Joseph (Joey) O'Meara, who died in Dublin on May 4th, aged 58, was a distinguished Irish sportsman, best known in hockey circles. He filled virtually every role in the game, notably as an international player. He also played cricket for Ireland and in both sports he showed great loyalty to his club, Railway Union.
His love of sport was never restricted to the pitch and his popularity and helpfulness matched his prowess.
He had many friends not only in Railway Union but among the Blackrock Rugby Club's veterans' hockey team and at Milltown Golf Club as well as his colleagues at Maxol, where he was marketing manager until his recent retirement. He valued more than most the post-match banter and was a humorous after-dinner speaker.
Although suffering from polio as a child, he became a talented all-rounder at Dublin's Blackrock College where he was educated. He prospered at cricket and captained the side which won a Leinster Schools' Senior Cup medal.
On joining Railway Union, he made an immediate impact and, as a 20-year-old in 1963, he gained his two Irish caps against Scotland and the MCC.
He continued to play stylishly for Railway Union and in 1967, when the club won the Leinster Senior Cup for the only time, he contributed over 50 runs and took five wickets in the final against Phoenix. He had also captured five wickets in each of the previous rounds. Another highlight was a cavalier innings of 117 not out - including seven sixes - in 90 minutes against Old Belvedere.
A striking and immaculate figure, both in appearance and ability, his hockey talents were steadily developing as he became a first-class full-back in Leinster league fare.
While he contributed to Railway Union, regarded as one of the best club sides in Dublin in the 1970s, the Sandymount team failed to win the most prized trophy, the Irish Senior Cup, with Joey O'Meara missing a penalty stroke in a final against Lisnagarvey.
It was one of his greatest regrets. But several seasons previously he had stepped up to interprovincial level and, in April 1970, he made his international debut against West Germany at Londonbridge Road. The illustrious Germans won 20 but Joey O'Meara's power and precision was confirmed in that game and his reputation was enhanced in the following scoreless draw with England in Bristol.
He went on to gain 52 caps, excelling in the role of sweeper which had evolved from soccer at that time.
He played especially well in the inaugural European Championship in Brussels. One of his fortes was in penalty-corner shooting and he scored a late equaliser against Spain in the opening match. "O'Meara strode up, blessed himself and sent his shot gloriously home," said The Irish Times report.
Ultimately, a defeat by France in Brussels left Ireland with only a ranking of ninth. But two years later, in 1972, Joey O'Meara - by now master of the overhead pass - was an inspiring captain of the team which won an eight-nations tournament in Santander, beating Britain 1-0 in the final through a goal by Terry Gregg.
That was to herald an era of much encouragement for Irish hockey, leading to the first Intercontinental Cup tournament in Rome in 1977 when he remained a key member of the defence as Ireland finished runners-up to Poland and qualified for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.
It was a huge irony, though, that Joey O'Meara, who had been the principal fund-raiser for Ireland's first appearance in the World Cup, was not included in the squad to travel to Buenos Aires.
Nevertheless, he continued his attachment to the game by becoming national coach in subsequent years, leading the team on a sobering tour to Australia and New Zealand but reaching the semi-finals of the Intercontinental Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 1981.
He was later appointed an Irish hockey selector, as well as being honorary treasurer of the Leinster Branch, and he also became manager of the Ireland cricket team in the 1990s.
Joey O'Meara is survived by his wife, Valerie (nee Dagg) and their three sons, Gareth, Graham and Gregory.
Joseph (Joey) O'Meara: born 1943; died, May 2001