THE GAA Museum at Croke Park has announced the induction of two more players into the Hall of Fame for 2015.
Former greats Jimmy Keaveney of Dublin and Cork's Jimmy Barry-Murphy have been honoured by becoming the third group of former players to receive the awards.
Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail congratulated the players on being named on the prestigious list which acknowledges their massive contribution to the GAA at the highest level over a prolonged period.
He said: “I am delighted to welcome two legends of our games as the latest entrants to the Hall of Fame in light of their fantastic contributions to the games and to the GAA as a whole.
“Both players were synonymous with the games and indeed Jimmy Barry Murphy is still involved with top level hurling. Both were household names as players lighting up numerous championship campaigns for their counties but both also served their clubs with distinction for many years. I congratulate both on behalf of the GAA as a whole and I can’t think of two more fitting ambassadors for the accolade.”
Jimmy Barry-Murphy is regarded as one of the best dual players in GAA history. But it was as a hurler that he achieved most, winning five All-Ireland senior hurling medals and five hurling All Stars between 1976 and 1986.
During a 13-year senior inter-county playing career, Jimmy played for the Cork senior hurling and football teams and represented Munster in the inter-provincial Railway Cup championships. At club level, Jimmy was also a dual All-Ireland medallist with St Finbarr's.
After starting his career as a dual player at minor level, Jimmy graduated to the Cork senior football team in 1973. Between then and 1980 he won one All-Ireland senior football medal, two Munster senior championship and a National Football League.
His inter-county hurling career with Cork produced five All-Ireland medals, two National Hurling League medals and a record-equaling ten Munster championship medals. Jimmy was an All Star on seven occasions – twice for football and five times for hurling.
Jimmy Keaveney is a legend of the great Dublin team of the 1970s and was renowned for his accurate place-kicking ability. During a 14-year inter-county career, Jimmy won three All-Ireland senior titles, six Leinster titles, two National Leagues and three All Stars. With his club St Vincent's Jimmy won an impressive 10 senior county championships and a coveted All-Ireland Club Championship in 1976.
Jimmy played his club football with St. Vincents, winning nine senior county championships from 1964 to 1977 and two Leinster senior club championships. In 1976 St. Vincent’s outclassed Roscommon Gaels in the All-Ireland Club Final and Jimmy won a coveted All-Ireland club championship medal. His great passion for hurling also bestowed a further three Dublin senior county hurling championship medals.
