Tony Reddin, who has died aged 95, wasn't considered to be the greatest ever hurling goalkeeper: he was the greatest, and he had the recognition to prove it.
Selected on the Hurling Team of the Century in 1984 to mark the GAA’s centenary year, he retained his place on the Hurling Team of the Millennium selected in 2000.
Considering that it’s such a rigid position, to retain almost unanimous support as the greatest ever goalkeeper, including over the last 15 years, says it all about his standing in the game.
While he started out with his native Galway, winning a Connacht junior medal in 1944, it was with his adopted Tipperary that he would make his name in a remarkable nine-year inter-county career, which saw him win three All-Ireland senior medals in 1949, 1950 and 1951 as well as three Munster titles in the same years. He also won six National Leagues in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955 and 1957; five Railway Cup medals with Munster from 1950 to 1953 and 1955, and one Oireachtas medal.
Leaving Galway
Born Martin Charles Reddington, one of the seven children of parents Mick and Catherine in Mullagh, Co Galway, he would spend the first 28 years of his life west of the Shannon before he left home to seek work.
A neighbour knew of a farm job going across the border in Tipperary so in February 1947 he cycled across the Shannon to Lorrha. Nicknamed “Thaudy”, and with his family back in Galway known as the Reddins, to the ear of the locals he was “Tony” and hence the name Tony Reddin stuck.
He joined the local GAA club, where he almost immediately caused ripples of excitement with his unique ability. In 1948, he helped Lorrha win the North Tipperary senior hurling title and it was his inspired performance in the final against Borris-Ileigh which brought him to the attention of the Tipperary selectors. Later that year he made his first appearance for the premier county at the age of 29 against Offaly.
His ability quickly saw him become one of the must-see players in the game nationally and to opposing forwards he was the ultimate challenge.
Even the great Christy Ring could never claim to have scored a goal against Reddin, while in the 1950 Munster final against Cork he caused enormous frustration to the rebels.
Even the physical approach of Jack Lynch or the intimidation of Cork supporters, who grabbed at his jersey or threw fruit at him, failed to put him off. At the end of the game he had to be given a hat and coat by the local curate, Fr O’Meara, to offer some disguise as he was smuggled to safety.
Tony would win one more North Tipperary championship medal with Lorrha in 1956 and was still performing to a high level a year later but lost his place in the starting line-up, with his final competitive game for club or county coming in New York in late 1957.
Made hurleys
Earlier that year he married Maura Smith from Lelagh, Rathcabbin and settled at The Pike, Rathcabbin, where he farmed a little, made hurleys and provided a hackney service in an ARI 791 car that was known far and wide.
In 1960, he got a job with Bord na Móna, with whom he worked until his retirement. Three years later, he and his expanding family moved to Banagher, Co Offaly, where they built a house on Cuba Avenue, the home in which he would spend the rest of his life.
The new house was only yards from the hurling field of the St Rynagh’s club, where the next chapter of his GAA story would be written as he turned his hurling genius to coaching. He became senior trainer with the club in 1964 and within two years they won their first Offaly senior championship. By 1976 had won another eleven more, including two Leinster club titles.
For all his hurling achievements, Tony Reddin remained above all a thorough gentleman. His beaming smile was always uplifting. Whether you were a family member, a friend, teammate or player, you always felt enriched from being in his presence.
He is survived by his widow, Maura, sons Eamon, Dermot and Cathal, daughters Catherine, Jacinta, Majella, Collette, Brenda and Noelle, his 28 grandchildren and two great -grandchildren and his sisters Kitty and Betty.