Troy, Paddy

January 18, 2008
The Late Paddy Troy I was greatly saddened to learn of the death of Paddy "Lefter" Troy, a hurling artist who wore the black and red of Ballygunner and the white and blue of Waterford with such skillful distinction over a number of years. "Lefter, the nickname hurling fans the length and breath of the county affectionately knew him by, was a member of the Ballygunner team that brought the first ever county minor hurling championship to the club in 1954. And he was to go to play a central role on the field of play in the memorable decade that was the 1960s for the Gunners when the club won its first ever hat trick of county senior hurling championship titles in 1966, '67, and '68. He was a truly great player among many great players on that fabulous Ballygunner team, and in every championship game over those three dominant years "Lefter" made a lasting impact. He was a sweet and as stylish a player on the ball as you would ever want to see, and he mixed his great, and indeed, natural hurling talents with a measure of sportsmanship that was never less than exemplary. Paddy "Lefter" Troy could walk tall in any hurling company and in any era. Few enough honours came his way in the county jersey but that cannot, and does not, take from his immense contribution to the Waterford cause over so many years. The game in general in his beloved county has not left infinitely the poorer for his passing. They laid him to rest in Ballygunner cemetery, the club that was so near and so dear to him ensured that the final farewell and a fitting one. "Lefter would have deserved nothing less. To his wife Emily, his sons David and Joe, his sisters Molly, Kate, Bridget, Stasia, Peggy and Nancy, and all of the other members of the extended Troy family and column and columnist extend sincerest sympathy. Go ndeine Dia trocaire and a anam dilis. Courtesy of the Waterford News & Star 18/1/ 2008

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