I think we are all sad to read of Jimmy Cooneys death, a great career with Galway and later a referee. I think this website should just post a plain picture of him either hurling or refereeing - today should not be a reminder to his family about a basic mistake which he made in 1998 - today is about the man who hurled with club and county and was went on to referee all other games without the same attention as he got in 1998 -surely a simple photo from a team or of him in flow refereeing a game would be better than reminding all of one mistake he made in a game. Ime saying that as an Offaly man.

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1035 - 01/08/2023 15:37:52    2498385

Ah may Jimmy rest in peace. A great corner back and poor man got such a tough time over the 98srmi final. Hope he at peace and his family find some solace.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3687 - 01/08/2023 15:50:47    2498389

I agree with the original poster here. A different photograph, from a different occasion, would be far more fitting here.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2262 - 01/08/2023 16:07:36    2498393

Excellent post from the Offaly man.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1515 - 01/08/2023 16:09:02    2498394

RIP Jimmy. He was a tenacious hurler and we once played Sarsfields down in Galway in a match and Jimmy and the whole club were the height of gentlemen after the match was over.
He was hung out to dry by the GAA at a time when instead of shepherding him off the field, they just needed to have cool heads and clarify the time remaining and restart play. Instead, GAA authorities HUMILIATED the man.
He deserves an apology more than any other GAA figure. What have the GAA done in those 25 years to help referees out? Zero.
RIP to a gentleman and a Gael.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1144 - 01/08/2023 16:53:36    2498411

Rip,I agree Gaa totally scapegoated the man..I remember watching the man playing corner back for Galway,he was tough,tenacious and wasn't a bad hurler at all..sympathies to all his family and friends.

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2242 - 01/08/2023 17:01:20    2498420

RIP a genuine decent man.

2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 31 - 01/08/2023 17:31:45    2498430

R.I.P.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2144 - 01/08/2023 17:46:53    2498438

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1030 - 01/08/2023 15:37:52 2498385

Fairplayalways {Offaly) Allow me to congratulate you on the all-inclusive wording of your post, it speaks volumes about you as a person and I don't even know you, however your username fits your picture in you being an Offaly man.

This website as you put it was indeed a little insensitive to, not alone to Jimmy but to his family, Jimmy may have made a simple forgivable mistake which appeared to plague him from there on in, he is still waiting for the apology from the gaa that he never got.
Perhaps some one closer to Jimmy might post a more appropriate picture.

Rest in peace forever Jimmy Cooney.

Hearth felt sympathy to your Family and friends.

Ar dheis de go raibh a anam dilis.

Scallioneater (Carlow) - Posts: 293 - 01/08/2023 19:21:04    2498453

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1928 - 01/08/2023 20:47:26    2498475

Sad news, RIP.

I recall seeing an interview with him on tg4 I think, about the Offaly-Clare fiasco. Felt so sorry for him, you could tell he was still traumatised by the whole incident, even decades later.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 01/08/2023 20:47:31    2498476

RIP Jimmy Cooney. Great GAA man and sound man more importantly. Two time all star and part of the even rarer band of all Ireland winner at club and county. A tough corner back and good hurler too. Great man to get involved as an intercounty ref after wards too, not too many like that to play and ref at th highest level. If every a man was shafted by Croke Park and thrown to the wolves it was Jimmy Cooney. Was a very fair and respected ref, understood the game and way to talk to players. Thoughts go out the Cooney family who've had a lot of tragedy at their door lately with Jimmy's youbger brother Peter and mother also dying recently. A great hurling family, Jimmy, Joe, Joe Jr and Heather all Ireland winners. John and Kevin also on the hurling panel at present too and Jimmy and Joe's brother Brendan also played senior with galway too I think. RIP

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 271 - 01/08/2023 20:50:00    2498480

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1908 - 01/08/2023 21:57:10    2498489

Fully agree with original poster. RIP Jimmy

Trucker1 (Galway) - Posts: 375 - 01/08/2023 22:56:41    2498495

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1849 - 02/08/2023 02:21:37    2498504

I see they've changed the photograph. Thanks to them for taking on board the opinions expressed here.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 2262 - 02/08/2023 11:00:08    2498541

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 896 - 02/08/2023 11:32:24    2498554

Very sad news about Jimmy. He was an honourable honest good man. May he R.I.P.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2248 - 02/08/2023 11:56:40    2498568

Did he ever referee again, even in club games in Galway?

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1144 - 02/08/2023 16:15:59    2498687

May he rest in peace

Brandyh (Galway) - Posts: 25 - 02/08/2023 20:35:05    2498752