Keepers looking out for number 1

IT’S hard to believe that a decade has passed since the death, in a construction accident, of Limerick hurling great Tommy Quaid.

A hugely popular figure within the game, he was respected nationwide for his ability between the sticks, for his courage, agility, shot-stopping and for every quality it took to man the most demanding position in hurling.

This weekend the Tommy Quaid Perpetual Cup will be inaugurated when 50 of his peers take part in a golf tournament at Limerick County golf course.

They’re a peculiar breed, goalkeepers, a breed apart and it’s fitting then that they should finally have their own society. The Iverahain Golf Society, that’s Uimhear a h-Aon, number one, and one of those behind its conception is John Leamy, former Tipperary goalkeeper.

He explained: “This was something I wanted to do for a long time. Goalkeepers never meet, we’d be more familiar with the opposition full-forward than we would with the goalkeeper. I felt it would be a good idea if we got together every so often, have a chat, and what better way than a golf outing?

“Then I took it a stage further and thought we should make it an official organised event and honour one of our own. Tommy Quaid immediately came to mind. Everyone knew Tommy, he was one of my heroes growing up. They talk about this being the golden age of goalkeepers but when I was a young lad you had Noel Skehan, Seamus Durack, Ger Cunningham, Pat Moloughney, Tommy Quaid.

“I rang Joe Quaid, he was enthusiastic about it so we went for it. I rang around different counties and got a great response. We have a cup, we’re having our first outing this weekend in Limerick and after that it will rotate around the Munster counties. 36 have committed so far, though there’s the odd lad who can’t turn up, for various reasons.

“Donal Óg Cusack can’t be there — the Cork championship is on at the moment — but he did come down to the launch; got into his car and drove up from Cork even though he wouldn’t be able to play in the event — I was impressed with that.

John O’Donoghue is our captain for this one, he’s probably the most distinguished of us at the moment! Ken Hogan will be there, Ger Cunningham, Seamus Durack, Davy Fitzgerald, Joe Quaid, John Sheedy, Pat Moloughney — a whole host of fellas. We have lads from every Munster county.”

Why confine it to Munster though? “Logistics — I wanted to keep it manageable.

“It might extend in future years but for this year it’s just Munster. Leinster might organise a competition of their own and it might grow from here.”