LIMERICK FC defender Shaun Kelly has committed to the club for a fourth season after signing a new deal with the Super Blues on Tuesday, with the defender stating “there was nowhere else I wanted to be”.
The 24-year-old Donegal native has been with Limerick since 2011 and he was a key figure in both the promotion-winning season of 2012 and this year’s successful return to the Premier Division.
The right-back has made 59 league appearances for Limerick, the last of those seeing him captain the club for the first time as they secured a seventh-placed finish in the Premier Division under Stuart Taylor, and he was in no doubt as to his desire to remain on Shannonside for 2014.
Kelly said: “I’m delighted to sign. It was always coming – it was just a matter of getting back to Limerick having been back home in Donegal for the week. It has been on the cards for a few weeks. I knew I was going to be signing and it’s good to finally get the pen to paper and get it done.
“It was an easy decision. As I said towards the end of the season, it’s a club that anyone would be delighted to be at. It’s an up-and-coming club and I never had any doubts that I was staying. There was nowhere else I wanted to be but Limerick. I’m settled down here and I love playing for the club so I’m really happy to be staying.
“I’ve loved every minute of my time here, between just missing out on promotion in the first year I signed, winning the First Division and promotion last year and now having stayed in the Premier Division. I think we had a good first year back up where we stayed up comfortably. Next year we’re looking to push on further.”
Kelly, who made 27 appearances in all competitions in 2013, reflected with satisfaction on his performances and he is now focused on setting the bar even higher for next season.
He said: “I think it has probably been one of my most consistent seasons. I think I did well. I’m looking to build on everything next year and hopefully we will improve on the past season and finish further up the table.
“We’ve got some great players already signed back from last season and we’ve got a great new signing in Shane Duggan from Cork. I’ve been impressed with him over the last few years. I’m looking forward to the gaffer getting more players in.
“The main thing is for the club to build on this year and go and do better and improve further in 2014. That’s the aim.”
