Tom was a key part of Bally’s 1953 North Kerry victory

TOM Shanahan was a very active sportsman all his life and his love of Gaelic Football stemmed back to his childhood years, beginning at juvenile and minor but at that time any promising senior club player would have to make his progression from their performance in the Annual Parish League competition of the time.

So in the early part of the 1950s Tom came of age and proved to be a very sticky and promising half back as he would backbone the very strong and highly successful Ballyline side of those years, who featured in many a parish league.

Such was his ability and his strength that he progressed onto the Senior Panel and was a sub in the famous 1953 Bally Senior Team that defeated Ballydonoghue in the North Kerry Senior Football Final.

Alas that was to be the last Senior title for Bally as they did not win the title again until 1968, despite contesting several Semi Finals and Finals. But Tom still kept playing both Parish league and Senior for many years afterwards. When his football days came to an end, he still kept the love of the game at heart and would follow the club with a great passion. He always carried a great affinity for the late great Micheal O’Hehir RIP and was fascinated with the voice of the legend in both GAA and horse racing. So much so that on many occasions in which Tom would be called upon to give his party piece, he would hold his audience spellbound with his commentary of many an O’ Hehir football game commentaries.

He was also big into darts and during the 70s and 80s competed in many darts tournaments around neighbouring parishes, while he would be dangerous enough with getting high scores at the beginning of a game, it was in the finishing section of the game that he was lethal and if he had a chance to finish on any double at the bottom end of the board it certainly would come very easy to him.

He also kept very active and was part of the FCA Battalion in Listowel for many a year. His passing has created a huge loss for his family, relatives and also the wide circle of friends that he made all over those 86 years.