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Sarsfields GAA Club (Galway)


Draw Details for July 31 2023

Lotto Numbers Drawn

1
9
11
24

Prize Value Winners
Jackpot
Match 4 numbers to win/share.    
€ 6,600.00 0
Match 3
Match 3 numbers to win/share.    
€ 20.00 5

There was widespread shock and sadness in Galway GAA and farming circles following the sudden death of

former Galway hurler and well-known referee Jimmy Cooney. In a glittering hurling career Jimmy amassed

an impressive medal haul which includes: one All Ireland Senior Medal, two All Star Awards, three Galway

Senior Hurling Titles, one All Ireland Club Title and one Galway Intermediate Hurling Title.

To his wife Kay, son Fiacra, daughters Sarah, Ciara and Tara, daughter-in-law Lisa, Sarah’s partner Nino,

grandchildren James and Róisín and the extended Cooney family we offer our heartfelt condolences.

Jimmy was the second oldest in a family of fifteen children born to the late Mick and Nora Cooney of

Carramore, Bullaun. He was educated in Scoil Éanna, National School, Bullaun and the De La Salle Brothers

Secondary School in Loughrea.

Jimmy displayed a lot of promise as an underage hurler with Sarsfields GAA Club and was selected at left

half back on the Galway Under 21 Team for the All Ireland Semi Final against Cork in 1975. In that game,

played in Duggan Park, Ballinasloe Jimmy acquitted himself admirably.

In 1976 Jimmy was the driving force as Sarsfields were crowned Intermediate Hurling Champions and

achieved Senior status for the Club. Also, at this time Jimmy was making a name for himself with the

Loughrea Mart/Tynagh Mines Interfirm Team which contested numerous All Ireland Finals against

Avonmore Dairies from Kilkenny. This propelled Jimmy onto the Galway Senior panel.

1980 was a golden year for Jimmy, he was player/selector when Sarsfields won its first Senior County Title.

Jimmy was also a tenacious cornerback when Galway bridged a fifty-seven year-gap by defeating Limerick

in the All Ireland Final to win the Liam McCarthy Cup. Marking the renowned Ollie O’Connor that day and

holding him scoreless earned Jimmy the first of his two All Star Awards.

Jimmy captained Galway to Oireachtas success in 1981 when Galway defeated Waterford in the final

played in St Brendan’s Park, Loughrea. In 1989 Jimmy along with his five brothers, Pakie, Michael, Joe,

Brendan and the late Peter, God rest him, won his second County Senior Title when Sarsfields defeated

Athenry in the final. In 1992 Jimmy was a member of the Sarsfields squad that defeated Carnmore in the

County Final and picked up an All-Ireland medal on St Patrick’s Day 1993 when Sarsfields overcame

Kilmallock in the Club Final.

Sarsfields Camogie Club also benefited from Jimmy’s expertise as a team trainer and in fundraising

ventures.

Jimmy served Sarsfields GAA Club not only as a player and selector but also as Chairperson, MC, auctioneer

at fundraising events and of course as Club Referee. Jimmy officiated at County Finals in all grades in

Galway where his common-sense style of refereeing elevated him onto the Inter-County Referees Panel.

Jimmy bowed out of refereeing following the All-Ireland Intermediate Final between Kilkenny and Limerick

in 1998. Limerick won a high-scoring game that day which featured a young Henry Shefflin for Kilkenny

while John Kiely lined out at corner back for Limerick.

Jimmy was never far from the action and was a selector with the Galway double All-Ireland winning

Masters Hurling Team of 2005 and 2006. This year 2023, another cohort of players were benefitting from

Jimmy’s knowledge and experience as he took on the role of selector with Sarsfields Junior B and C teams.

Jimmy and his wife Kay raised cattle and sheep on their family farm in Ballyara, Bullaun. They were great

neighbours and always willing to lend a helping hand. Jimmy was an active member of the Bullaun IFA

Branch and was a Loughrea Mart Committee Member prior to his appointment as Loughrea Mart Manager

in 2013.

Jimmy was a man of action, with strong leadership and communication skills which he put to great use in

various community organisations in Bullaun such as the Drama Group, the Group Water Scheme, the

Sports Field Committee, the Parish Council, the Cemetery Committee, the Defibrillator Committee, Hall

Committee and the Board of Management of Bullaun National School. One of Jimmy’s proudest

achievements is the new Bullaun Car Park which was his brainchild and is a wonderful amenity for the

parish.

Six months ago, Jimmy delivered the eulogy at his dear mother Nora’s funeral Mass. Jimmy was a fantastic

orator and his off the cuff speech gave a great insight into life in the Cooney family and in rural Ireland

throughout the decades. Last Friday night in his local, The Harbour Bar, Bullaun, Jimmy celebrated his

sixty-ninth birthday with his family and many friends and neighbours.

Jimmy was loved and respected in his club, his county and beyond and today Fr Tom Shanahan, a proud

Limerick man has the Galway flag flying at half-mast in the grounds of the Carmellite Abbey, Loughrea in

memory of his friend. Jimmy was a great neighbour, a community activist and a Galway and Sarsfields

legend. Ní bheidh a leitheid arís ann.

Sarsfields GAA Club wishes to extend its deepest sympathies to Jimmy’s wife Kay, son Fiacra, daughters

Sarah, Ciara and Tara, his daughter-in-law Lisa, Sarah’s partner Nino, his adored grandchildren James and

Róisín. His sisters Mary, Teresa, Breege, Geraldine, Philomena, Martina, Angela and Joan; his brothers

Pakie, Michael, Joe and Brendan; his uncles Pat and Peter, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law,

partners, relatives, former team mates, club mates, neighbours, work colleagues and his many, many

friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.

Please Note

The prize amounts above are what each winner will receive.

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