The Late Mattie McDonagh The passing of Mattie McDonagh at his home in Ballygar marks the end of an era in Galway sporting and GAA circles. In his 68th year, McDonagh was a legend of Gaelic football both in Galway and nationally, having the distinction of being the only Galway man to ever win four senior All-Ireland titles ( 1956 and three-in-row of '64 to '66). This week tributes have poured in from GAA colleagues and officials including GAA President Sean Kelly who said that the Association was greatly saddened by his loss. He sprung to sporting prominence as a teenager when he starred with Summerhill College, Sligo, where he colleagues remembered him from his striking stature as a youngster. Before he was 18 he has tasted Connacht Colleges glory and also won a Roscommon minor hurling medal with Ballygar. Big Mattie burst on to the national scene in 1956 when forming the midfield partnership with Frank Evers which provided the possession lifeline for the side which powered their way to a 2-13 to 3-7 All-Ireland final victory over Cork on the day that Frank Stockwell set his scoring record. 1956 was a real year of success for Mattie as he helped Erin's Hope ( the team back-boned by the St. Patrick teacher training college) to a then stunning Dublin county final victory over St. Vincent's. After the initial flush of success some lean years followed and Mattie had to bear the disappointment of two county final defeats with Ballygar at the hands of Tuam Stars and Dunmore, the later by the narrowest of margins by the best was yet to come. After Galway had tasted heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Dublin in the 1963 All-Ireland final where Gerry Davey scored the controversial winning goal, the county under the stewardship of John Dunne, was to embark on their greatest ever run of success annexing three All-Ireland titles beating Kerry in the first two and Meath in '66 to complete the three in a row, where Mattie McDonagh will be forever remembered in firing home 'left footed' the only goal of the match in a 1-10 to 0-7 victory. He never shirked a challenge and took on the task of managing the Galway senior team in 1980 after a turbulent period when player power made the headlines in the county and a cool and respected head was needed to settle the ship. Mattie, although fiercely competitive in every sport, was blessed with an easy temperament which helped him to assuage fears and tensions. One year later he led Galway to what turned out to be their last National League success when routing Roscommon in the Croke Park final although their semi-final victory over Kerry in Ennis was the real highlight of that series. The same year he and his charges had to endure the shock of a Connacht championship defeat when Willie Nally and Willie Joe Padden ' caught all around them' but the following year Galway were desperately disappointed to lose out to Offaly in the '82 semi-final before going all the way to the final in th infamous decider of 1983 when Dublin edged Galway out. In the years after he was always willing to help out with under-age teams and threw in his lot with John Tobin's minor winning team of 1986 where his experience and cool ahead proved to be an invaluable asset to the management team. Former colleague, author and former Football Board Chairman Jack Mahon said that he never saw Mattie McDonagh leaving the pitch injured and never saw him doing anything mean or dirty, although he never shirked a challenge. "Mattie was a big child and we used to have such fun at training, mostly down in Tuam. He really adored Sean Purcell. Mattie also loved when John Dunne would introduce a game of ' ground football' as he called it. "Mattie fancied himself no end at soccer but we never took him seriously and one day in Castlebar against Mayo in one of the great Connacht finals, lo and behold Mattie came through with the ball at his feet clearing everything in his path, eventually leading to a goal in bizarre circumstances. "Statistics will tell you that he won more medals then any man from the West (four All-Irelands and 10 Connachts) but my memory will always do of his great fielding as he swooped on to the ball, his utter determination as he soled towards goal and the great All-Ireland finals he played in," said Mahon. He sympathised with his wife Kathleen and family, Mattie's greatest friend Johnny Hughes adding that he had lost a 'great pal'. Over the past three decades or so, Mattie became one of the big names on the golfing scene where his keen competitive edge and calmness under pressure helped him to win the captain's prize in Mountbellew Golf Club on two occasions as well as the president's prize. He also captained the club and represented them at almost every level in interclub competitions and was a lifelong partner on the tee with one of his former players, Johnny Hughes. The Mountbellew Golf Club captain, friend and neighbour, said that there was a great sense of loss at the passing of Mattie whose personality had touched everyone deeply that he had come in contact with. "I don't think that Mattie ever 'fell out' with anyone. He loved telling stories.....he was a great raconteur...and to everyone who knew him he was a warm and welcoming man who above all else really adored his wife and family. "He was a national sporting icon, known the length and breadth of the country, but more locally he will be greatly missed by everyone in Ballygar and by his many, many friends in Mountbellew Golf Club," said Cleary. A non-drinker and non-smoker, Mattie loved a game of cards whether it be poker or 25, and he'd have a small gamble, on anything from a fourball in golf to a game of pool. He was a conscientious teacher and principal at Creggs NS for many years. Apart from his collection of county, provincial, Railway Cup, National League and All-Ireland medals he was also the national Celtex Footballer of the Year in 1966 and featured at centre forward in the Connacht Tribune Team of the Century five years ago. In a week when the GAA are contemplating a momentus rule change on the use of Croke Park it's worth noting that "Big Mattie" had a very 'ecumenical' attitude to sport - he loved all games across the board. There was a massive turnout at the obsequies in Ballygar from all walks of life with GAA personalities from all corners of the country in attendance. The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was represented by his aide-de-camp. Mattie McDonagh was laid to rest in his native Ballygar soil. Mattie McDonagh....Galway GAA Legend... is survived by his wife Kathleen, daughters Joanne and Karina, sons Mark and Shane, grandchildren, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, sisters, and a wide circle of relatives and friends. Courtesy of the Tribune By Frank Farragher April 15th 2005 Tweet

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