Death of Galway goalkeeping legend Sean Duggan

One of the finest Galway hurlers never to have won an All-Ireland medal passed away yesterday when former inter-county goalkeeper Seanie Duggan (90) died peacefully at Merlin Park Hospital in the city.

Duggan represented the county with distinction during a ten year senior inter-county career which saw him win a Railway Cup medal with Connacht in 1947 and a National Hurling League title four years later.

The former Liam Mellows goalkeeper played for Galway from 1943 to 1953, at a time when the Tribesmen had no provincial campaign and used to go straight into the All-Ireland semi-finals.

He was also a really well-known figure in the city and was a daily year-round swimmer at Blackrock in Salthill for over 40 years until he took ill earlier this year.

Playing in a team which included his younger brother Jimmy, he won a National Hurling League medal when Galway defeated Wexford and New York to take the title in 1951.

Two years later, the Tribesmen shocked Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final, before losing a controversial final to a Christy Ring inspired Cork on a scoreline of 3-3 to 0-8. Jimmy played at right half forward in that final and another brother, Paddy, came on as a sub. Their sister, Monica, was also a famous camogie player.

Considered among the top goalkeepers of the 1940s and early 1950s, Duggan also won five county senior titles with the Liam Mellows club during a 14-year club hurling career between 1939 and 1953.

He was selected on the Galway Team of the Millennium by a panel of local sports journalists in 2000 and was inducted in the GAA Hall of Fame in 2002.

Seanie was a very popular recipient of an honorary degree, along with younger brother Jimmy, from NUI Galway in October 2008.

Seanie turned 90 last November. He never missed a daily swim at Blackrock in 40 years, until he took ill a few months ago.

The Mayor of Galway, Padraig Conneely, said he was very saddened to hear of Seanie’s death yesterday. Mayor Conneely was delighted to name the city’s new coach station in Seanie’s honour during his previous term as Mayor in 2009.

“I had the privilege of knowing him for most of my life,” said Mayor Conneely yesterday. “His passing will be mourned, not just in Galway but all across the country. He was an outstanding sportsman and goalkeeper, yet he had no airs and graces about him and was a very humble man.”

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.