Former inter-county referee and Galway hurler Jimmy Cooney dies at 68

The Sarsfields man won an All-Ireland medal and was later at the centre of the Clare-Offaly All-Ireland semi-final replay controversy in 1998.

RIP: Former Galway star hurler and referee Jimmy Cooney pictured in the crowd at a game in 2019. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

The death has occurred of former Galway hurler and inter-county referee Jimmy Cooney at the age of 68.

The Sarsfields man, brother of county star Joe, lined out for Galway in four championships from 1979 to ’82 and was left corner-back in the Tribesmen’s second ever All-Ireland senior hurling victory in 1980 when they beat Limerick in the final and also claimed a Railway Cup medal with a Galway-dominated Connacht side that year.