We extend the sympathy of St. Patricks GAA Club to Collette, Nicola, Eoin and Brian, to Liam’s mother Breda, to his sisters Kathleen and Eileen, and brothers Michael and Eamon and all his relatives and friends.
Liam enjoyed a distinguished career both on and off the field of play with St. Patricks playing in 5 South Tipperary Junior Football Finals in 1985, 86, 87, 1990 and 1991 with victories in 1986 and 1991 when Liam also helped St. Patricks to victory in the Co Tipperary Junior Football Final. Liam was also a distinguished hurler winning a South Tipp Junior final in 1991 and helping a Ballingarry/St. Patrick’s combination to reach a South Under 21 Final in 1985.
In 1982 Liam played at full-back for St. Patricks who were victorious over Éire Óg in the South Tipperary under 17 football final. Éire Óg was a Mullinahone-Killenaule combination which included some of Liam’s future in laws. Liam also helped St. Patricks to victory in the O’Donnell Cup Finals of 1985 and 1986 which perhaps were the launching pad for later successes in the Championship. Liam was in his usual number 4 jersey when St. Patricks defeated Inane Rovers in the Co. Football League final of 1989. Liam also added a South Tipperary Senior Football medal to his collection when a St. Patricks/Grangemockler combination defeated a star studded Clonmel Commercials side in the South Tipperary final of 1990.
Liam also made a significant contribution towards helping the younger generation of players
by taking on the role of selector, trainer and manager of several St. Patricks teams. During this time Liam’s mother Breda and later his wife Collette took on the task of washing the St. Patricks jerseys and it was not unusual to see the Black and Amber jerseys on a clothes line a few hundred yards inside the parish of Mullinahone. Among his successes as a mentor was the St. Patricks victory in the South Tipperary Minor B football final of 1989.
As a mark of respect Liam’s coffin was draped in the Black and Amber of St. Patricks and on arrival in Fethard Street Mullinahone Liam’s funeral was met by a Guard of Honour of players from the victorious St. Patricks Junior hurling teams of 1963, 1991, 2005, 2010, 2014 and 2015 and from the victorious Football teams of 1963, 1967, 1986, 1991, 1995 and 2005. Liam’s coffin was carried to the church by representatives of the 1986 and 1991 victorious football and hurling teams.
Liam’s daughter Nicola has maintained the family name on the football field by starring in the Green and Red of Mullinahone and the Blue and Gold of Tipperary when she captained the Co. Tipperary Under 14 Ladies Footballers to All-Ireland victory a few months ago. Eoin and Brian are also prominent members of Mullinahone under age teams and Eoin was badly missed by Mullinahone a few months ago when St. Patricks defeated Mullinahone in the South Tipperary under 12 hurling semi final while Eoin was away on holidays. Some of the wiser pundits suggest that Eoin’s presence might have made a difference in that game.
Of course Collette was a noted club and Co footballer herself making a name for herself in both Tipperary and Wexford in her day. This was no surprise as she came from a very prominent football family who won several honours including the Munster Minor Football medal won by her brother Seán Brett in 1984.
As a mark of respect our Junior Hurling Co Quarter Final was postponed to 4.00pm on the day of the funeral and our under 6, 8 and 10 games were postponed to a later date.
Ni bheidh a leithead aris ann. Ar Dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.
