Tributes to Galway football 'great'
Milltown clubman enjoyed honours filled career
TRIBUTES have been paid from far and wide to Galway football 'great' Noel Tierney who died at the age of 82 on Sunday night, peacefully and surrounded by his loving family in the Claddagh Ward at University Hospital Galway.
A native of Milltown, Noel will go down as one of the game's most outstanding full-backs and was a pillar of the Galway defence during their glorious All-Ireland three in-a-row era in the 1960s.
This year marked the 60th anniversary of the county's success in 1964. Having lost to Dublin in the '63 decider, Galway bounced back with victories over Sligo, Mayo, Meath and finally Kerry in front of 76,498 at Croke Park.
Noel had graduated from the All-Ireland Minor-winning team of 1960 and, at the age of 22, filled the full-back position where his great attributes of strength and high fielding quickly attracted admiration at national level.
He earned individual recognition at the highest level that year with the second of two Cú Chulainn Awards, which was the precursor to the All-Stars.
Read more in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald. Buy our Digital Edition here