PATRICK Kelly did not make a name for himself on Monday evening in quite the same spectacular way as his Barnsley team-mate Reyes Cleary did at Valley Parade last autumn.

It still has the potential to be a career-changing moment for the Northern Irishman - a more humble and grounded young footballer you could not possibly wish to meet.

Kelly’s first senior goal for his country was something he will never forget.

On an evening in Lille when he shared the stage with two of the planet's most famous footballing names—Kylian Mbappe and Ousman Dembele - the Portstewart-born midfielder scored against World Cup-bound France in just his second start for Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland's Patrick Kelly (C) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the international friendly football match between France and Northern Ireland at the Decathlon Arena - Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)

placeholder image — Northern Ireland's Patrick Kelly (C) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the international friendly football match between France and Northern Ireland at the Decathlon Arena - Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)

Kelly, who came close with a first-half opportunity, finished off a smart counter-attacking move in the 64th minute involving former Sheffield Wednesday loanee Shea Charles.

It was a night when those in green earned immense credit, albeit in a 3-1 friendly loss in Didier Deschamps' final match in charge on French soil. Not more so than Kelly, whose goal crowned a ‘brilliant year’ according to his manager Michael O'Neill.

He has proved to be a respected authority, particularly regarding young players, during his time at the helm at Windsor Park.

In the process, the performance of Kelly - who spent a previous spell in Yorkshire on loan at Doncaster Rovers - against such exalted opponents is likely to have marked the card of clubs back in England for sure.

Barnsley and Northern Ireland midfielder Patrick Kelly, who scored his first senior goal for his country against France. Photo: Tony Johnson.

Barnsley are in a strong enough position regarding the 21-year-old, who has two years of his Oakwell deal still to run, with the option of a further year in the club’s favour.

They have a potential gem on their hands and many who know him well have derived much pleasure from his showing against Les Bleus.

Former Reds head coach Conor Hourihane, no mean midfielder himself, will figure prominently among that number.

Another who got plenty out of him at Doncaster in Grant McCann, who had been keen on bringing him back to Rovers last summer, will be another. Both were no mean operators in the middle of the park in their playing days.

Neither was his mentor at former club West Ham in the shape of Mark Noble.

As O’Neill sagely said, it was the cherry on the cake for Kelly, whose energy and endeavour were showcased on an international stage.

Asked in the spring about where he feels his game came on in 2025-26, Kelly told The Yorkshire Post: "A few things really. Decision-making and knowing when to try and drive with the ball and then when to release it (is one).

"I feel like I built good relationships on the pitch this season, which has been easy to do with playing more frequently and I’ve enjoyed playing down the left with Reyes (Cleary) and playing in midfield with Luca (Connell).

"Probably that side of the game has improved massively. Even defensively off the ball as well and it's just knowing where to be and stuff and that kind of comes with playing lots of games.

"I still have loads of things to improve on, but I've been happy."

Those happy back home after his exploits in France will have included his proud family and those watching at the Portstewart Arms on the County Londonderry coast. His father runs the hostelry.

The seaside town is better known for golf. Graeme McDowell is from nearby Portrush, also the home club of Darren Clarke.

But the feats of Kelly - also a golf fan unsurprisingly, look like adding to the sporting success stories.

He added: "My family will be really proud. Unfortunately none of them were here but my dad owns the bar in Portstewart called the Portstewart Arms. I think the match was on and all my family and friends were there and they all celebrated.

"It means everything. I have been working towards something like that my whole life.

"It was a big thing for me getting in the squad not long ago and ticking off my first start in the last camp against Wales and then getting another start versus France and taking it step by step.

"Another thing I’ve been working towards is getting my first goal and I now have that."

The only grumble from Kelly is that he didn't find the net in the first half. His disappointment was relative, that said.

His journey to prominence is a touch old school.

He may have belatedly earned his chance at West Ham as a teenager, but plenty went on before that.

Kelly cut his teeth at Coleraine while completing his A-levels. Instead of the comparatively safe environment of academy football, he was fighting for something against men at the sharp end of the NIFL Premiership, the highest level of the Northern Ireland Football League.

It toughened up Kelly, who made his debut before his 17th birthday - and he wouldn’t have had it any other way. His reward came on Monday.