Charlie Nelligan (born 1957 in Castleisland, County Kerry) is an Irish former sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Castleisland Desmonds and at senior level for the Kerry county team between 1974 and 1991. He also played association football with Home Farm in Dublin and with the Irish amateur team.
Playing career
Club
Nelligan played for his local Castleisland Desmonds club. He won a number of county club championship titles with Castleisland throughout the 1980s and 1990s. These victories allowed the club to represent the county in the provincial club championship. A 2–6 to 0–9 defeat of the St Finbarr's club gave Nelligan a Munster club winners' medal. He later lined out in Croke Park for the All-Ireland final against St Vincents of Dublin. In one of the most dramatic endings ever a fifty-eighth-minute goal gave Castleisland a 2–2 to 0–7 victory. The win gave Nelligan an All-Ireland club winners' medal.
Nelligan collected a second consecutive Munster club winners' medal in 1985 as St Finbarr's were defeated for a second consecutive year. Castleisland later qualified for another All-Ireland final. This time Burren provided the opposition and the game was another close affair. A second-half goal secured the title for Burran as Nelligan's side were defeated by 1–10 to 1–6.
He also played hurling with St Patrick's and won a Kerry Intermediate Hurling Championship with them in 1983.
Minor and under-21
Nelli first came to prominence on the inter-county scene in the 1970s as goalkeeper on the Kerry minor football team. He won a Munster title at this level in 1975 following a 3–7 to 1–11 defeat pf Cork. Kerry later qualified for the All-Ireland final, with Tyrone providing the opposition. Kerry had an easy 1–10 to 0–4 win on that occasion, giving Nelligan an All-Ireland winners' medal.
That same year Nelligan was also the goalkeeper on the Kerry under-21 football team. He captured a Munster title in that grade that same year following a nine-point trouncing of Waterford. Nelligan's side later qualified for the All-Ireland final with Dublin providing the opposition. A 1–15 to 0–10 score line gave Kerry the victory and gave Nelligan an All-Ireland under-21 winners' medal.
In 1976 Nelligan made it two Munster under-21 titles in-a-row as Kerry retained their provincial crown at the expense of Cork. He later lined out in a second All-Ireland final. Kildare provided the oppsoution on that occasion; however, they were no match for Kerry. Nelligan collected a second All-Ireland winners' medal following a 0–14 to 1–3 victory.
Nelligan captured a third provincial under-21 title in 1977 following a two-goal defeat of Cork. Kerry later qualified for a third consecutive All-Ireland final with Down providing the opposition. A 1–11 to 1–5 score line gave Kerry the victory and gave Nelligan a third All-Ireland under-21 winners' medal.
In 1978 Nelligan made it four-in-a-row in Munster as Kerry retained their under-21 provincial crown at the expense of Cork again. He later lined out in a fourth consecutive All-Ireland final. Roscommon provided the opposition on that occasion; however, a close game developed. At the final whistle Kerry were defeated narrowly by 1–9 to 1–8.
Senior
Nelligan made his senior inter-county debut with Kerry in the 1976 All-Ireland final. He came on as a substitute as both sides were hoping for success; however, new 'Dub' Kevin Moran was causing havoc with the Kerry defence. Jimmy Keaveney converted a penalty to help Dublin to a 3–8 to 0–10 victory and defeat for Kerry.
Two years later in 1978 Nelligan became the first-choice goalkeeper as Kerry faced little competition in the provincial championship once again. A defeat of Cork gave Liston a Munster winners'. Kerry later qualified for a third All-Ireland final in four years, with Nelligan playing in his second championship decider. Old rivals Dublin provided the opposition; however, the game turned into a rout. The game is chiefly remembered for Mikey Sheehy's sensational goal. The Kerry forward lobbed the ball over the head of Paddy Cullen, who was caught off his line arguing with the referee. Eoin Liston announced his arrival on the inter-county scene and scored a hat-trick of goals. Pat Spillane played all over the field, including goalkeeper after Nelligan was sent off. At the full-time whistle Kerry were the winners by 5–11 to 0–9.