Gifted Louth All Ireland medal winner Ollie Reilly dies
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| Former Louth great Ollie Reilly |
Louth’s 1957 All-Ireland SFC winner Ollie Reilly passed away on 5th April 2009.
Hunterstown Rovers clubman Reilly wore the No.2 shirt as the Wee County beat Cork by two points at Croke Park to lift the Sam Maguire Cup 52 years ago.
He was an ever-present for Louth throughout their glorious campaign that year and is the fourth member of the 1957 All-Ireland winning team to pass on to his eternal reward.
It was while playing with the local Ballapousta cchool team at the age of 14 that Ollie’s football ability was first noticed and he gained a place on the Ardee Parish under 16 team. In 1954 he won a minor championship medal with Ardee minors.
It was that year that he won second division championship and Ranafast Cup medals with Hunterstown Rovers. He also starred on the winning Mid-Louth minor team and was selected at left full on the Louth minor team.
Out of minor ranks, he was placed on the last line of defence on the county junior team. He was called upon to play in Croke Park in the national league against Dublin in late 1955. This was his first senior intercounty match playing in the right half position, marking Dublin’s Cathal O’Leary.
Ollie’s next game was against Kildare in the first round of the 1956 Leinster championship, in the right full back berth, a position he was to make his own for several years.
1957 was the highlight of Ollie’s career as he helped Louth to win the Leinster and All-Ireland championships, playing in every game en route to the Sam Maguire Cup.
In 1959, Ollie captained Hunterstown Rovers to the Louth junior football championship- the greatest moment in the club’s history.
He continued to serve his club until his retirement in the mid-sixties. His sons Dennis and Colm also wore the club colours and Dennis lined out for Louth.
Posted: April 7th, 2009 under Football, International Rules.