John Keane (hurler)

John Keane (18 February 1917 – 1 October 1975) was an Irish hurler who played as a centre-back at senior level for the Waterford county team.

Born in Waterford, Keane first played competitive hurling during his school days at Mount Sion CBS.

He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of fifteen when he first linked up with the Waterford minor team, before later lining out with the junior side.

As a representative of the Munster inter-provincial team for twelve years, Keane won seven Railway Cup medals during that period.

Keane was educated at Mount Sion School, a great hurling nursery and a cradle of all things Gaelic and nationalist where he became the star hurler – going on to represent the Munster colleges team for three successive years.

In 1934 Keane was just seventeen when he became a central figure on the Waterford junior hurling team that reached the provincial decider.

A close game developed, however, Waterford triumphed by 3–5 to 3–3, giving Keane an All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship medal.

Goalkeeper Charlie Ware made some great saves while Johnny O'Connor stymied Cork's chief scorer Christy Ring to secure a 4–7 to 3–9 victory.

He trained his own Mount Sion club to many county victories in the 1950s and 1960s including a record-equalling nine Waterford senior hurling titles in succession.

In the eighteen years between 1948 and 1965 the Mount Sion club won fifteen county senior hurling titles and John was associated as player or coach with every success.

In 1962 Keane guided Waterford to an Oireachtas title and the following year to National Hurling League and Munster honours.

He knew that his time on earth was limited so, shortly before his death, Keane embarked on a tour of the country to visit many of his former hurling opponents.

After visiting Jackie Power in Tralee Keane was travelling to Limerick when he died on the side of the road near Tarbert, County Kerry, on 1 October 1975.