GOODBYE TO A GAA ICON
Hundreds turn out to honour the legendary Liam Leech
GAA greats from down the years turned out in Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Sunday to express a poignant farewell to one of Louth’s best ever players, Liam Leech.
One of just four players to have won nine senior championship medals, Liam (pictured) was regarded as one of the finest exponents of the game in the country.
A hero of the Newtown Blues in their all conquering campaign in the 1960s, Liam played senior football for two decades, lining out with Louth and Leinster.
‘So many looked up to him and he brought great joy and happiness,’ Fr Barry Matthews told a packed congregation.
‘He was a great example to young people and had a God given skill, both on and off the pitch.’
As well as Blues stars down the years, many who played against and with Liam attended, including Kevin Beahan, Joe Carroll and Frank Lynch amongst dozens of others.
A player who could kick with both feet, he was regarded as an exceptional talent and a man who could have won a number of All-Irelands with any other county. But he was a true Louth man and began his career in the red and green of Lourdes Rangers, where Fr Kevin Connolly would be such a big influence.
As a teenager, he joined the Newtown Blues in 1956 and for over 20 years, hardly missed a game. He also became a respected coach and was a top golfer
LOUTH football lost one of its greatest ever players last week with the death of Liam Leech.
He was acclaimed as one of the best players ever to lace up a pair of boots and his popularity was very evident in the huge crowds that turned out to say farewell to the 81 year old.
A player who could kick with both feet, he was regarded as an exceptional talent and a man who could have won a number of All-Irelands with any other county.
But he was a true Louth man and began his career in the red and green of Lourdes Rangers, where Fr Kevin Connolly would be such a big influence.
As a teenager, he joined the Newtown Blues in 1956 and for over 20 years, hardly missed a game.
For the first time in the club’s history the Blues annexed the junior championship in 1958, when the likes of Liam, Matt Murphy, Peter Judge, John McCormack, Oliver judge, Frank Murphy, Frank Fagan, Eamonn Burgess, and Jacko Smith were involved.
His first senior championship game was in 1959, but it was in 1961 that the Blues truly began to dominate.
He played that day and went on to win nine SFC medals, alongside Jim ‘Blackie’ Judge, Jimmy Mulroy and Matt Murphy, in 1961, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 69, 70 and 1974.
The CBS field would be their heaven, true giants of men learning the ropes from dedicated coaches and becoming the ultimate unit.
There were numerous tales told about those magical years, Liam’s eldest brother, Paddy, captain of the Blues when they won 4 in a row in a 1964 replay against the Clans.
Another brother, Mickey, who would later captain the Blues, was the star man as the O’Raghallaigh’s shocked their town neighbours in the 1965 final.
Liam would get the ultimate honour of skippering the side in their 1966 triumph.
Liam was also Louth’s star man and he top scored for the county in 1962, 64, 65 and 66.
An exceptional free taker, Liam also gained Railway Cup honours and his fitness told as his career went on and on, indeed, he got a chance to win an historic 10th senior title in 1977, but Cooley beat them in the final. That same year he was named Louth’s Player of the Year, accepting the Gorman Trophy.
In 1981, he lined out in midfield when the Blues lost to Kilkerley in the Junior 2 FC final.
As well as being a player, he took up a coaching role and went on to work with Louth under Jimmy Mulroy and Joe Carroll.
In 1985, he was with Aidan Connor when they guided the Dreadnots to the Old Gaels Cup for the first time in seven years.
He was the sublime sportsman in many ways and outside of GAA, was a noted runner. Fr Kevin Connolly had spotted his talent as a youngster and he was once the Louth mile champion.
He was a 2 handicapper in golf and played table tennis in the spark plug club on Narrow West Street.
Liam worked as a breadman for years and that made sure he was always a popular member of the wider community.
Last Sunday, GAA stars down the decades turned out in Our Lady of Lourdes Church on to express a poignant farewell to Liam.
‘So many looked up to him and he brought great joy and happiness,’ Fr Barry Matthews told a packed congregation.
‘He was a great example to young people and had a God given skill, both on and off the pitch.’
As well as Blues stars down the years, many who played against and with Liam attended, including Kevin Beahan, Joe Carroll and Frank Lynch amongst dozens of others.
Fr Barry likened him to St John Bosco, both men loved sport and community.
Liam, of Harmony Heights, and formerly of Beechgrove and beloved husband of the late Yvonne is sadly missed by his loving brothers Joey and Michael, sisters Gertrude and Maeve, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
As the mass ended, the velvet and haunting tones of Timmy Regan echoed out around the church, guiding one of the greatest home to Yvonne and his eternal reward.