The death occurred last week of former Offaly hurler Padraig Horan at the age of 76.. He captained Offaly to their first All-Ireland hurling success in 1981. In a lengthy inter-county career which began at the end of the 1960s, Horan was to the fore as the Faithful County shocked Kilkenny to win a maiden Leinster title in 1980. Offaly had arrived, with the St Ryangh’s clubman adding three more provincial crowns and another MacCarthy success, in 1985, to his collection. As a coach, he managed Offaly to win a National League title in 1991, while four years later he was manager when Birr won the All-Ireland senior club final. A former student of Padraig’s said that he was ‘‘A bullock of a man on the pitch, a gent off it.’’
The death also occurred in Australia last week of Brian Smith, at the age of 59. The former half-back who won international caps for Australia and Ireland before forging a successful coaching career. Smith featured in both rugby union and league during his playing career, winning five Wallabies caps in 1987 before switching allegiance to Ireland two years later. He won nine Ireland caps before making the switch to the professional code with the Balmain Tigers Rugby League team in 1991. A versatile player, Smith played at out-half and scrum-half during his career. He had most recently been head of sport at Scots College in Sydney.
