Kildare stalwart Niall Kelly has announced his retirement from inter-county football.

The Athy attacker made over 100 appearances in a stellar career for the Lilywhites, during which he racked up 14-138. He won a Leinster U21FC medal in 2013 and ended his time in a Kildare shirt with a Tailteann Cup medal. 

Kelly also won three Kildare SFC medals with Athy in 2011, 2020 and 2025 as well as a Sigerson Cup with UCD in 2016.

A county board statement read:  "On behalf of Kildare GAA, we wish to sincerely thank Niall Kelly for his outstanding service, following his decision to step down from Inter County Football.

"As a 19-year-old, Niall made his Kildare Senior Football debut in a winning O’Byrne Cup Final against Dublin. He went on to make 101 appearances in all competitions, his last coming against Fermanagh in last summer’s Tailteann Cup semi-final. He scored a total of 14 goals and 138 points during his Senior career. One highlight was a classy goal against Cork in a Round 4 Qualifier victory in Semple Stadium in 2015.

"Niall won an Under 21 Leinster Championship in 2013 and it is fitting that his final year with Kildare ended with Tailteann Cup victory in 2025. He also won a Sigerson Cup with UCD in 2016 and three Kildare Senior Football Championships with his club, Athy, in 2011, 2020 and more recently in 2025.

"Popular with his fellow Club and County players, we wish Niall all the very best for the next chapter in his life.

"Niall would like to sincerely thank his family, club and everyone involved in Kildare GAA for their unwavering support throughout his career."

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