Liam O’Neill pays tribute to former GAA president Paddy Buggy

GAA president Liam O’Neill has paid tribute to his predecessor Paddy Buggy, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 84. “I had the privilege of knowing Paddy personally. He was a kind, gentle man who was a great president. He was happy to assume the role of quiet adviser after his time in the role and I benefitted from his advice and experience on occasions, something he was generous with and happy to provide.

“On behalf of the wider GAA family I pass on my condolences to his wife Peggy, his children, immediate family and his wide circle of friends and admirers.”

Paddy Buggy, a 1957 All-Ireland hurling medallist from Slievrue in Kilkenny who captained his county in the 1955 Leinster final against Wexford, lived in Ferrybank, Co Waterford. He had an unusual administrative career in that he was chair of the Leinster Council directly before he was elected president in 1981 but became county chair in Kilkenny after his term of office as president, in 1990.

He was amongst the former presidents to meet Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Croke Park in 2011. He is survived by his wife Peggy, his children Bernard, John, Gerard and Louise and his grandchildren.

He will repose at Powers Funeral Home, Ferrybank today from 2.0 with removal at 7.0 to the Sacred Heart Church Ferrybank. Requiem Mass will be celebrated tomorrow at 2pm.

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Meanwhile, Monaghan secretary Seán McKenna said the county board would be making no response to Magheracloone's stated intention to withdraw from all competitions in the county on foot of a Competitions Control Committee recommendation that one of their players be suspended after allegations Ballybay's county player Drew Wylie had been the target of sectarian abuse in a match between the clubs during which he was sent off.

“We have nothing to say about this until due process has been completed,” he said before adding that Magheracloone had yet to apply for a hearing but that he expected them to do so.

The six nominations for the Cadbury’s under-21 Football Hero of the Future awards are dominated by champions Galway with one each for the other provincial champions, Cork, Cavan and Kildare.

The three Galway footballers are captain Fiontán Ó Curraoin, Ian Burke and Shane Walsh. Also nominated are Brian Hurley (Cork), Paul Cribben (Kildare) and Jack Brady (Cavan).

Judges are Kildare senior footballer Dermot Earley, ex- Dublin manager Paul Caffrey and TG4 journalist Micheál Ó Domhnaill. The winner will receive a specially commissioned bronze award and € 1,000.

The prospects of Owen Mulligan playing for Tyrone this summer appear over after he was unveiled as a new pundit for BBC NI’s championship programme. The three-time All-Ireland winner insisted he has not retired but accepted he is unlikely to be in manager Mickey Harte’s plans. “I attended two in-house matches some time ago but heard nothing back, so I take it I’m not in his plans,” he said.

Carlow football manager Anthony Rainbow has named an experienced side for his first Leinster championship encounter, against Westmeath.

Shane Mernagh is the only player making his championship debut. The Kildavin-Clonegal man is selected at full back for Sunday's match in Mullingar.
CARLOW (SFC v Westmeath): T O'Reilly; C Lawler, S Mernagh, BJ Molloy; K Nolan, S Redmond, B Kavanagh; D Foley, J Murphy; Brian Murphy, Brendan Murphy, E Ruth; S Gannon, P Reid, D Hayden.