R.I.P Eamon McKay

Thursday 22nd August 2024

Coiste Chontae an Dúin and the family that is Down GAA are saddened to learn of the death of Eamon McKay, Goalkeeper on our All Ireland Winning Teams of 1960 and 61. We offer our deepest sympathy to his wife Edna, his sons and daughters, Karen, Steven, Shirley and Edwin, Sons in Law  Barry and  Paul, daughters in law Naoise and Cathy, his grandchildren Conac, Kieran, Peter, Catriona, Tara, Finn, Ciaran and Niall. To the Gaels of Dundrum, we also offer our condolences on the passing of a man who gave great service to the Club as a Player, Team Manager and President.

Eamon McKay made his Championship debut for Down in 1957 when a poor Down display saw us exit the Championship in Round One with a heavy defeat to Donegal, it was a long journey home for Down players, management and supporters, but there was hope and hope had come in the display that day in Ballyshannon, of a Goalkeeper from Dundrum, Eamon McKay and in preparing for the Lagan Cup Campaign of that year,  the selectors put their faith in the man from Dundrum.

 Eamon McKay was an ever present for Down from then until he would retire in 1962, and when we look at the newspaper reports of that era, we read more often than not that "Eamon Mckay was sound in goal".

Eamon would win an Ulster Senior Medal in 1959 when he would keep a clean sheet against a mighty Cavan attack, he had built a great relationship with the men in front of him George Lavery, Leo Murphy and Pat Rice, and with a point bank save in that Ulster Final, Eamon ensured that Down were Ulster Champions for the first time and on their way to Croke Park. Galway would end the dream in 1959 but Eamon would like his colleagues, greater days ahead.

History will show that Down defeated Kerry by 2-10 to 0-8 in the All Ireland Final of 1960, yet the story of 1960, tells us of a Goalkeeper who kept three clean sheets in the three major finals that year in  Croke Park, a clean sheet as Down won a first National League once again defeating Cavan on a score line of 0-12 to 0-9 and then a clean sheet in the All Ireland Football Final as on more than one occasion,  Eamon McKay denied the great Mick O Connell a score, followed with a clean sheet against New York,  in the St Brendan Cup Final, an achievement not matched by many.

 This was no mean feat for this was an era when the Goalkeeper was on occasions bundled into the net, ball and all, Eamon McKay held no fear, he was brave, he was courageous and he gave of his very best for Down on every occasion.

The 1961 campaign would once again see Eamon man the goals for Down and in the final v Offaly he would once again keep a cool head, when the pressure was great and Offaly were threatening to dominate proceedings, Eamon McKay showed that along with his colleagues that they were a set of men apart from any other that had graced Croke Park, Sam Maguire returned to the Mournes and Eamon McKay had once again been to the fore. 1961 would also see Eamon represent Ulster in the Railway Cup and in 1962, he would add a second National League Medal to his  collection as he gave a brilliant display as Down defeated Dublin in the Final. 1962 would see Eamon line out again in the Ulster Final v Cavan in Casement Park as Down went in search of a fourth Ulster title in a row, it was a day when nothing went right for Down and for Eamon in particular, when he went off injured in the first half of the game in what was to be his last championship appearance for Down.

Throughout Ireland people can name that Down team of 1960 without hesitation and its is fitting that they should start with the name of Eamon McKay, for he was the number one of that era, he was the man who often stood between defeat and victory, he produced heroics when they were needed, but more often than not, he was just solid, he did his job, he kept the goal clear, he was steady, brave and courageous, he was humble, a man who never sought the limelight, but a man who played a key role in ensuring that the men of 1960 and 61, would rightly take their places in the annals of the great's of Gaelic Games. 

We in Down GAA were honoured and privileged to have Eamon McKay amongst our ranks and we can only say thank you for the memories that you gave us and the difference that you made to the lives of so many,  in a golden era for Down Football.

Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam