Renowned as one of the great corner-backs of his era, Kelly was the first Cavan man to receive an
Cú Chulainn Award and featured regularly on All-Star teams selected in the 1960s ('63, '64, '67). He was a permanent fixture on the all-conquering
Ulster Railway Cup teams of the 1960s (1964, ‘ 65, ’66 and ’68). He won
Ulster Senior Football Championship medals in 1962, '64, '67 and '69. He went on to manage Cavan in the early '80's. ==Other honours==