Kilkenny chairman Ned Quinn has described the late Fr Tommy Maher as 'a legend in Kilkenny and in hurling generally'.

Fr Maher, who guided the Cats to 12 All-Ireland senior hurling finals, winning seven, died on Tuesday evening aged 92 and, speaking to The Examiner, Quinn said: "It might be hard for young people nowadays in Kilkenny to believe but when Paddy Grace invited Fr Tommy Maher to take charge of Kilkenny the county had won a single All-Ireland in the previous 16 years, in 1947.

"No-one could have predicted that he'd help them to win seven of the twelve finals they played in while he was in charge.

"He was a legend in Kilkenny, obviously, and in hurling generally, not just because of his intercounty success but because he was involved in putting on those first hurling coaching courses in Gormanston in the seventies.

"He, Donie Nealon, John Hanley and Ned Power organised those courses, which were the precursors to the present coaching systems in the GAA."

He added: "It's interesting to see how many of the coaches and managers Kilkenny have had in recent years were players under Fr Maher - Pat Henderson, Nickey Brennan and of course the current boss, Brian Cody."

The arrangements for Fr Maher's funeral are as follows: Reposing at St. Beacon's Church, Mullinavat on Friday from 4pm with funeral prayers at 8pm. Requiem Mass on Saturday at 12 noon. Burial after in the adjoining cemetery.

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