Former Mayo, Leitrim and Galway manager, John O'Mahony, has died at the age of 71.
A native of Kilmovee, Co Mayo, O’Mahony had two stints as manager of his home county while he famously led neighbours Galway to their most recent All-Ireland senior football titles around the turn of the century in 1998 and 2001.
O'Mahony remembered that famous 1998 win in an RTÉ Sport piece back in 2018.
Just as sensationally, he took Leitrim to their second ever – and still most recent – Connacht senior football title in 1994, before losing an All-Ireland semi-final to Dublin. Leitrim had not won a provincial title since 1927 at the time.
O’Mahony’s first tenure as Mayo boss went from 1987 to 1991, where they won back-to-back provincial titles in ’88 and ’89. He retook the job two decades later from 2006 to 2010 with a further Connacht win coming in 2009.
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In all, O’Mahony won no less than eight Connacht SFC titles as manager, three with Mayo, one with Leitrim and four with Galway – the most of any manager in the competition’s history.
"I think he was a huge factor in breaking the glass ceiling for Leitrim and Galway," 1998 All-Ireland winning captain Ray Silke said on RTÉ's Sunday Sport.
"I'm sure he would have absolutely loved to win one with Mayo as well but it just wasn't to be. He packed so much into his life; a TD for nine years, a Senator, a teacher, [working with] different counties.
"He's gone too young but his legacy will stand the test of time."
John O’Mahony was elected as a Fine Gael TD in Mayo at the 2007 General Election and served in that position until 2016. In May of 2016, then Taoiseach Enda Kenny nominated him to the 25th Seanad.
Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute, saying "John was a sporting hero, a champion and a gentleman.
"On the sporting field, John left a stunning legacy in Mayo, Leitrim and Galway, where they still talk about his All-Ireland wins of '98 and ‘01. He was a leader, he made people believe in their own abilities and he delivered at the highest levels.
"On the political field, John's determination to deliver was no less fierce than in sport. He was decent, hardworking, effective and respected.
"To his wife Gerardine, his five daughters and his grandchildren, I'm so sorry for your loss."
