Death of Galway football great Noel Tierney
November 12, 2024
The Galway team that defeated Meath in the 1966 All Ireland SFC final at Croke Park. The late Noel Tierney is second from left in the back row.
The death has taken place of legendary Galway footballer Noel Tierney at the age of 82.
Regarded as one of the greatest full backs ever to play the game, the Milltown clubman was a cornerstone of the famous Galway All-Ireland SFC three-in-a-row winning team of the mid-1960s. As well as winning the Sam Maguire in 1964, ’65 and ’66, Noel won five Connacht SFC medals, a National League title in 1969 and two Railway Cups with Connacht, including one as captain in 1969.
In addition, he garnered an All-Ireland MFC medal at the start of his inter-county career in 1960. Tierney was also named Texaco/Caltex Footballer of the Year in 1964 at the age of 22, the highest individual accolade in the game before the All-Stars scheme was introduced in 1971.
Poignantly, his passing comes just a week after an event took place in Milltown to celebrate his achievements for club and county. Among those in attendance were current Galway midfielder and 2024 Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy.
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