Mick Mackey : Hurling Legend in a Troubled County

[9781848891012]

From 1933 to 1940 Limerick hurlers dominated hurling. Mick Mackey was key in that era, driving his team to three All-Ireland titles, five Munster championships and five national leagues. Aged 28 in 1940, the greatest hurler of the era, Mackey would have expected to achieve more. But he failed to win another major medal and Christy Ring emerged as his rival. Success was replaced by defeat, curious team selections, bickering and politics. Mackey also achieved success in the railway cup with Munster, and with Ahane, who dominated Limerick hurling for many years. But their reign ended in 1949 following a near-fatal row in a club game, when Mick Herbert almost lost his life. Mackey was a key witness in the subsequent court trial. Undeterred by the off-field politics, Mackey set out to again make Limerick a force in hurling, and, from the sideline, inspired a Munster success in 1955. He was a county board delegate to the Munster Council and a Munster Railway Cup selector for many years. This is an in-depth account of the life and hurling career of Mick Mackey and his beloved Limerick as recollected by close associates, former teammates, opponents and relations.