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JERRY GEANEY (RIP)

JERRY GEANEY


From his schoolboy days with St Mary's, Jerry Geaney was earmarked as a player to note. He didn't receive as much exposure as Tower or Glasheen players but he availed of his limited opportunities on the bigger stage.



In 1950 he was outstanding for the Mary's U16 team that was defeated 1-0 by Tower in the cup final at Turner's Cross. A few weeks later he scored the goal that earned Munster a draw against Leinster at the Mardyke. The return was played in Home Farm and Jerry went into many notebooks after another starring performance in a 2-2 draw.



Jerry won the first of many honours when helping St Mary's to the Munster Minor League title in 1951 and was once more recognized by local selectors who chose him on the Cork Selected Minor X1. Cork Athletic offered him terms and in the middle of the Carter season of 1953 he joined the League of Ireland club.



Opportunities were limited at the Mardyke and Jerry returned to St Mary's. When St Mary's joined the AUL in 1956 he was selected on their Inter League team for an annual challenge against the Dublin AUL. One year later he gained a coveted AOH Cup medal when helping the Saints to a dramatic victory over Fermoy.

Throughout the following decade his playing career continued with St Mary's and when rebuilding commenced he stepped down to assist the reserve side.



In Inter House football he played with Goulding's and with them he suffered a career ending injury when he broke his leg in Blackpool Park. Jerry was enrolled as an Honorary Life member of St Mary's in recognition of devoted service to the club. He was team manager on several occasions and his successes with Mary's led to his appointment in a similar capacity with the Cork AUL's Oscar Traynor Inter League side, a position he held on two occasions.

Jerry did his football business, with officials and referees, with a smile, often cracking the ice with a joke, before putting forward his question on behalf of his club or his players. He will be remembered throughout the city and isn't it appropriate that his last resting place will be at Kilcully, just a kick of a ball away from St Mary's Park.

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