Ray Niland, who died at his home in Adare, Co Limerick, last week at the age of 68, played corner back on the Mayo team that beat Down in the National Football League Final of 1970.
A versatile sportsman he played minor football and junior hurling for Westmeath in 1963. He was on Galway's U21 side for two years, won a Connacht club medal with Fr Griffin's and played with Castlebar Mitchels before lining out at corner back with the Mayo league side of 1968.
A forward of note in his minor days, he lined out at midfield, at centre back and at right fullback for Mayo. He was moved to left half back on the Connacht final winning team of 1969 and back to the corner for the semi-final against Kerry which Mayo lost narrowly.
Ray, who lived at Westport Quay until his early teens, spent some years in Athlone where his father established a branch of the family grocery business, and he played football with the Westmeath minor side beaten by Kerry in the All-Ireland final of 1963.
He was also a prominent member of the Patrician College, Ballyfin, hurling team that lost the All-Ireland Colleges SHC final to St. Finbarr's. That was in 1963 the same year he suffered his third All-Ireland disappointment when as a member of the Westmeath junior hurling team he scored three goals in the All-Ireland 'Home' final against Antrim but ended up on the losing side.
While studying medicine at UCG, he won Sigerson in his first year, beating UCC in the final. He played in four further finals and he also represented the college in the Fitzgibbon Cup.
Some years ago Ray featured in a story in The Mayo News written by Edwin McGreal when 36 years after winning his National League medal with Mayo, the jersey he wore that day was restored to him.
The jersey had been in the possession of Down's Jim Milligan who had swapped with Niland after the final and wanted to return it to his old adversary.
With the help of Mayo man Tom Cadden, Ballintubber's Tony O'Connor and The Mayo News, the shirt found its way back to the Mayo corner back who was then working as a consultant eye surgeon based in Limerick.
"I'm thrilled to get it back," he said. "The 1970 League win was probably the highlight of my career with Mayo and to receive this jersey, well the memories do come flooding back."
Throughout the league campaign of 1969/70, Ray's performances won praise from many corners of the country, and the Irish Independent selected him Sports Star of the Week for his outstanding display against Derry in the semi-final.
"Ray was a highly intelligent corner back, could foresee moves and was equally skilful with both feet," said Johnny Carey, captain of the winning league team. "He was also highly versatile having lined out at midfield and on the '40' on occasions."
Said Joe Earley, a member of the same winning league team: "Ray was a very smart corner back and a great tactician."
For some years Ray worked as consultant ophthalmic surgeon in Birmingham and at the Midland Eye Hospital UK, before moving to work at Limerick Regional Hospital.
He was married to Pat Ryan and they had four in family. Their son Conor played tennis professionally at Wimbledon and in the US, and daughter Gina is a former Irish number one tennis player.
His funeral took place on Saturday to Bohermore Cemetery in Galway after mass in Adare Church.

Mayo News, 29th October 2013 Tweet

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