Former Galway star thrilled by BallinasloeÕs resurgence

FOR the vast majority of Ballinasloe players, Sunday’s All-Ireland club junior final showdown with Kerry champions Kenmare Shamrocks will be their first time to grace GAA’s hallowed turf. However, for their club President, Seán Keeley, it marks a return to a happy hunting ground. 

Keely, who was a pivotal member of the 1956 Galway team that won the All-Ireland title with a 2-13 to 3-7 win over Cork, has lined out at the Jones Road venue on no less than 16 occasions, along with playing at other international locations such as the Polo Grounds and Gaelic Park in New York and Wembley Stadium in London.

However, on this day, it was Ballinasloe football that consumed the passionate Keeley, whose zest for Gaelic games burns as bright today as it did all those years ago when he proudly wore the colours of his native club.

Keeley’s club career began in 1952 when he captained St. Grellan’s, Ballinasloe to the inaugural U-16 county championship – the John Hynes Cup, which was presented by Major of Boston John Hynes to Galway GAA. Indeed, this was the first ever juvenile football championship played in the county.

“I was captain of the Ballinasloe team and I was privileged to be that,” said the Derrymullen native. “It was a big occasion for Ballinasloe to beat Tuam and get to the final. In the final, we beat St. Ignatius (Galway City) in Galway. We had a great team. Nine of them are dead now by the way,” he noted, holding up a framed picture of the squad. 

Two years later, Keeley led Ballinasloe to the county minor championship. Having lined out at right full-back in the first half of the decider in Caltra, he was moved into the corner forward berth in the second half and scored a vital goal to put Newbridge to the sword. “I am not boasting but, to be honest with you, I scored a great goal,” he smiled.

At senior level, his first outing with St. Grellan’s was against Mountbellew in 1953, when he featured at right half forward. His club career would, more or less, span the next two decades, during which time he – and Ballinasloe – featured in a plethora of senior semi-finals and lost three county deciders in 1955, ’56 and ’59 – all to Tuam Stars.

In 1955, he was just 19 years old and he recalled the excitement after Ballinasloe, trained by Inky Flaherty, beat Fr. Griffin’s in the penultimate stage of the championship. “In the final, we led all the way through (against Tuam). I was playing on Frank Purcell, Seán’s brother. He was corner forward and I was right full-back that day.

“Anyhow, a row started in the last few minutes of the game – the game was nearly over – and we ended up losing by a point,” remembered Keeley, indicating the fracas definitely upset his side more than Tuam.

“(Seán) Purcell then burst through and scored a goal and it was all over. I actually had two cracked ribs in that game, even though I was back in work in Dublin – I was on a course training for the Post Office – the next morning. I got them strapped up.”

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.