Hurling & Camogie

Camogie mourning the passing of eight-time All-Ireland championship winner Eileen O'Mahony

Eileen O'Mahony pictured back row, third from left in the Dublin All-Ireland winning team of 1957
Eileen O'Mahony pictured back row, third from left in the Dublin All-Ireland winning team of 1957 Eileen O'Mahony pictured back row, third from left in the Dublin All-Ireland winning team of 1957

Camogie is mourning the passing of eight-time All-Ireland championship winner Eileen O'Mahony, writes Séamas McAleenan.

The Dublin native, pictured here in the back row, third from left in the Dublin All-Ireland winning team of 1957, played as a goalkeeper, and was named on the Camogie Association’s Team of the Century in 2004.

O’Mahony’s career with the Dubs lasted from 1949 to 1957, during which time she picked up eight All-Ireland medals and captained the team to victory in her final year.

Antrim stopped her winning nine in a row, when they defeated Dublin in the 1956 semi-final and the Saffrons then went on to win their fourth title with a 5-3 to 4-2 win against Cork in Croke Park.

Born in 1930, O'Mahony, nee Duffy, won five Dublin championships with the Coolock-based Celtic camogie club.

The citation at the Team of the Century awards ceremony back in 16 years ago said that O’Mahony was "quick to react between the posts, sure and confident, she had a great understanding with her backs, her lengthy clearance and long puck out were other features of her game."

O'Mahony also represented Leinster in the first inter-provincial game in 1954 and won Sport Star of the Year awards in 1951 and 1957.