Robbie Kelleher
Encyclopedia
Robbie Kelleher is a former all-Ireland
winning Gaelic football
er for Dublin
.
, County Dublin
. He was educated at Coláiste Mhuire
, where he excelled in his studies which included an A in Higher Level Mathematics. He went on to study economics at University and has a successful career in that field.
for his performances for Dublin in 1978, 1977, 1975 and 1974, a feat yet to be matched by any left full back. He won three all-Ireland medals for Dublin in 1977, 1976, 1974. The 1974 won his first all-Ireland in a game in which Dublin defeated Galway
by a scoreline of 0-14 to 1-6. His second all-Ireland with Dublin in 1976 with a 3-8 to 0-10 victory over Kerry
. 1977 proved the most memorable of years for Kelleher. Dublin won the semi final and just one week before the final Robbie Kelleher married his wife in San Francisco returning in time for the all-Ireland final victory over Armagh
. The game finished on a scoreline of 5-12 to 3-6 and he was later awarded an all star for his performances. The day before the game the newspapers famously read on the day before the final Wife of Star Flies in for Match.
He won the National Football League with Dublin 1978 and 1976. 1979 proved a very disappointing year for Kelleher as he suffered very serious injuries. 'That was the year he broke his leg, two operations, screws inserted and the long haul back to fitness for the championship'. Despite expressing his desire to retire in 1979 at the age of 28, the then Dublin manager Kevin Heffernan convinced him to make a return to the Dublin
side. He retired in 1981 at the age of 31.
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
winning Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er for Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
.
Biographical Information
He grew up in GlasnevinGlasnevin
Glasnevin is a largely residential neighbourhood of Dublin, Ireland.-Geography:A mainly residential neighbourhood, it is located on the Northside of the city of Dublin . It was originally established on the northern bank of the River Tolka...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
. He was educated at Coláiste Mhuire
Coláiste Mhuire
Coláiste Mhuire, which is part of the Marino Institute of Education , is a primary teacher training college which is affiliated with Trinity College, Dublin. It is located on Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. Coláiste Mhuire is primarily focused on providing for pre-service primary education...
, where he excelled in his studies which included an A in Higher Level Mathematics. He went on to study economics at University and has a successful career in that field.
Playing career
Kelleher has won four all starsGAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
for his performances for Dublin in 1978, 1977, 1975 and 1974, a feat yet to be matched by any left full back. He won three all-Ireland medals for Dublin in 1977, 1976, 1974. The 1974 won his first all-Ireland in a game in which Dublin defeated Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
by a scoreline of 0-14 to 1-6. His second all-Ireland with Dublin in 1976 with a 3-8 to 0-10 victory over Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
. 1977 proved the most memorable of years for Kelleher. Dublin won the semi final and just one week before the final Robbie Kelleher married his wife in San Francisco returning in time for the all-Ireland final victory over Armagh
Armagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...
. The game finished on a scoreline of 5-12 to 3-6 and he was later awarded an all star for his performances. The day before the game the newspapers famously read on the day before the final Wife of Star Flies in for Match.
He won the National Football League with Dublin 1978 and 1976. 1979 proved a very disappointing year for Kelleher as he suffered very serious injuries. 'That was the year he broke his leg, two operations, screws inserted and the long haul back to fitness for the championship'. Despite expressing his desire to retire in 1979 at the age of 28, the then Dublin manager Kevin Heffernan convinced him to make a return to the Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
side. He retired in 1981 at the age of 31.