Ger Keeley on a brilliant career involved with successful Cork football teams: 'There was a special bond'

Ger Keeley came down to Cork from Dublin in 1993 and as they say, the rest is history.

He has made a big impression on Leeside having been involved as a goalkeeping coach with a number of successful Cork football teams.

Currently, he’s with Nemo Rangers in the backroom team under Premier Senior manager Robbie O’Dwyer.

Keeley has been with the city club for the best part of a decade and was a selector in 2018 and ’19.

“I was playing away GAA in Dublin until work called me down to Cork,” he says.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect coming down all those years ago, but it has been absolutely fabulous, some great days and brilliant memories involved with so many great teams.

“At the start, I was moving around to different GAA clubs helping out with goalkeepers and that was very enjoyable.

“It really took off when I got asked to do a session with the Cork U15 development squad. When I was down there, Brian Herlihy would have been involved at the time. That would have been the winter of 2010 roughly.

“I did the session with the goalkeepers and I came home and I got a call from Brian to see if I would be interested in being the goalkeeping coach with the Cork U20 footballers or U21 as it was called at the time.

“Brian was a selector with John Cleary who was the manager. I was delighted and honoured and I started with them the following week and I would like to think that I haven’t looked back.

“I always wanted to bring a professional approach to my role as goalkeeping coach. Around that time period, it was really the sub goalkeeper who would warm up the starting goalkeeper, but that was soon about to change with teams bringing in a goalkeeping coach.” 

Keeley was with the Cork U21 (now U20) football team until the conclusion of the 2017 season. What would have been his biggest highlight?

“I would have to say when we won the four-in-a-row in Munster. That was magical. It’s hard to pinpoint one particular match. It was a great journey and it was a pity that Tipperary denied us the five-in-a-row in 2015.

“Kerry are the standard-bearers and to win that many Munster titles was brilliant. We beat them by 22 points I think in 2011. There was a special bond with everyone in the group.” 

The Dublin native after a successful stint with the Cork U21s was promoted up to the Cork seniors as goalkeeping coach under then manager Ronan McCarthy.

“I must say, I have had a very understanding wife, the commitment is huge,” he states.

“Getting involved with the Cork seniors was a big undertaking, five nights a week. I was with them from the start of the 2018 season to when Ronan stepped down at the end of 2021.

“Keith Ricken came in and brought in his own crew which I had no problem with. I had a good time with the seniors. It was a big step up from being with the Cork U21s.” 

Keeley was brought into Nemo Rangers in the winter of 2016 by Larry Kavanagh. A club stalwart. Keeley has been there since.

“I got a call from Larry one day out of the blue,” he says.

“I wouldn’t have known Larry, but he asked me if I would be keen to be the goalkeeping coach with Nemo.

“Obviously, I would have known a lot of the Nemo players having been with the Cork U21s and would have known Micheál Aodh Martin.

“In my first season, we won the county, beating St Finbarr’s after a replay. I have been very lucky to have been surrounded by great people. Nemo are a fantastic club.

“We have had great success. Disappointing to have lost the last three finals, but we are knocking on the door.

“Winning the county in 2022 was special given it was the club’s centenary year. We have won so many counties, Munster titles and league titles.

“We all put so much work into it and it’s so rewarding when you win. There’s a bit of luck involved, but it’s also down to hard work and understanding.”