As far as backup goalkeepers or second choice keepers go, Caoimhin Kelleher of Liverpool is as good as they come. A reliable and safe pair of hands as the last line of defense, Kelleher has deputized brilliantly when needed.
Having joined Liverpool in 2015, Kelleher has had a steady rise to the Liverpool first-team. After the struggles of then deputy keeper Adrian for Liverpool, the 25 year-old took his place in the team. Kelleher made his debut for the Reds in 2019 and he has never looked back since.
After playing a starring role in Liverpool’s 2021/22 season’s Carabao Cup triumph especially in the Final against Chelsea where he made a string of fabulous saves and was imperious in the shootout, he became a mainstay in this Liverpool team and the chosen keeper for cup competitions. This year, Kelleher is enjoying a breakout season at Liverpool. Having deputized for the injured Alisson before, Caoimhin has been called up to do the same this campaign too. It’s fair to say, he hasn’t disappointed, with yet another stellar performance in the Carabao Cup Final against Chelsea, yet again.
With his name making the headlines, more is coming to be known about this young Irishman. About his struggles, his academy days and also his family. Recently a Liverpool fan, Shane Meener, posed a question to his followers as trivia on X (formerly Twitter), wondering if they knew a fellow professional footballer who has played in England for the whole of his career and whose younger brother plays for Liverpool.
While the pictorial clue he provided was more revealing than mysterious, it turns out the player in question is none other than Caoimhin Kelleher’s older brother, Fiacre Kelleher.
The brothers were born in a sports mad family to Raymond and Jacqueline Kelleher, their parents who were both PE teachers. In addition to Fiacre, Caoimhin has two other older brothers too and was the youngest of the four siblings. His older brothers Tim is a scratch golfer and Olan a talented sportsman making waves in Hurling, an Irish sport.
Fiacre is a 28 year-old centre-back, playing for Colchester United in the fourth tier of English football. While Caoimhin began his journey at Ringmahon, Fiacre had a far more successful start to his career, playing for Celtic’s youth teams before heading off to England where he couldn’t sustain his form and bounced from one club to another. He has played for the likes of Wrexham, Oxford United, Bradford and other lower tier teams of English football.
While Kelleher is now shining at Liverpool, injuries have somewhat hampered his brother Fiacre’s career. However, he is making a comeback at Colchester and who knows they might be playing against each other in the FA Cup or the Carabao.
The football-fanatic family has always been a source of support for their in-house athletes. As Caoimhin shared this little story about his family attending his debut for Liverpool back in 2019, “A few of my family were in the away end with the Liverpool fans. My mum, my sister, my brother and my girlfriend all came over to watch the game and support me, which was really nice. I didn’t see them in the stand when I was on the pitch, but I saw them all after the game and we were all quite speechless, to be honest.”
It is still something to admire that both brothers, who were inclined towards football, are doing what they love. While the range of success may differ, their family must be proud of their boys, living their dream, and reaching the level there are at.
