The outstanding full back on Galway’s famed 1960's three-in-a-row side still commands a special place in the hearts of the Tribesmen
The outstanding full back on Galway’s famed three-in-a-row side of the ‘60s still commands a special place in the hearts of the Tribesmen
We’re in the community centre in my hometown at the start of winter in north county Galway, eight kilometres from the Mayo border. The village is Milltown – but for people of a certain vintage, this will always be ‘Noel Tierney country’. As well as his neighbours and fello club men and women, he is joined by many of his three-in-a-row team-mates. They are ushered to the top of the hall where seats are reserved for them, and while they walk among us they still give the impression of men apart. Straight-backed, well-dressed, broad-shouldered. These are men who for 60 years have worn the mantle of heroism lightly – Jimmy Duggan, Colie, Mick Garrett, the Keenans, Tom Sands, Tyrell and Sean Cleary, our own Tommy Brennan.
The crowd cheers involuntarily as Tierney rises into the air and comes out with the ball time and again, and all of a sudden we could be back in the 1960s in the old cinema in the village watching Pathé newsreels before the main feature. Noel’s old team-mate Bosco McDermott, 89 years old, stands up to make a short speech with no notes. He talks about how the three-in-a-row team wasn’t just made up of the individuals in the front row, it was also a county-wide endeavour. Whether by car, by train, or by bicycle, the Galway fans showed up.Then he looks Noel in the eye, talks about what he says when people ask him what it was like to play beside Tierney.
The same words repeated, said out loud for all to hear – we love you, and you have always been our hero. The speakers are finished, the gifts are handed out and the event dissolves into happy chatter.The voice comes again from the stage.
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