Mick Mackey

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**Mick Mackey**
Personal information
Sport	Hurling
Irish Name	Mícheál Mac Aodha
Date of Birth	12 July 1912
Date of Death	September, 1982
Place of birth	Castleconnell, County Limerick
Club information
Club	Ahane
Position	Half-forward
Club(s)*
Club	Years	Apps (scores)

Inter County
County	Limerick
Position	Centre-forward
Inter County(ies)**
County	Years	Apps (scores)
Limerick	1930-1946
Inter County Titles
Munster Titles	5
All-Ireland	3
* club appearances and scores correct as of . **Inter County team apps and scores correct as of .

Mick Mackey (July 12, 1912 – September, 1982) was a famous Irish sportsperson who played hurling for Limerick between 1930 and 1946. He has gained iconic status in the sport and is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.

1 Early life
2 Playing career
- 2.1 Club
- 2.2 Inter-county
3 Retirement
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Early life

Michael Mackey was born in Castleconnell, County Limerick in 1912. He was born into a family that was steeped in the traditions of the game of hurling. His grandfather, Michael Mackey, was involved in the promotion of Gaelic Games even before the establishment of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884. His father, John 'Tyler' Mackey, captained Limerick in the 1910 All-Ireland Hurling Final and was one of the greats of the game in the early 20th century. In 1926 the young Mackey became involved in the newly-formed Ahane GAA club.

[edit] Playing career

[edit] Club

Three years after joining the Ahane club Mackey had his first major victory in the Limerick Junior Hurling Championship final. Mackey would later go on to have much more success with the club in both hurling and football. Ahane were the kingpins of hurling during Mackey's club career. In all he won 15 Limerick SHC titles, beginning by capturing his first senior title in 1931. He later won seven championships in-a-row from 1933 to 1939, and again from 1942 to 1948. Mackey also won five Limerick SFC titles in-a-row with Ahane between 1935 and 1939.

[edit] Inter-county

Mackey first played senior hurling for Limerick in 1930, aged 18. Over the next decade or so Mick and his brother John would be two key parts on one of the greatest hurling teams ever. In 1933 Mackey won his very first Munster Championship medal, however, his side subsequently lost out to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Mackey and Limerick were still the kingpins of Munster in 1934, however, this time they went all the way and defeated Dublin to win the All-Ireland title. A third Munster title was claimed by Mackey in 1935, however, the side once again lost out to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Mackey and Limerick made it four Munster titles in-a-row in 1936, with Mackey scoring 5 goals and 3 points against Tipperary, and subsequently claimed a second All-Ireland victory. With Mackey as captain Limerick were finally able to overcome Kilkenny. The next few years saw Limerick make early exits in the Munster Championship. In spite of this the Mackey’s side claimed a fifth National Hurling League title in-a-row in 1938. Two years later in 1940 Mackey was captain of Limerick’s hurlers again. His side claimed yet another Munster title before going on to defeat reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.

In 1941 Mackey’s brother, Paddy, died. As was customary at the time both Mick and John Mackey withdrew from championship hurling for one year. During the Emergency in Ireland Mackey joined the army. Here he maintained his physical fitness and played in many brigade and division games. During his playing career he frequently attended rugby and soccer games in spite of the GAA ban on members attending “foreign games.” Mackey continued hurling in the 1940s, however, Cork were the dominant team of the time. No further honours came Mackey’s way and he retired in 1946.

Mackey also won 8 Railway Cup medals with Munster, lining out on the same team as his great foe Christy Ring.

[edit] Retirement

In retirement from playing Mackey came to be regarded as one of the legends of the game and is frequently touted as the greatest player of all-time. He was physically imposing and his swashbuckling style brought huge crowds to see him play, especially to Thurles Sportsfield now Semple Stadium, where he had his greatest triumphs against the cream of Munster hurling. Duyring his playing days he developed the modern solo-run style with the sliothar resting on the hurley. In his later years he maintained a keen interest in the game. He officiated at games as a referee and as an umpire and he trained the Limerick side, known as “Mackey’s greyhounds,” that defeated Clare in the 1955 Munster final. The Mackey Stand at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds is named in his honour.

Mick Mackey died in September 1982. His funeral was one of the biggest-ever for a sportsperson in Ireland. He was posthumously honoured on the GAA’s Hurling Team of the Century and on the Hurling Team of the Millennium.

Preceded by Lory Meagher (Kilkenny)	All-Ireland Hurling Final winning captain 1936	Succeeded by Jimmy Lanigan (Tipperary)
Preceded by Jimmy Walsh (Kilkenny)	All-Ireland Hurling Final winning captain 1940	Succeeded by Connie Buckley (Cork)

	Limerick - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 1934 (4th title)
1 T. Shinny \| 2 N. Cregan \| 3 T. McCarthy \| 4 M. Cross \| 5 M. Kennedy \| 6 G. Howard \| 7 P. Clohessy \| 8 M. Ryan \| 9 J. Mackey \| 10 T. Ryan (Capt.) \| 11 J. O'Connell \| 12 J. Roche \| 13 J. Close \| 14 D. Clohessy \| 15 M. Mackey \|

	Limerick - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 1936 (5th title)
1 P. Scanlon \| 2 T. McCarthy \| 3 P. O'Carroll \| 4 M. Kennedy \| 5 M. Cross \| 6 P. Clohessy \| 7 G. Howard \| 8 M. Ryan \| 9 T. Ryan \| 10 J. Mackey \| 11 M. Mackey (Capt.) \| 12 J. Roche \| 13 D. Clohessy \| 14 P. McMahon \| 15 J. Power \|

	Limerick - All-Ireland Hurling Champions 1940 (6th title)
1 P. Scanlon \| 2 J. McCarthy \| 3 M. Hickey \| 4 M. Kennedy \| 5 T. Cooke \| 6 P. Clohessy \| 7 P. Cregan \| 8 T. Ryan \| 9 J. Roche \| 10 J. Mackey \| 11 M. Mackey (Capt.) \| 12 D. Stokes \| 13 N. Clarke \| 14 P. McMahon \| 15 J. Power \| Subs: T. Herbert \|

	GAA Hurling Team of the Century (1984)
1 Tony Reddin \| 2 Bobby Rackard \| 3 Nick O'Donnell \| 4 John Doyle \| 5 Jimmy Finn \| 6 John Keane \| 7 Paddy Phelan \| 8 Lory Meagher \| 9 Jack Lynch \| 10 Christy Ring \| 11 Mick Mackey \| 12 Jim Langton \| 13 Jimmy Doyle \| 14 Nicky Rackard \| 15 Eddie Keher \|

	GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium (2000)
1 Tony Reddin \| 2 John Doyle \| 3 Nick O'Donnell \| 4 Bobby Rackard \| 5 Paddy Phelan \| 6 John Keane \| 7 Brian Whelahan \| 8 Lory Meagher \| 9 Jack Lynch \| 10 Christy Ring \| 11 Mick Mackey \| 12 Jim Langton \| 13 Eddie Keher \| 14 Ray Cummins \| 15 Jimmy Doyle \|

	Munster Hurling Team of the Millennium (2000)
1 Tony Reddin \| 2 John Doyle \| 3 Brian Lohan \| 4 Denis Murphy \| 5 Jimmy Finn \| 6 John Keane \| 7 Jackie Power \| 8 Jack Lynch \| 9 Phil Grimes \| 10 Jimmy Doyle \| 11 Mick Mackey \| 12 Christy Ring \| 13 Jimmy Smyth \| 14 Ray Cummins \| 15 Paddy Barry \|