There was pride and emotion at Croke Park as the 2001 Galway All-Ireland winning squad were honoured on the pitch for their Jubilee celebration ahead of the All-Ireland Football Final.
Representing our late club legend Paul Clancy was his son, Finn, who walked out onto Croke Park to take Paul’s place alongside his former Galway teammates.
Finn represented his father with great poise and dignity, receiving a warm and emphatic applause from all fans in Croke Park.
Paul, who passed away earlier this summer, remains one of the finest players to ever wear the green and white of Maigh Cuilinn and the maroon and white of Galway.
The 2001 campaign was historic. Galway became the first county to win an All-Ireland senior football title through the newly introduced qualifier system.
Wearing the number 10 jersey throughout that relentless summer run, Paul was central to the team’s success, capping off the year with a two-point contribution from wing-forward in the final victory over Meath (0-17 to 0-8).
It added a second Celtic Cross to his collection following the 1998 triumph over Kildare.
While Paul is dearly missed by everyone in Maigh Cuilinn and across Irish GAA circles, seeing Finn stand in his father’s shoes at Croke Park was a deeply moving tribute.
On behalf of everyone at Maigh Cuilinn Football Club, we congratulate Finn on doing his dad and his family proud, and we continue to hold Paul’s family in our thoughts.
