"Nobody felt uncomfortable in his company"
October 18, 2016
The late Anthony Foley
The Smith O'Briens club in Killaloe, East Clare will never forget the year Anthony Foley helped them win the junior 'B' football championship.
The Ireland and Munster rugby legend - who passed away on Sunday morning in Paris at the age of 42 - had just retired from the prefessional game and was only too happy to give the local GAA club a hand in 2010, following in the footsteps of his father, Brendan, who played in goals for Smith O'Briens.
"His manner, his persona - big and all as he was, he made lads very relaxed," club chairman Naoise Lawlor told The Irish Examiner. "Nobody felt uncomfortable in his company. Before all the games we played that year, he made everyone feel relaxed and ready to enjoy themselves, which was what the football was all about. He knew all the lads by their first names, after all, and they all knew him.
"Before the county final he said a few words in the dressing room - 'lads, we've an hour to go out and do our best, let's bring something back to Killaloe'. And that's what happened. It was a fantastic day.
"He knew his limitations so we'd start him in at full forward and then he'd roam around the place, get involved in the play - talking to the lads, encouraging them, winning the ball and laying it off."
Tweet
