Hurling legend Johnny Flaherty, who has passed away, will forever be immortalised in Offaly GAA for his late goal in the 1981 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final, which brought the Liam MacCarthy Cup to the Faithful County for the first time ever.
Johnny hand-passed the ball to the net at the Canal End goal in Croke Park in the closing stages of an epic duel against Galway. It is still one of the most cherished moments in Offaly GAA history.
But his contribution hurling was far greater than that one memorable score. One of the county’s longest serving players of all time, he was inducted into the Offaly GAA Hall of Fame in 2014 and also enjoyed great success with his club, Kinnitty.
It was evident to those who saw him playing as a teenager in the late 1960’s that Johnny was a special talent. It wasn’t long until he was welcomed onto the Offaly team and a bright future in the tricolour jersey was predicted.
He was a prominent member of the Offaly side that reached the Leinster final in 1969 after a 41 year gap. Unfortunately Offaly lost that game to Kilkenny and some barren years followed. In the mid-1970s, like so many young men of that era, emigration beckoned for Johnny and Offaly lost one of its brightest prospects.
But Johnny’s return to his native land in the late 1970’s coincided with not alone the greatest era in Kinnitty’s proud history, but also marked the start of Offaly’s emergence as a hurling power.
His two goals against Kilkenny as Offaly won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship title for the first time in 1980 epitomised his class at the top level.
1981 was to be a truly special year in the career of Johnny Flaherty and Offaly, when he took the hand pass from Brendan Bermingham and palmed the winning goal in the All-Ireland final, thus ensuring his name would be forever enshrined in GAA folklore.
Johnny had a special style all of his own: for a small man he was strong under the dropping ball and his clever sidestep and eye for goal caused endless difficulties for defenders. His ability to use the hand pass to great effect, allied to his vision in picking out a team-mate, set him apart from other forwards of his era.
Johnny made his debut for Offaly, wearing the number 12 jersey, in their 4-10 to 1-6 victory over Waterford in the Hurling League on November 6th 1966. He went on to make 26 Championship and 40 league appearances, despite missing out on the seasons 1975 to ‘78 while out of the country.
He was selected at no. 15 on the 1981 All-Star team and was also chosen on the Offaly Hurling Team of the Millennium.
With his club Kinnitty, Johnny won six Offaly Senior Hurling Championship medals between 1967 and 1985. He finished top scorer with 1-8 in their 1967 final victory over Coolderry and 0-6 in their 1978 win against St Rynagh’s.
Speaking on behalf of the Offaly GAA community, County Board Chairperson, Michael Duignan, has extended his sympathies to Mr Flaherty’s family, relatives and friends.
Mr Duignan stated: “Johnny Flaherty is one of the great legends of Offaly GAA who made a very special contribution to hurling in the county. His famous goal in the 1981 All-Ireland final is one of the truly iconic moments in the GAA as Offaly finally joined hurling’s elite.
“It was brilliant that Johnny’s perseverance in the Offaly colours, through good times and bad, would eventually bring the reward that he and his team mates deserved. That 1981 triumph inspired a new generation of Offaly hurlers who went on to achieve success at all levels.”
Michael Duignan added that Johnny Flaherty had become a close friend of his over the years, and they enjoyed many enjoyable times together, both at GAA games and on the golf course.
“I know Johnny took great delight in the revival of Offaly hurling’s fortunes in recent years and was thrilled with Leinster titles won by the Minor and Under 20 teams, and their appearances in All-Ireland finals. His presence at our games will be sorely missed from now on,” Mr Duignan stated.
Predeceased by his beloved wife Margaret, sister Nuala and brother Eamon. Johnny will be sadly missed by his loving daughters Claire and Shauna, sons in law Conor and Andy, grandson Éanna, his brothers Michael, Brendan and Jody, sister Helen, brothers in law, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
By Offaly PRO Wed 20th Dec
