Joe McDonagh, Irish sports administrator, Died at 62

Joseph “Joe” McDonagh was born in 1953 and died on May 20, 2016.

He was an Irish Gaelic games administrator.

Joe served as the President of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 1997 until 2000, and formerly a hurler with the Galway senior hurling team.

He was introduced to hurling by his father, a long-serving Gaelic games administrator and schoolteacher.

Joe McDonagh developed his hurling skills at Coláiste Éinde, while also excelling at Gaelic football as a result of the coaching of teacher Enda Colleran.

He enjoyed a lengthy club hurling career with Ballinderreen, while he also played Gaelic football with Cortoon Shamrocks and Barna.

Along with the University College Galway, McDonagh was a Fitzgibbon Cup medal-winner in 1977, while he was also a regular on the Sigerson Cup team.

Joe McDonagh made his début on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Galway minor team.

He was an All-Ireland runner-up in this grade, he later won an All-Ireland medal with the under-21 team.

Joe McDonagh made his senior début during the 1972-73 league.

Joe went on to play a key role for Galway during a breakthrough era, and won one All-Ireland medal as a non-playing substitute and one National Hurling League medal.

He was an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.

When he was a member of the Connacht inter-provincial team at various times throughout his career, McDonagh won two Railway Cup medals.

During his career, he made 15 championship appearances for Galway. His retirement came following the conclusion of the 1983 championship.

During retirement from playing McDonagh became involved in the administrative affairs of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Joe was selected to the Galway County Board as Irish Officer in 1979 and went on to represent Galway on the Central Council in 1988, being appointed to the chair of the hurling work group on his first day.

He was Runner-up to Jack Boothman in the 1993 election for the position, he subsequently became the 32nd President of the Gaelic Athletic Association between 1997 and 2000.

Joe McDonagh passed away at 62 yrs old.