Sports
Sad passing of Galway hurling legend Tony Keady
GALWAY hurling and the greater community – sporting and otherwise – are in a state of shock following the passing of former hurling legend and double All-Ireland senior winner, Tony Keady at Galway University Hospital last night (Wednesday).
Earlier in the week, Tony, who lived and worked in Oranmore, had suffered a suspected heart attack, leading to a bedside vigil by his loving family and numerous friends.
On Wednesday evening, a special mass was said to pray for Tony’s recovery at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Oranmore, which was attended by hundreds of people, including former team-mates at club and county level and a number of members from the current Galway senior squad.
Aged just 53 years, the father of four had appeared to be in good health recently. He been very active on the local GAA circuit, coaching in his adopted Oranmore while he was also part of Ahascragh/Fohenagh’s senior hurling management set-up this year.
A native of Killimordaly, whose senior hurlers he had managed in 2016, Tony lined out at centre-half back on the Galway senior hurling team that won back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 1987 and ’88.
Indeed, his exploits in ’88 secured him his second All-Star award while he also became only the third Galway man ever to pick up the ‘Hurler of the Year’ accolade after Joe Connolly (1980) and Joe Cooney (1987).
It is generally considered that Galway would possibly have completed the three-in-a-row of Liam McCarthy Cup wins in 1989, had not the talented defender been suspended for playing in the United States without permission earlier in the Summer.
Many felt Tony had unfairly been made an example of but, in any event, it was Galway’s fate to lose that year’s semi-final to eventual All-Ireland champions Tipperary.
A larger than life figure, with a rapier wit, Tony, who was in Croke Park last Sunday to witness the Tribesmen’s win over Tipperary in an epic All-Ireland semi-final, was a very popular character both in Galway and across the country.
In addition to his love of hurling, Tony was also a keen golfer, supporting many of the clubs Am Am fundraisers that took place around the county and country.
Residing in Frenchfort in Oranmore, where he worked as caretaker in Calasanctius College, Tony had been involved in coaching hurling in the local secondary school.
Indeed, among the many to pay tribute to Tony has been Oranmore GAA Club, which praised Tony for the work he did at the college and the club.
“In recent years, he became involved in the club as his children grew and [he] was a constant sight at the pitches in Oranmore and Maree and, indeed, all over the county.
“Tony will be remembered for his hurling ability but anyone who knew him will remember his personality, his laugh and his smile,” concluded the club statement.
Tony is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Shannon and sons Anthony, Jake and Harry along with his extended family and a long line of friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé!
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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