Total368844240525716St Patrick's Athletic (loan)2020LOI Premier Division12310———133Bohemians2021LOI Premier Division312131—64—4026Rotherham United2021–22League One11———00112022–23Championship2940020——3142023–24Championship1810010——191Total4860030—00516Carlisle United2023–24League One70————702024–25League Two1850000—001852025–26National League36132000—1039132026–27National League620000—0012Total62202000—106520Career total26095165112104113308109
Honours Dundalk League of Ireland Premier Division: 2018, 2019 FAI Cup: 2018 League of Ireland Cup: 2019 Champions Cup: 2019
Rotherham United EFL Trophy: 2021–22
Individual PFAI Players' Player of the Year: 2021 FAI League Player of the Year: 2021 League of Ireland Premier Division top scorer: 2021 League of Ireland First Division top scorer: 2017
References