Hurling legends come together to support family of fallen hero

Tony Keady’s All-Ireland winning team-mates have come together once again, to support his family after the All-Star hurler’s tragic and untimely death.

The stars of that Galway hurling panel of 1987/88 this week launched a fundraising page to help Tony’s young family into the future.

It comes on the eve of this year’s All-Ireland – as the current men in maroon attempt to bridge that gap back to that iconic squad of almost 30 years ago.

Tony Keady was at the core of that success – but his death at the age of just 53 has been a devastating blow for his wife Margaret and his young family, daughter Shannon (16) sons Anthony (13) and twins Jake and Harry (11).

This week a group of his fellow legends – including Conor Hayes, Peter Murphy, Pierce Piggott, Gerry McInerney, Pat Malone and Michael McGrath – were first to lend their weight to the project.

“Tony’s colleagues from the 1987/88 panels have set up this fundraising page for Tony’s young Family for their education and livelihood so that his family is give every chance in life as their dad Tony would have wanted for them,” said a spokesman for the squad.

The lionhearted centre-back was among the Galway faithful at the county’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Tipp – but he was to suffer a heart attack a day later, and died at Galway University Hospital that Wednesday night.

You will find all details on https://www.gofundme.com/tony-keady-family-fund/donate

See full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.