Offaly hurling legend Johnny Flaherty dies aged 74

Offaly hurling great and All-Ireland winner Johnny Flaherty has died, aged 74.

Flaherty passed away on Wednesday morning following a short illness.

The Kinnitty clubman was one of the finest attackers of his generation and helped the Faithful County to their first ever Leinster Senior Hurling Championship triumph in 1980.

Flaherty's Offaly side would defend that title the following year but would go on to even greater glory, winning their first All-Ireland crown, with Flaherty playing a starring roll in the Faithful's 2-12 to 0-15 victory over defending champions Galway.

Flaherty famously scored the goal that brought the Liam MacCarthy Cup to Offaly when he hand-passed the to back of the net late on at Croke Park to secure victory.

For his performance in the 1981 final, Flaherty won his only All-Star but was named the Offaly hurler of the year in 1979 and 1981, and was named on the Offaly hurling team of the millennium in 2000.

Flaherty is survived by his two daughters and a grandson.

Below is an RTÉ report from 1988 on ash imports, which features an interview with Flaherty, who was a hurley maker.

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