Shock at Colleran passing

ENDA COLLERAN, the last winning All-Ireland Galway captain in 1966 until Ray Silke lifted the Sam Maguire Cup 32 years later was remembered yesterday as a defender of outstanding quality who "lived life to the full".

Colleran, a retired teacher who managed the senior team to a Connacht title win in 1976 and was a respected analyst on RTÉ's Sunday Game, died suddenly at his home early yesterday morning.

GAA President Sean Kelly described his death as a "massive and grievous loss to a great sporting family".

A member of the legendary three-in-a-row team of the mid-sixties, he was part of an elite group of (six) players to captain his county to double All-Ireland successes and, in 1967, became only the fourth Galway player to captain a Railway Cup winning side.

In 1960, he won an All-Ireland colleges medal with St Jarlath's and the same year was a member of the Galway minor team which defeated Cork in the All-Ireland final. He also enjoyed success in both the Sigerson Cup and National League competitions. His exploits with the Galway senior team were recognised in his selection on both the 'Team of the Century' and the 'Team of the Millennium'.

Galway great, Sean Purcell, acknowledged as one of the greatest footballers of all time, echoed the general shock experienced when the news broke. "The man was full of life, he kept himself very fit. I don't think I ever played with him, but I was very proud to be picked on the Team of the Century and the Team of the Millennium. It was a great honour for me,'' he commented.

Former Galway star Liam Sammon, a member of the winning '66 team, was a lifelong friend and with another former star Christy Tyrrell and ex- Roscommon player Tony Regan (father of Galway hurler Tony Óg), formed a foursome with Colleran who had a game every Saturday. Sammon played golf with him on Wednesday and told how later in the day Colleran called to his home with gifts for an upcoming Christening.

"Enda was in fantastic shape. He always looked well,'' he commented. "He was so highly respected throughout the country, but apart from football, he was a fantastic character - charismatic, jovial. I never remember him being in bad form. And, if anything upset him, he would bounce back very quickly.''

Reminding him of a comment made by Enda in reaction to Galway's 1998 victory - to the effect that "it was a monkey off his back" that there was a new captain - he commented: "there was no one who took as much pleasure from the team's success.

"He was still in his early 30s when he managed Galway in 1976. His approach was the same as it was for everything he did, the amount of detail, his meticulous planning - for life as well as games!''

Ray Silke remembers him for the very keen interest he showed in the '98 team, indicated by his attendance with Liam Sammon at the Saturday training sessions in Tuam on a regular basis. "He lit up a room when he came in, he had that panache,'' he commented. "In Galway he was an icon since the '60s and, of course, his involvement with the Sunday Game enhanced his profile.''

Mick O'Dwyer played against Galway in the 1964 and '65 finals, but recalled yesterday that he only came into direct opposition with Colleran a few times in the League and Railway Cup competitions. "He was an outstanding footballer. I would describe him as 'a real football back'.

"He played the ball at all times and there was no such thing as (playing) the man or dirt. He was an exceptional player and a gentleman to crown it all.

"Enda was a very shrewd man. Whether it was on television or wherever, he was very knowledgeable. He knew his football inside out.''

Jack Mahon, the Galway Football Board PRO, spent much of the day taking calls from former players from different parts of the country wishing to be associated with the general expressions of sympathy. On a personal level, Mahon recalled that his last game with Galway, in the Gaelic Weekly final in October 1961, coincided with Enda Colleran's first. "I came off and who came on in my place only the bould Enda,'' he said.

"He represented all that is good in Galway football - and in life generally. He was not only a great footballer, but he excelled in the skills of the game, an outstanding corner-back who had a tremendous kick-out.

"He will be remembered as one of the greatest captains of an All-Ireland winning team. He was also a born leader.''

Mahon described him as "one of the first great analysts" on RTÉ's Sunday Game programme and praised him for his role in managing Galway to victory in the 1976 Connacht final - with a team which "had put it up to Dublin" in the All-Ireland semi-final.