A hurling legend, but a family man first and foremost

AT FIRST I was somewhat sceptical when I saw that a book has been published on the late Galway hurler Tony Keady, who died suddenly at the age of 53 last August. Surely there’s not somebody out there intent on cashing in on such a sad occurrence? That was my initial thought, but those fears were allayed in the introduction to ‘One hundred and ten per cent legend - Tony Keady - The Official Biography’ by former Meath footballer Liam Hayes.

It turns out that, in the early weeks of his last year on earth, the former star Galway hurling centre-back had approached the author with a request to write his life story.

Hayes had put the project on the back burner due to other publishing commitments, but it became a priority when it transpired that Keady’s grieving family wanted to see the project brought to fruition.

The finished product is a poignant look back at the playing career and day-to-day dealings of a very popular figure in the hurling world who is survived by his wife, Margaret, and four young children.

The book starts on an arresting note as we are brought back to the days and hours leading up to his sudden death.

Galway had pipped Tipperary by one point to qualify for the All-Ireland final, and life was good for Keady and his family as they looked forward to the first Sunday in September and a clash with Waterford.

Alas, their All-Ireland winning number 6 of 1987 and 1988 wasn’t there to witness it, although he was foremost in everyone’s thoughts, especially when Joe Canning stood with Keady’s daughter, Shannon, on the field while the rest of his colleagues went up the

Hogan Stand steps to accept the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Given his prowess as a player, it’s worth recalling that Keady’s inter-county career was relatively short by the general timelines of his era.

His first big game was the All-Ireland semi-final of 1985 when he went hip-to-hip with Cork veteran Tim Crowley on a very wet day and shot to prominence in a surprise Galway success.

His last journey to Croke Park with the squad was a mere eight years later, and it was a sad ending to his career as manager Jarlath Cloonan didn’t include him in the official substitutes for a victory over Tipperary at the same stage of the championship.

When he was called to one side that morning and told that he was being ‘shortlisted’, Keady had never heard the term before in a sporting context and was confused.

He was too proud to ask for clarification, so he togged out in boots, socks and shorts but wasn’t given a jersey, sitting in the dug-out with only a jacket to preserve his dignity.

It was no way for the career of the 1988 hurler of the year to end, and we certainly didn’t see enough of him given that he missed the following campaign after being suspended for twelve months for playing illegally in New York.

That thorny issue is explored in some detail, along with every aspect of Keady’s career, but the best parts of this book actually have nothing to do with hurling.

Above everything else, it’s abundantly clear that the Killimordaly clubman was a loving husband and a devoted father to Shannon, Anthony, Harry and Jake.

Their tributes to the dearly-missed man of the house at the back of the book are touching, and they will no doubt be delighted his life story is now in print as it’s a fitting memorial to a much-loved giant. ALAN AHERNE

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