Geraghty, George
February 15, 2014A native of Ballintubber in Roscommon, Mr Geraghty played handball and football from an early age with the St Croan's club, later togging out with Athlone when he moved to the town in the mid-1970s while working with Roadstone. George Geraghty lined out in midfield and in the half forward line for Roscommon and is best remembered as a talented member of the county team who made it all the way to the All Ireland Final of 1962 against Kerry.
Not alone a gifted footballer, Mr Geraghty was a talented all-round athlete who turned his hand to many different sports with great distinction over the years. His love of sport, particularly, rugby and athletics, was nurtured in his secondary school days at the Cistercian College, Roscrea, where he excalled in the high jump.
In 1956, he won a silver medal in the high jump in the Leinster Colleges Senior Final and went on to claim gold in the the All-Ireland Colleges Senior Final last that year. George also won the All Ireland Colleges Senior 110 yards hurdles title that year, and represented Ireland in the 1956 World Student Games held in Lisbon, Portugal.
In 1957, he retained his All Ireland Colleges Senior high jump title, adding to it with the National Senior and Junior High jump crowns later that year. After leaving secondary school his athletics career more or less petered out, although he did compete in county finals and won high jump titles in Tipperary and Mayo. It was at this stage that his exploits on the football field came to the fore, having represented the county at minor level for the first time in 1956.
Just a year later, the teenager lined out for the Roscommon senior team playing his first competitive game in the National League game against the then reigning All Ireland football champions - Louth, a team which contained a number of footballing greats such as Stephen White, whom George spoke very highly of.
Later that year Roscommon played against a Galway side which included the great Mattie McDonagh, who held an All Ireland winners medal from 1956. On that occasion, according a newspaper report from the time George Geraghty outfielded Mattie, who was substituted during the game.
In 1958, the Ballintubber native played on the victorious Connaught Railway Cup team, lining out again for the province in 1959 and 1960. He added to his honours list again in 1961 when Roscommon claimed the Division 3 title of the National Football League.
The team went on to play against Kerry in the National Football League Semi-Final, which ended in a draw, although Roscommon later lost the replay.
During the summer of that year, the Athlone resident, who was known for his high fielding, was part of the fantastic Roscommon team who were crowned Connaught Senior Football Champions after beating Galway in the final. Roscommon were later beaten by a good Offaly team in the All Ireland semi final.
However, the following year in 1962, Roscommon went one better having completed a two-in-a-row in Connaught, again beating Galway in a final best remembered for a broken crossbar incident when goalie Aidan Brady, pulled down the crossbar as Roscommon trailed by five points. After a break, a Gerry O'Malley inspired Roscommon claimed victory going on to win the All Ireland semi final against Cavan in Croke Park.
George Geraghty lined out at right half forward in the All-Ireland Final of 1962 to take on a mighty Kerry team which included greats like Mick O'Connell and Mick O'Dwyer, who he actually marked on that historic occasion. Unfortunately, Roscommon got off to a bad start that day and while they steadied the ship in the second half it was not enough to beat a very strong Kerry side. He continued to play inter-county football with Roscommon until the late 1960s.
Having played with success in clubs in Dublin, Mayo and elsewhere in Roscommon, George won a Westmeath Senior Football Championship in 1973 with Athlone. His sons Shane and David also won Westmeath Senior Football Championships in 1991 and 1998 with Athlone, completing a quite rare father-son double for the club.
In 1978, he came out of retirement at the age of 40 to win an Roscommon Intermediate title with his native St Croan's club. He also claimed many rugby titles with various clubs over the year. "For all his achievements as an athlete he was a very modest man," a friend of Mr Geraghty said in tribute this week, adding that he will be sadly missed by many in the Retreat area where he lived and around Athlone for his sportsmanship, talent and as a great character who loved to talk about football and sport in general.
"He was a lovely man, very intelligent and a wonderful friend. He was a gentleman in every way," another friend of the Geraghty family stated this week, adding that he was also a very accomplished golfer and table tennis player in latter years. Aged 75, Mr Geraghty had been ill for some time. He passed away in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe on February 4 last.
After reposing at the Retreat Nursing Home, close to where he lived, his remains were removed to St Mary's Church, Athlone for Mass of the Resurrection last Thursday where a large crowd gathered to bid him farewell.
Members of Athlone GAA club, former Roscommon team mates and his old work colleagues in Roadstone formed a guard of honour at the church prior to the cortege leaving for St Coman's cemetery in Roscommon, where he was later laid to rest.
He is survived by his loving wife Marie, sons Shane, David and Nigel, brother Val, stepbrothers Brian and Philip, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends all over Ireland.
Westmeath Independent, 15th February 2014 Tweet
