Sad to report the death of Offaly football great Tommy Cullen. We do not use the title great lightly when talking about the Edenderry maestro and it is no coincidence that Tommy Cullen was involved when football in the Faithful was at its peak.

This morning Tommy was laid to rest in his beloved east Offaly soil. We repeat a fine obituary worded by another of Tommy Cullen's great loves, Edenderry GAA.

By Edenderry GAA

It is with deep sadness the club learned of the sad passing of former Edenderry and Offaly footballer and hurler Tommy Cullen (81).

Tommy was highly regarded as one of Edenderry's finest and toughest ever footballers and in 2011 he was named at left half forward on Edenderry's 'Best 15' as voted for by supporters alongside his son Finbarr who was named at centre back.

While still a minor, Tommy won a senior county medal in 1957 as Edenderry beat Clara while also playing for Offaly minors in both the Leinster football and hurling finals that year.

Offaly 1960 Leinster SFC winners. Front l-r: Frank Higgins, Mick Brady, Willie Nolan, Tommy Greene, Donie Hanlon, Sean Brereton, Harry Donnelly, Larry Fox, Tommy Cullen. Back l-r: Peter Daly, Patsy Hughes, John Egan, Greg Hughes, Paddy McCormack, Peter Carey, Phil O'Reilly, Mick Casey, Charlie Wrenn, Sean Ryan, Sean Foran

It is sixty three years to the day (6/10/57) since Tommy made his debut in the green white and gold of Offaly as he played in the National League vs Louth wearing the number 15 jersey at just 18 years old. The following May, 1958, Tommy made his championship debut in a 7-8 2-5 victory over neighbours Laois which was followed up by a memorable one point victory over Kildare 2-9 2-8 before losing out to Louth.

The infamous Offaly breakthrough came in 1960 when Offaly won their first ever Leinster championship and Tommy starred at full forward in the semi final victory over Dublin 3-9 0-9. Following a Leinster final win over Louth, Offaly faced off against Down and it took a replay to separate the sides, but unfortunately it was Down's day as they went on to win Sam Maguire beating Kerry in the final.

The following year Offaly did go one better as they beat Roscommon in the All-Ireland semi final but once again they were thwarted by Down and cruelly lost the All-Ireland final by one point, 2-8 3-6.

He continued to line out for Offaly until June 1968 and in total he represented the Faithful county on 58 occasions, 23 times in the championship and 35 times in the league.

Back at the club scene, Tommy played a role in Edenderry's rise to the senior ranks of Offaly hurling as they captured the junior championship in 1962 and the intermediate championship the following year in 1963.

The Offaly team that took on Roscommon in the 1961 All Ireland SFC semi final. Front l-r: Sean Brereton, Charlie Wrenn, Harry Donnelly, Willie Nolan, John Egan, Mick Brady, Tommy Greene. Back l-r: Greg Hughes, Peter Daly, Paddy McCormack, Mick Casey, Phil O'Reilly, Donie Hanlon, Sean Ryan, Tommy Cullen.

Following his retirement from the game Tommy stayed involved in many different capacities over the years serving both the club committee and as selector on many teams, including the 1985 senior football team that bridged a twenty eight year gap since the 1957 victory that Tommy played in.

Thankfully for Edenderry GAA Tommy passed on his sporting prowess to his children with his son Finbarr highly regarded as one of if not Edenderry's greatest ever player, capturing four senior football medals (one as captain) as well as captaining Offaly to Leinster glory in 1997, a National league title in 1998 and representing Ireland in the International rules series vs Australia. Following in her father and older brothers footsteps, Orla was also an inspirational leader in her time playing for the reds and captained Edenderry to a senior football title in 2010 as well as a Leinster title, the only team in the club history to do so.

Everyone at Edenderry GAA extends their deepest sympathy to the Cullen family on Tommy's passing, his loving wife Mary, sons Pat, Finbarr and Thomas, daughters Neasa, Orla and Siobhan.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm dilis. 

 

Tweet

Most Read Stories