One of the great Meath G.A.A. people of our time passed to his eternal reward, yesterday September 30th.

An immensely popular figure, on and off the field of play, Tom Browne was one of the mainstays of the old Martry club.

Talented and fair, Tom possessed a fine pair of fetching hands and was known far and wide as a clean and clever footballer.

From his midfield berth he captained Martry to Meath 1964 Junior Championship honours. Then Martry operated in the Junior B ranks but in those seemingly far off days the winners of the Junior B and the Junior A met to establish who the real Junior Champions were.

Martry strode to the Junior B title  and promptly dispatched the Junior B kingpins Enfield, 2-7 against 0-5 in the Junior showdown.

Incidentally, when we  are talking about Martry, the men who wore the Mayo colours hold a Meath Junior record. They have won more Junior Championships than any other club in the county, these arriving in 1907, 1915, 1920, 1930, 1943 and that 64 success. 

With Tom to the fore and his future brother-law, Sean Bennett mopping up things around the half back line, Martry more than held their own in the Intermediate ranks, reaching the decider in 1972. Their semi final joust with parish neighbours Bohermeen attracted huge interest and a big crowd to the Kells venue.

Tom (centre front row with ball) was captain of the Martry team that won the 1964 Meath JFC

Tom Browne was now positioned on the edge of the opposing square and capable of providing opposing full back lines with numerous problems.

An emerging Summerhill triumphed in that Pairc Tailteann decider on a 3 -7 over 2 -4 scoreline but it can be reasonable to suggest that Martry would have beaten any other team in their grade, such was the power of the Hill  fifteen at that time. We are talking about practically the same side who were to go on and claim a four-in-a row of Meath Senior Championships and a provincial title into the bargain.

Shortly after Martry amalgamated with Bohermeen, themselves Intermediate Championship winners in 1973 and under the Bohermeen/Martry Harps banner. Tom finished off his playng days while lining out for the new club's second string in the junior ranks.

But Tom Browne was also known as a top quality referee, officiating at a number of big matches and while only in his mid twenties took charge of the opening clash of the 1968 Meath Senior semi final between O Mahonys and Walterstown, a fixture that was to develop into a three game saga before Walterstown eventually qualified for their first Meath senior decider,

Tom also served Martry and the Harps in a variety of officer positions and remained a big supporter of, not alone his beloved Meath Senior Footballers, but all teams operating from Bohermeen parish. His like will be near impossible to replace. 

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

Funeral Details

Arriving to St. Catherine's Church Oristown on Saturday for Funeral Mass at 11am.

Burial afterwards in Martry Cemetery.

Tweet

Most Read Stories