Passing of hurling mastermind Neil Williams
The mastermind behind the golden era of Toomevara hurling, Neil Williams passed away to his eternal reward on Saturday at the age of 95.
A native of Cloughjordan, he attended the local national school before receiving his secondary education at Ballyfin College in Laois. After qualifying as a national schoolteacher, his first appointment was in Newport where he remained until becoming principal of Ballinree NS in parish of Toomevara in 1958, succeeding the late Michael Bourke, before later moving on to Toomevara.
The strong GAA family background had an early influence on his life, winning North juvenile hurling medals with Kilruane MacDonaghs in 1943 & 44, the latter adding a county success.
At adult level, Neil played on the MacDonaghs senior team that lost the 1952 & 1953 North senior finals to Borris-Ileigh. He transferred to Toomevara upon becoming principal in Ballinree from where he became immersed in the club.
At the time, the greyhounds were making strides at senior level and immediately slotted in at centre back and played a key role in the club winning the 1958 North Championship, a first success in twelve years. With Tom Shanahan and Matt O’Gara his wing men, they formed one of the great half-back lines in club hurling during the period and continued to do so for a decade.
During his time, he won North senior titles in 1960, 61 & 62, the latter as captain, as well as winning a county championship medal in 1960. In Gaelic football, he was also won county senior medals with divisional team St Flannan’s in 1958, 59 & 61.
At inter-county level, he won Oireachtas and National Hurling League medals with Tipperary in 1961.
Off the field, he took an active interest in the administration of the GAA at club and county level. He was secretary of North Tipperary Bord na nOg and was also a county board member for a long number of years.
It is coaching where Neil Williams excelled, becoming actively involved in juvenile hurling in Toomevara.
Over the years he devoted his time and energy to coaching the juveniles of the parish and his enormous success rate at under 12 is unlikely to be ever equalled.
The success of Toomevara adult teams around the turn of the millennium is largely attributed to his coaching and all the players that went onto represent the Toomevara parish at adult level have passed through his hands on their way to success.
As a player, he excelled in ground hurling and in coaching he endeavoured to instil into players the advantages of first-time hurling. His ability to read a game, assess the skills of players, and his approach, both on and off the field and during games, won him the admiration of all who came in contact with him.
These qualities and service to the GAA were recognised as Tipperary Clubman of the Year in 1986.
In the North Tipperary GAA history, his former Toomevara and Tipperary team-mate, Matt Hassett wrote: “Neil Williams served his adopted parish and the GAA with great devotion and dedication. He was an outstanding teacher and this was well recognised by all the pupils and their parents, who attended the school in Ballinree and later in Toomevara. He was dedicated to anything he did in very walk of life as a player, official, coach and teacher.”
Predeceased by his wife Eileen (née Collins), and brothers Sean, Roche & Joe, Neil Williams is survived by his brother Pat, and his sister-in-law Helen, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.
He reposed at SS. Michael's and John's Church, Cloughjordan on Monday night, prior to which he was accorded a guard of honour by Kilruane MacDonaghs and Toomevara clubs.
His funeral mass was held on Tuesday, 3rd November, with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam.