Johnny Geraghty

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Johnny Geraghty
Personal information
Irish name Seán Mag Oireachtaigh
Sport Gaelic football
Position Goalkeeper
Born (1942-06-20) 20 June 1942 (age 81)
Kilkerrin, Galway, Ireland
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Nickname The cat[1]
Occupation Secondary school teacher
Club(s)
Years Club
Kilkerrin
Mountbellew–Moylough
Fr Griffin's
Club titles
Galway titles 2
Colleges(s)
Years College
1961–1965
University College Galway
College titles
Sigerson titles 1
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
1964–1969
Galway
Inter-county titles
Connacht titles 4
All-Irelands 3
NFL 1

John Geraghty (born 20 June 1942) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played at club level with Kilkerrin, Mountbellew–Moylough and Fr Griffin's and at inter-county level with the Galway senior football team. He usually lined out as a goalkeeper.

Playing career[edit]

Geraghty first came to Gaelic football prominence during his student days. He won a Hogan Cup title with St Jarlath's College in 1960 before later winning a Sigerson Cup title with University College Galway.[2] At club level he won consecutive Galway SFC titles with the Mountbellew–Moylough club. Geraghty first appeared on the inter-county scene as a member of the Galway minor football team in 1960. He won a Connacht Minor Championship title in 1960 but missed the All-Ireland final win over Cork. Geraghty was promoted to the Galway senior team for a tournament game against Meath in November 1963. He quickly became the first-choice goalkeeper and won three consecutive All-Ireland Championship titles from 1964 to 1966.[3][4] Geraghty's other inter-county honours include Conancht Championship medals and a National League title. He also won a Railway Cup medal with Connacht. Geraghty was a three-time Cúchulainn Award-winner and was later named on the Galway Football Team of the Millennium.[5]

Coaching career[edit]

Geraghty had two stints in team management after his playing days ended, leading the Galway minor football team to the All-Ireland Championship title in 1976 and later coaching the Connacht Railway Cup team. He was also approached to take over as Galway senior team manager.

Personal life[edit]

Geraghty's career as an Irish and Latin teacher took him through the vocational schools in Edenderry and Glenamaddy before taking a position in Coláiste Iognáid in Galway. He later qualified as a physical education teacher. Geraghty was forced out of teaching in 1993, having suffered from arthritis in both hips, which necessitated replacements. He subsequently studied law, qualifying in 1999.[6]

Honours[edit]

Player[edit]

St Jarlath's College
University College Galway
Mountbellew–Moylough
Galway
Connacht

Coach[edit]

Galway


References[edit]

  1. ^ "The three-in-a-row cat". The Tuam Herald. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Golden Jubilee reflections on one of Galway's greatest ever Minor football teams". The Tuam Herald. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Connacht GAA Honour the Galway All Ireland Winning three in a row team". Connacht GAA website. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  4. ^ "All-Ireland Winning Teams". Galway GAA website. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Football Team of the Millenium". Galway GAA website. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  6. ^ "The man who changed the face of goalkeeping". Irish Independent. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2021.