The late Galway manager John O’Mahony celebrates after defeating Derry in the 1998 All-Ireland SFC semi-final. Photo: David Maher/Sportsfile
John O’Mahony brought inter-county preparation to a new level with his forensic attention to detail, the former Galway midfielder Kevin Walsh has said, paying tribute to his two-time All-Ireland-winning manager. O’Mahony died over the weekend, aged 71, after battling cancer for more than four years.
Walsh credited O’Mahony with reviving and prolonging his career when he took over Galway in 1997. Some 13 months later they were All-Ireland champions and over the next seven years Walsh would win another All-Ireland, three more Connacht titles and three All-Stars, in 1998, 2001 and 2003, before retiring in 2004, the same year that O’Mahony left Galway.