Kerry hurling has lost one of its greatest exponents from the '60s and '70s with the death of Willie Maguire. Whether with club or county, the Ardfert man was a class act. Absolutely brave and fearless, he developed a range of skills that made him stand out in any company and he adorned the Croke Park stage on a number of occasions with a Kerry team that was rated on the same level as Offaly at the time. Indeed, in 1966 he played a leading role, when Kerry drew with Offaly in a memorable National League game at Austin Stack Park which ended in a high scoring draw (6-10 each). There was no better man to deaden the sliotar into his hand, no better man to meet the sliotar in the air or on the ground and gain sixty or seventy yards, and no better man to rally a team and provide that extra bit of inspiration when it was needed. He illuminated many a game with his wonderful range of skills, with his wristwork being particularly exceptional. A native of Liscahane Ardfert, he started his senior hurling career with St Brendan's as a goalkeeper and he wore the No 1 jersey in his first county senior final in 1961. Ballyduff beat St Brendans that day by 5-7 to 4-4. He was between the posts in the county final again the following year against Kilmoyley and it was to be another disappointing day for him, as St Brendans lost by 7-10 to 4-3. In 1963, he had moved to centre half-back and St Brendans qualified for another county final, but controversy arose over the date of the game and Kilmoyley were declared the winners. However, St Brendans were not to be denied in 1967. Maguire was not at midfield, in partnership with Brendan Finnerty, and he played a starring role in a 1-8 to 1-6 victory over Crotta. Interestingly, he played with an emerging Austin Stacks, in 1966 and the Tralee side almost pulled off a shock victory over Ballyduff in the county championship in Austin Stack Park, a late goal by Ballyduff's Richie McCarthy being the deciding score. Willie Maguire was a priceless asset because of his ability to play with equal effectiveness in any position and fourteen years after he made his first appearance in a county senior final he was still producing displays of the highest quality. He was hugely instrumental in St Brendans reaching the county final of 1975 against Kilgarvan and, from the forty yards position in that game, he helped to fashion a great 5-7 to 3-6 victory. It was no surprise that he should have become a regular on the Kerry senior hurling team in the mid 60s and he holds two National League (Division 2) medals from 1967 and 1968. That time, the Division 2 finals were curtain-raisers to the National Football League finals and Kerry figured in four successive finals before huge attendances in Croke Park. One of those finals was against Offaly and Kerry led by five points at half-time before losing out in the end by two points. In 1970, he won a Munster Intermediate hurling championship medal when Kerry beat Cork in Mallow by 2-13 to 2-10. That was the first time that a Kerry hurling team had ever beaten Cork in any grade in the Munster championship since the famous All-Ireland senior campaign of 1891. Willie Maguire came through the under-age ranks and played in the county minor hurling final of 1959, which St Brendans lost to Kenmare-Kilgarvan. He won county intermediate championship medals with Banna in 1971 and St. Brendan's in 1978 and 1979, when he was captain. In the twilight of his career he won two county junior championship medals with Kerins O'Rahillys. He resided at 15, Strand Street, Tralee. Numerous North Kerry honours came his way and he gave one of many star displays in the 1969 North Kerry senior league final against Crotta, which prompted these words of praise in the report in The Kerryman: "Hero of the Ardfert win was centre halfback, Willie Maguire. Though faced by no less a player than Tom Kenny, Maguire gave his best display ever and the big attendance were thrilled by the display of these two hurling artistes and sportsmen supreme." Willie Maguire remained passionate about hurling, and his beloved Ardfert, all his life. Indeed, he was a selector with this year's St Brendan's senior team and was also the club delegate to the North Kerry Hurling Board. He also excelled at pitch and putt and golf. In pitch and putt, he was an All-Ireland champion and in golf he played off single figures, getting down to 6 handicap. He was particularly noted for a great short game. He died last Sunday evening at his residence in Tralee, following an illness lasting several months. This tribute to him was paid by Joe Wallace of the St Brendans Club: "Willie Maguire acquired a name for himself as an exceptionally good hurler, but he was a lot more than that. He was a wonderful clubman, always there when he was needed, and he would always brighten a training session, or the dressingroom before a game, with his terrific sense of humour. "Out on the field itself, he always gave 100 per cent and he just loved to win. It was great to soldier alongside him, because he was so committed and he would always back you to the hilt. "He holds a special place in all our memories." The remains were removed from Gleasure's Funeral Home, Tralee to St John's Church, Tralee on Monday evening and the funeral took place to Rath Cemetery, Tralee on Tuesday, following concelebrated Requiem Mass at which Fr. Andrew McCarthy was the chief celebrant. Fr McCarthy also recited the prayers at the graveside. Members of the St Brendans club and former playing colleagues from both club and county teams turned out in a very big numbers to form a guard of honour at both the removal of the remains and at the funeral. The coffin was draped with the jerseys of St Brendans and Kerry. The late Willie Maguire is survived by his wife, Maria; son, Paul; daughter, Norma; mother, Ellen; brother, Patrick's sisters, Sheila and Eileen; grand-daughter Kathleen, and other relatives. Courtesy of The Kerryman Tweet

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