Ray Silke: John O'Mahony's premature passing casts huge shadow across west

'Johno was a believer. And he believed in the players at his disposal, regardless of what county they were from'

THE WRITER STUFF: Former Galway and Mayo football manager John O'Mahony at the launch of his autobiography, 'O'Mahony - Keeping the Faith' in Ballaghadereen in 2015. Pic: Sportsfile

My first meeting with John O’Mahony was a frosty and rather uncomfortable encounter.

Johno had been appointed Galway football manager as successor to Val Daly in August 1997. I had missed a few of his first sessions with the squad, as I was preparing as club captain with Corofin for a county final against Dunmore McHales in the first week in September.