Thousands mourn hurler Tony Keady
Darragh Small THE Tipperary team which battled for All-Ireland glory with Galway in the late 1980s were among thousands of mourners who yesterday paid respect to Tony Keady.
An estimated 15,000 mourners filed past the coffin and expressed sympathy to the family of the former Hurler of the Year who died last Wednesday night after he suffered a sudden illness.
Team manager Michael ‘Babs’ Keating led his Tipperary squad, who travelled to Oranmore to pay their respects to a hurler they had battled against in a gripping and often compelling rivalry.
Galway won their second All-Ireland title in a row in 1988 — and only their fourth in history.
The Tipperary squad were greeted on arrival by an emotional Cyril Farrell, who was the Galway manager in the 1980s, along with former Galway hurlers Sylvie Linnane, Brendan Lynskey, Steve Mahon and Martin Naughton.
Mr Keady (53) worked as a caretaker at Calasanctius College in the village. He died last Wednesday night after becoming seriously ill at his home at Frenchfort in Oranmore in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, daughter Shannon (15), sons Anthony (13) and twins Jake and Harry (11).