Limerick remember Joe O'Mahony

Limerick FC have paid tribute to their late defender Joe O’Mahony by retiring the No4 jersey which the defender wore for two decades in the Republic of Ireland.

O'Mahony passed away recently at the age of 65, and his contribution to football in Limerick will be remembered. He was skipper of the Limerick side which won the league title in 1980, and also had the honour of captaining the team in their European Champion Clubs' Cup encounter with Real Madrid FC the same year. O'Mahony made over 400 appearances for Limerick between 1966 and 1986 and in tribute to their former skipper, his No4 shirt will no longer be worn.

"Limerick FC deeply regrets the passing of Joe O'Mahony, one of the greatest soccer players ever produced by Limerick," said club chairman Pat O'Sullivan. "In appreciation of the contribution made by Joe O'Mahony to Limerick soccer, we feel it is appropriate and fitting to retire the No4 jersey which was worn with so much distinction by Joe."

Former Republic of Ireland manager Eoin Hand, who was in charge of the Limerick side which won the league in 1980, also paid tribute to O'Mahony. "He was the best captain I could have had," he told limerickfc.ie. "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."