ANTHONY DALY paid an emotional tribute to Michael Coleman – describing the Galway GAA legend as a “gentleman and a character”.
The 1988 All-Ireland winner was tragically killed on Friday night near his Abbeyknockmoy home while cleaning up debris from Storm Éowyn.
Galway and Clare players partook in a meticulously observed minute’s silence in his honour prior to their Division 1A hurling league encounter at the weekend.
And speaking on Allianz League Sunday, former Banner star Anthony Daly paid tribute to Coleman in an emotional address.
He said: “I just couldn’t believe the news.
“I knew Paddy Cullen had been sick and that sort of thing. It was emotional.
“Michael was a top man. He played whatever way he wanted on the field. He was an absolute tremendous midfielder.
“Swash-buckling, left hand, top work rate.
“He is also a pillar of the community in Abbeyknockmoy. He brought them to their one and only championship.
“For the people of Abbeyknockmoy and most of all for Mary and Darragh Sinead and the Colemans, it is so sad for them tonight.
“Tragic news for them to hear. He was a gent, he was a character. He was just a lovely guy to meet.
“Whether you met him at the Galway Races, Salthill, Ennis, Parnell Park.
“It will be a huge loss following on from Tony Keeley’s passing from that great team.”
Coleman won an All-Ireland Under-21 title with his county in 1983 and starred in midfield for their seniors when they claimed Liam MacCarthy five years later.
The 61-year-old is survived by his wife Mary along with their daughter Sinéad and son Dara.
He retired from the inter-county scene in 1999, having made his debut in 1987.
He won All-Stars in 1989, 1990 and 1995.
In the wake of Galway’s win over the Banner, captain Conor Whelan said: “It would be remiss of me to not pay tribute to Michael Coleman.
“We said beforehand if we could take an ounce of the attitude he displayed in the Galway jersey over the years, we probably wouldn’t be in a bad place.
“Sport is important but there are bigger things happening in Galway today.”
