Tributes paid to county Limerick hurling great

KILMALLOCK is mourning the loss of one of its hurling greats, Jimmy O’Keeffe, who passed away on Sunday.

Jimmy, of The Park, Broomscourt, Charleville and formerly of Wolfe Tone Street, Kilmallock wore the green and white Kilmallock jersey with pride and honour from 1959, when he first played U14, to 1981, when he played his last senior game for the club.

“He was a brilliant hurler who always did the right thing,” noted another Kilmallock hurling great, Bernie Savage.

“You could definitely say that Jimmy played hurling the way the present Limerick team play as he was blessed with great speed and he always passed the ball to his teammates, just short 40 and 50-yard passes.

As the late Tom Moloney used to say about him, ‘he was a wonderful player and so smart’,” Bernie added.

Jimmy won many honours with Kilmallock, starting off at U14 in 1959, when he won the first South U14 Championship. After the Minor win of 1964, Jimmy was picked on the Limerick Minor team for 1965, along with his great friend and hurler, the late

Mike Flaherty, who was also his close neighbour. The team won the Munster title with Mike as captain. Sadly, they lost the All-Ireland.

On top of that, the late Jimmy Millea was a selector on that team and the late Pat Joe Murphy was their taxi driver.
Jimmy’s first Senior title was in 1967 when the club won its second county title.

This title was hard won, when it took a replay to beat South Liberties in the final. The late journalist, J.D. Hickey said the drawn game was his highlight of the year.

Jimmy received a bad head injury in this game but they bandaged him up and he went back to action straight away. No stoppages for injuries in those days, just get on with the game!

Jimmy’s next county Senior titles were won in the never to be forgotten three-in-a-row years of 1973, 1974, 1975.

Church fire in Limerick thought to have been caused by electrical fault

Coincidentally, last Saturday, November 25, the day before Jimmy died, was the 50th anniversary of the first year of the three-in-a-row.

Jimmy showed his great versatility in these victories as he played in different positions on the field in some of the games.

Jimmy was the South National School champion sprinter in his school days. In the 60-yard dash and 100 yards, he was unbeatable.

All through his life he retained that speed and it helped make him the great player he was. He also loved to play handball and, needless to say, he was a terrific player.

Jimmy had a very quiet personality. As a hurler, he never drew a wrong stroke, never swore an ugly word. He was a non-drinker and non smoker all his life. He had a great sense of humour and he would join in all the sing-songs in after-match celebrations.

“He was a true Baalbec warrior and we will always miss him but will never forget him. He was special,” added Bernie Savage.

Jimmy passed away peacefully, in the presence of his loving wife and family, in St Martha's Nursing Home, Charleville, on Sunday. Beloved husband of Margaret (née Relihan), much loved father of Noel and John and cherished grandfather to Max, Adam and Chloe.

Dear brother of Mary (Hartigan), Ber (Noonan) and the late Pat and Eileen, he is deeply regretted by his extended family, kind neighbours and friends.

Requiem Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross Church, Charleville this Tuesday before Jimmy was laid to final rest in Holy Cross Cemetery, Charleville.

May he rest in peace.