Jimmy Smyth RIP

The legendary Clare hurler and former GAA administrator Jimmy Smyth has died, aged 82.

Commonly regarded as one of the finest hurlers ever produced by the Banner County, Jimmy Smyth leaves a rich legacy, having enjoyed a superb career as a player before going on to be a very well-respected and talented senior GAA administrator. Born on January 1, 1931, Jimmy had a very fruitful underage career, winning three Harty Cup and All-Ireland College’s titles with his school St. Flannan’s, and representing the Clare minor hurlers for five years.

A native of Ruan, he was first picked for the Clare senior team in 1948 and went on to have a very long career in the blue and gold jersey, not hanging up his hurl until the late 1960s. He won five senior Clare titles with Ruan, and was selected for Munster throughout his long playing career, winning eight Railway Cup medals.

He famously scored 6-4 in a Munster Championship match against Limerick in 1953, and his status as one of the all-time greats is reflected in his selection at right corner forward in the GAA Hurling Team of the Century of non All-Ireland winning players. He was also selected on the Munster Hurling Team of the Millennium in the same position. He was a close friend of the late Cork hurler Christy Ring, and the late Tipperary hurler John Doyle.

After his career with Clare ended, Jimmy worked in various capacities as an administrator for the GAA in Croke Park. Heavily involved in the area of fixtures, discipline and refereeing, Jimmy also played a big role in the organising of Central Congress from the 1970s onwards. He worked in Croke Park from the mid 1960s until 1988. After finishing at HQ, Jimmy completed degrees in Philosophy and Arts from Trinity College and the University of Limerick.