GALWAY FOOTBALL GREAT Noel Tierney has died at the age of 82.
Tierney won three senior All-Irelands in-a-row from 1964 to 1966, and was crowned Texaco/Caltex Footballer of the Year in ’64, aged 22.
The Milltown full-back also won a minor All-Ireland medal (1960), a National League title (1965), five Connacht championships, and two Railway Cups with Connacht. He captained his province to glory in 1969.
Tierney helped Milltown to their first-ever county championship win in 1971.
Just last week, he was honoured at a tribute event. 2024 Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy was among those present:
Tributes are being paid this morning to legendary Galway fullback & 3-in-a-row winner Noel Tierney, who has died at the age of 82.
— Galway Bay FM Sport (@gbfmsports) November 11, 2024
The Milltown native was honoured last week for the 60th Anniversary of his 1964 Footballer of the Year win (pictured with 2024 winner Paul Conroy) pic.twitter.com/s6Xd2HNWZu
He was not a tall man for full back but could spring really high and was teak tough. After he retired from GAA he continued to play tight head for Tuam RFC where he was impossible to shift in the scrum. RIP
@Oliver Curley: He played in a time when the game was enjoyable to watch and could be considered a game of football unlike the present days bore feast that resembles basketball on grass.