Galway’s All-Ireland winning team of 1998 are fondly remembered throughout the country.
They defeated Kildare in the All-Ireland final, bringing Sam Maguire across the Shannon for the first time in 32 years.
Michael Donnellan, Ja Fallon and Padraic Joyce were the stars on a team that was managed by the late John O’Mahony.
The celebrations were ecstatic out west, with the story brilliantly captured on the most famous GAA documentary of all ‘A Year ‘Til Sunday.’
The piece was put together by Pat Comer, a videographer who was the sub goalie on the Galway panel, giving him access to all areas. It contains brilliant interviews, with John Divilly and Michael Donnellan prominent throughout.
It also brought viewers into team-meetings which showed O’Mahony at his motivational best.
Footage of one such meeting featuring a newspaper article that criticised Galway is widely remembered.
“Only one f*cking answer for that lads,” he said to the team, holding up the paper.
Galway captain Ray Silke hoists the Cup. Sportsfile.
His speech at half-time of the All-Ireland final was similarly passionate. "It's the biggest day of your lives, make it the best day of your lives," he said famously, with the documentary endearing the team and its manager to the masses.
That triumph was 26 years ago now and with Galway chasing down another Sam Maguire, we look back on that 1998 team. Where are they all now?
1. Martin McNamara
It was a dream 1998 for the Corofin man, first winning an All-Ireland with his club before following it up with a Celtic Cross and an All-Star.
He retired in early 2001, missing out on Galway’s second triumph before becoming a selector under Tomás Ó Flatharta in 2011.
He was Galway’s goalkeeping coach for two years at the beginning of Padraic Joyce’s tenure, and now runs a driving school in Tuam.
2. Tomás Meehan
Was a sub on the All-Ireland winning team of 2001 before playing a key role in Caltra’s famous All-Ireland club triumph in 2004, along with five of his younger brothers.
He now works for the GAA.
3. Gary Fahey
Captained Galway to glory in 2001 with his brother Richie having also been a panellist for both triumphs.
A family full of sporting talent, his sister Niamh also won an All-Ireland ladies football title with Galway before embarking on a career in professional soccer.
She now plays for Liverpool and Ireland, featuring in the 2022 World Cup. Fahey himself works as an engineer for Teleflex and was part of a team that developed a version of carbon fibre hurley.
4. Tomás Mannion
Won an All-Star in 1998 and was on the Galway team again in 2001, before retiring in 2002 after a 13 year inter-county career.
Mannion also won county senior hurling (Abbeyknockmoy) and football (Monivea Abbey) titles and works as a beef and sheep farmer.
5. Ray Silke
1998 was the year he achieved the unique distinction of captaining his club and county to All-Ireland glory.
Works as an economics and business teacher in Colaiste Iognaid in Galway city having previously taught a number of the Galway players in St Jarlath’s, Tuam.
His nephew Liam will be in the Galway half back line this Sunday, continuing the family tradition.
6. John Divilly
‘Delivery’ lost his place on the 2001 team after an injury in a club game before moving to Leixlip and playing for Kildare in 2006.
He works for Padraic Joyce’s recruitment agency PJ Personnel and is a backs coach and selector on the team. Lives in Dublin and has been UCD’s Sigerson Coach for the last ten years.
7. Sean Óg De Paor
The Connemara native won All-Stars in ‘98 and ‘01 and played for Galway until 2005, having torn his cruciate in ‘04.
Inspired his club An Cheathrú Rua to their only ever Galway senior title in 1996 and wrote his autobiography, Lá An Phaoraigh, fully through Irish.
Works as a teacher and is a regular contributor to TG4’s GAA coverage.
8. Kevin Walsh
The Killanin man had accepted his inter-county career was over by 1997 due to injuries, only for John O’Mahony to coax him back in ‘98. He starred in both All-Ireland triumphs, winning three All-Stars (‘98, ‘01, ‘03).
Retired in 2004, before managing Sligo from 2008 to 2013. He then took over Galway from 2014 to 2019, winning two Connacht titles, and was part of John Cleary’s Cork backroom team this year.
Previously a financial planner, he runs his own GAA coaching business, GrowCoach.
9. Sean O Domhnaill
The towering Cheathrú Rua club-man won another All-Ireland in 2001 and played for Galway until 2004.
Was part of Galway’s management team in 2010 and has coached a number of clubs in Galway, including his sons’ underage teams in An Cheathrú Rua.
10. Michael Donnellan
All-Ireland final man-of-the-match and Texaco Footballer of the Year in ‘98, Donnellan was midfield on the 2001 winning team.
He won three All-Stars in total as well as an All-Ireland club title with Salthill Knocknacarra in 2006, having transferred from Dunmore MacHales at the beginning of the season.
Also had a spell in the League of Ireland playing with Galway United.
“Michael was a one-in-a-million type player, a treasure,” his manager O’Mahony once said of his talents.
11. Ja Fallon
Having torn his cruciate in 2000, Fallon battled back to play a starring role in Galway’s triumph in 2001.
He played rugby for Connacht but when he was only offered a part-time contract by Warren Gatland in ‘98, he opted for Gaelic football instead.
He became a Galway selector in 2007 after his Galway retirement and works for An Post.
12. Shay Walsh
Having been a super-sub for much of the year, Walsh started the ‘98 decider. He works for Irish Water.
13. Derek Savage
Played for Galway up until 2007 and with his club Cortoon Shamrocks as player/manager up until very recently, winning a Galway intermediate championship in 2020.
Was the under-20 manager this year with Ja Fallon in his backroom team.
14. Padraic Joyce
Played for Galway up until 2012, winning All-Stars in ‘98, ‘00 and ‘01. He won four county titles with his club Killererin and runs his own recruitment agency PJ Personnel.
He has managed Galway since 2019, winning three Connacht titles.
15. Niall Finnegan
Retired at the beginning of the 2001 season aged 30 and is a senior partner in Branigan Cosgrove solicitors in Dublin.
Sub:
Paul Clancy
Had nailed down a starting spot by 2001, kicking 0-2 against Meath in the final. Has been the chairman of his club Maigh Cuilinn in recent years and works for the ESB in Dublin.
Manager: John O’Mahony
Having won a famous Connacht title with Leitrim in 1994, O’Mahony enjoyed his most successful spell with Galway.
Also managed his native Mayo and is the most successful manager in Connacht championship history with eight titles.
Was a TD and a member of the Seanad and worked with clubs and counties such as Carlow and Leitrim in recent years. Passed away in early July and was described by sub ‘keeper Pat Comer as ‘the first of that crew to go.’
“It seems strange to be honest about it, talking about him in the past tense. That’s probably the most difficult thing to get your head around.”
27 September 1998; Galway captain Ray Silke, centre, and Michael Donnellan and team manager John O'Mahony with the Sam Maguire Cup at a reception in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin after the Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final match between Kildare and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile
The Galway team paid O'Mahony a tribute during a minute silence before their recent semi-final win over Donegal, lining out in a V for Vanguard; a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas.
