Hand pays tribute to "Inspirational" O'Mahony

Former Limerick manager Eoin Hand has paid a glowing tribute to Joe O’Mahony who he says was “an inspiration to everybody”, after the club’s League and Cup-winning captain sadly passed away this week.

Hand arrived at Limerick as player/manager in 1979 and in O’Mahony’s words the man who would soon go on to take charge of the Republic of Ireland “turned senior soccer in this city right around”.

The pair enjoyed wonderful memories together, with the Shannonsiders capturing just the second League title of the club’s history in 1980, before adding a second FAI Cup two years later.

Such was Joe’s impact at the club across 20 years of service – which included FAI Cup success in 1971 and a League Cup triumph in 1975 – that Limerick have immediately retired the No4 jersey in his memory.

Hand was in the Treaty City on Wednesday evening as Limerick FC Chairman Pat O’Sullivan presented the No 4 jersey to the O’Mahony family.

And speaking to LimerickFC.ie, he was delighted to see his friend – who he stated was “so consistently brilliant” as a player – receive such an honour.

“I knew of Joe’s reputation but it was my position he was playing in,” Eoin explained, reflecting on when he first arrived at Limerick. “Immediately when I saw how good he was, I had to rethink my whole team selection and put myself in a different position because he was going to be better than me.

“He was such a very good player. He read the game brilliantly. He was like a Bobby Moore. I can’t remember Joe ever having a bad game. He was so consistent and so dedicated and he just loved playing for Limerick.

“Every game – whether we lost it or whatever happened – Joe was the most consistent. You could never say ‘Joe, you were off form today’. It just never happened.

“He was just so consistently brilliant. I’m not overstating anything. He was a gem.

“I’m very grateful that Joe was there because really all that happened in my career, all the good things happened with Limerick. Of course, Joe was at the leadership of all that.

“He was the best captain I could have had. I immediately had him as captain and we went on a fairly strict fitness regime. Joe embraced it and that set the example to all the younger guys there.

“He was just an inspiration to everybody. He also was a very good friend all through and afterwards. He was such a lovely man, on and off-the-pitch.

“He played the game with absolute integrity and would set an example to all – not like the nonsense we see going on now. He never resorted to anything other than fair means to win a game.

“He gave it as much as he possibly could. It was just great that he did have the success that we did, winning the League and the Cup.

“Joe’s enthusiasm was infectious, there’s no doubt about that. It’s a sad loss and I think it’s a really lovely tribute that has been made now that the No4 shirt is going to be retired forever.”

Asked if he was surprised that the club had retired the jersey, Eoin added: “I’m not surprised, but I just think it is a lovely thing to do.

“I suppose it’s the ultimate tribute that a football club can give to any player. It doesn’t happen that often, even to great players that you hear of.

“It has to be club football, not international as such, but there’s not that many that get that kind of an honour attributed to them. His family I think do really appreciate the gesture.”

And for Hand, there is little doubt that O’Mahony is one of the best players that has graced the League of Ireland.

“It wouldn’t be just my opinion,” he said. “Any of the opposition guys that we ever played against would say ‘you couldn’t get the better of Joe O’Mahony’.

“He just read the game so well, he was so positive in everything he did on the pitch and he contributed a few goals as well.

“He didn’t know how good he was because he was such a modest man. He never gave that impression at all – he was so approachable, to everybody, whether it was the opposition lads talking after the game or even before a game.

“Supporters as well, I never saw Joe being anything other than very welcoming to anyone who would approach him and talk about the game or whatever. He was a lovely, lovely man.”