At a meeting of the Fr Griffin Football Club a vote of sympathy was passed to the relatives and friends of Frank Heaney who died recently in New York - one of the best all-rounders Galway sport has ever produced. Ruacán, as he was known to everyone, started his career as a footballer and hurler with the Fr. Griffin nursery, the great St. Augustine's. He was a prominent member of the team which captured the County juvenile titles in 1959 and 1960 and also figured on the side which reached the hurling decider in 1959 and were defeated by the narrowest of margins by Kilmacduagh who were later disqualified for fielding an illegal team. Having graduated to minor ranks the entire panel was again to the fore in 1961 and this time they made their own bit of history by capturing the elusive double. Frank captained the football champions and some weeks later was again a key figure on the hurling side which brought honour and glory to the city. 1962 turned out to be a year of mixed fortunes for St. Augustines. Having won out in the West they reached both county finals but went under to Corofin in the football decider. They made amends however, by winning the hurling title and the headline in the Connacht Tribune that week read as follows: "It was Heaney's Greatest Hour". Another outstanding performance from the lad from Woodquay. Frank was drafted into the Fr. Griffin senior team in 1961 and captained the side that brought the West Board senior crowd to the club for the first time ever. He played his last game for the city side on the 3rd February, 1967 when they accounted for Moycullen in the Winter League final. A couple of months later he emigrated to New York. As well as being an accomplished footballer and hurler with Fr. Griffin's and Liam Mellows, Frank won an All-Ireland Junior Championship medal with Galway in 1965 and played for the Connacht hurlers against Munster in 1966. He was also a talented boxer and won an All-Ireland Junior Heavyweight title also in 1966. The end came on March 2nd for a great sportsman and a wonderful friend. His popularity knew no bounds and this was evident at his Memorial Mass last Saturday in the Abbey when huge crowds turned out to pay their last respects to a friend they cherished. It was wonderful to meet again many of his playing colleagues from the St. Augustine era. - May the Lord give him Peace and Rest March 2002 Tweet

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