Fr Bertie a giant on and off pitch

HOW do you record the passing of a giant? Most especially, how do you record the passing of a giant who only ever saw himself as just a man of the people?

Fr Bertie Troy would have blushed at any attempt to lionise him, but let there be no doubt, this man was special.

It wasn’t just the fact of his achievements as coach to a variety of Cork hurling teams, great as read those records. Six Munster and four All-Ireland minor titles between 1966 and 1971, four Munster and All-Ireland U21 titles in a row between 1968 and 1971 (inclusive), then the senior three-in-a-row, 1976/77/78, the last time it was achieved in hurling. That’s a monumental record in such a short period for any coach, enough to ensure that the name Bertie Troy will ring through hurling history forever.