The Late Jimmy Conroy

Former Galway hurler Jimmy Conroy (77) - who suddenly passed away in his home in Nenagh in late November - was one of Galway's and the GAA's most passionate supporters.
Indeed, just a fortnight before his untimely passing, the father of four had attended the Galway senior hurling final between Portumna and Loughrea in Pearse Stadium. Such, though was his love of the game. This was no more underlined when he braved the elements in January of last year to witness Galway's first ever participation in a Leinster competition, in this case the Walsh Cup.
Jimmy's impact on the hurling world as a player, a mentor and an official has been profound. Hailing from Claregalway, he played schools' hurling for his native parish before he went on to win two Connacht senior colleges medals with St. Mary's College Galway.
His club performances at a young age in his beloved red jersey of Carnmore subsequently attracted the attention of the county selectors and Jimmy was selected on the Galway minor hurling team for three consecutive years- 1954, 1955 and 1956.
Consequently, it wasn't long until he made his debut with the Galway senior team and Jimmy realised his boyhood dream in 1958, when the corner forward was among the points scorers in the 0-13 to 0-7 victory over Kilkenny in the Oireachtas Cup semi-final, before he netted a crucial goal in the Tribesmen's 5-16 to 204 win over Wexford in the final at Semple Stadium, Thurles in October.
Indeed, Jimmy was also the fore in Galway's Oireachtas Cup campaign of '59 leading the all-star attack in a 3-10 to 3-6 semi-final victory over Cork in Pearse Stadium before submitting what was described by one as "a brilliant display" in the 6-6 to 5-8 defeat to the Cats in the final.
Alluding to his performance that day, the report in the Connacht Tribune read: 'Some of the things he did in the second has a master touch about them. In mind is a shot which he hit between the posts some thirty yards out, while on his knees and surrounded by two Kilkenny men. On numerous occasions he caused panic in the Kilkenny defence."
Unsurprisingly, then Jimmy was an automatic choice on the Galway hurling team from 1958-1968 when for the most part the county participated in the Munster senior championship, although he was part of the 1958 Galway panel that lost to Tipperary in the All-Ireland decider of that year.
During this time, the Claregalway native also joined An Garda Síochána and during his many postings he carried his well-honed skills, determination and boundless energy with him in helping local teams. He played with Whitegate- with which he won a county championship (1961) and Eire Og, Ennis, as well as lining out for the Clare Division of the force in competitions.
Between 1966 and '70, Jimmy hurled with Toomevara, where he was then stationed. Although he was subsequently transferred to Nenagh, Jimmy returned to play for his native Carnmore who he would also train in later life- and was part of the sides that lost county finals to Tommie Larkins and Ardrahan in 1971 and '75 respectively.
Upon the conclusion of his hurling career, Jimmy was called upon to referee club matches in Tipperary, where he now resided. Indeed he was often called upon to referee inter-county matches held in Nenagh.
Jimmy also became a member of Eire Og and he proved to be a very valuable asset as an administrator, team manager and selector. He was also one of the founders of the Eire Og Juvenile Committee. Its inaugural meeting was held on Nenagh CBS in 1982 and Jimmy was elected Vice Chairman with Bro. Pat Madigan as Chairman. Over the next three decades Jimmy would hold several different posts at the top table.
Although a marvellous administrator with tremendous attention to detail, it was as a team manager that Jimmy's true vocation was realised and he will be fondly remembered by the scores of youngster who he coached over the years. Indeed, Jimmy along with his kindred spirited cohorts and fellow selectors were to be part of an enormously successful period for Eire Og juveniles at U-12, U-14 and U-16 levels in both codes, hurling and football.
Jimmy was also a selector on the two in a row North Tipperary U-16 hurling teams that won Munster finals in 1989 and 1990. He was served as an officer with both North Tipperary Bord na nOg and County Tipperary Bord na nOg, for which he held the position of Secretary with the latter from 1995 to 1998.
In later years Jimmy - who operated a taxi service upon his retirement from the Gardai was elevated to an officer post int he senior club, a job which he applied himself to with his usual diligence and panche. A wise, shrewd and great judge of hurling, he was a manager and selector on many successfully minor and U-21 hurling teams.
One of his many proud moments was in 1985 when we brought the Dan Breen to Nenagh for the first time while one of his greatest disappointments was when he was a Tipperary minor hurling selector when the side lost to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final in 1991.
Another sporting highlight for Jimmy was when he helped to bring the Galway team with the Liam McCarthy Cup to Nenagh for a glorious celebration with a huge attendance in 1980.
On Sunday November 22, Jimmy Conroy was laid to rest in Lisboney, with hundreds of Gaels from Galway and Tipperary- and further afield turing out to pay their last respects.
Survived by his wife, Nuala, sons Derek and Tom and daughters Carmela and Breda, Jimmy is also sadly missed by his brother Tom, sons-in-law John and Willie, daughters-in-law Catherine and Sinead, adored grandchildren, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and a long line of friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.


January 8th 2010 Tweet

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