Offaly’s first ever All-Ireland winning captain Pádraig Horan has passed away at the age of 76.
The Faithful beat Galway 2-12 to 0-15 in the 1981 decider, with Horan the man elected to raise the Liam McCarthy Cup, something Offaly GAA today described as ‘only fitting’ for one of their ‘greatest hurlers’.
He played in a variety of positions across a distinguished career, landing an All-Star in 1985, before being inducted into the GAA’s Hall of Fame nine years ago.
The Banagher man claimed a second Celtic cross in ‘85, again against Galway, on top of three Leinster SHC club titles with St Rynagh’s (in 1971, 1973 and 1981) and 10 county crowns.
Horan also managed Offaly for two seasons, winning the Faithful’s their only ever National League title in his first season in charge in 1991.
Read more: Mickey Harte and Declan Kelly step down from Offaly manager roles
Part of a lengthy statement from Offaly GAA said:
“Offaly GAA is in mourning today with the passing of one of its greatest hurlers.
“A leader on and off the field, when Padraig Horan captained Offaly, in their 2-12 to 1-15 win over Galway, on that famous first Sunday in Septemb1er 1981, he became the first Offaly man in the history of the GAA to do so.
“And it was only fitting that Padraig should be the man to lead Offaly on that occasion.”
