Sylvie Linnane
Encyclopedia
Sylvie Linnane is an Irish
retired sportsman. He played hurling
with his local club Gort
and was a member of the Galway
senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s. Linnane is regarded as one of Galway’s greatest-ever players and multi all-star winner.
and enjoyed some success. He won his first county title in 1981. This was later converted into a Connacht
club title, however, Gort were defeated by James Stephens
in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final. Linnane captured another brace of county and provincial titles in 1983 before lining out in his first All-Ireland club final. Gort took on Ballyhale Shamrocks
on that occasion, however, victory went to the Kilkenny
men on the day.
at under-age levels. At minor level he lined out in the All-Ireland final of 1973, however, Kilkenny
were victorious on that occasion. Linnane later played with the Galway under-21 team, however, he had little success in this grade.
Linanne later joined the Galway senior team in the late 1970s. That year the team shocked Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final for the second time of the decade. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Linnane come on as a substitute as Galway played Kilkenny. In one of the least exciting finals of the decade Galway continued their losing streak and capitulated to ‘the Cats’ by 2-12 to 1-8.
In 1980 Galway defeated Kildare
and Offaly
to reach a second consecutive All-Ireland final. On that occasion Limerick
provided the opposition. Galway got off to a good start with two goals and led by 2-7 to 1-5 at the interval. Limerick fought back in the second-half; however, Galway secured the victory by 2-15 to 3-9. It was Linnane’s first All-Ireland
medal and Galway’s first since 1923. The celebrations at Croke Park
on that occasion surpassed anything that had ever been seen before.
In 1981 both Galway and Limerick met in the All-Ireland semi-final, however, it took a replay to find a winner. Galway emerged to take part in their third All-Ireland final in-a-row. Offaly, a team that Linnane’s side defeated on the way to the championship the previous year now provided the opposition. In another close encounter Galway looked set to make history as they took a six point lead after the interval. The team, however, failed to score for the last twenty-three minutes and Offaly took their first All-Ireland title.
The next three seasons saw Galway defeated at the All-Ireland semi-final stage. Linnane’s side returned to the big time in 1985 when Galway defeated reigning champions Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final, a victory which allowed the team advance to the All-Ireland final. That game was a close affair; however, for the second year in-a-row Offaly got the better of Galway in the All-Ireland series. In spite of losing another championship decider Linnane was presented with a coveted All-Star
award.
In 1986 Linnane lined out in his fifth All-Ireland final. Cork were the opponents on that occasion but Galway, having played in the championship decider the previous year, were regarded as the red-hot favourites. The favourites tag counted for little as Cork won an exciting game on a score line of 4-13 to 2-15. In spite of losing another championship decider Linnane was presented with a second All-Star award.
In 1987 Linnane captured a National Hurling League
medal before his side reached the All-Ireland final for a third year in-a-row. The pressure was on the team as no side had ever lost three successive All-Ireland finals. The experience gained in the two previous championship deciders showed against a Kilkenny side that was over the hill. Galway won the game on a score line of 1-12 to 0-9 and Linnane collected his second All-Ireland medal.
In 1988 Galway reached the All-Ireland final for the fourth consecutive year. Tipperary
, the team Galway defeated in the previous year’s semi-final, provided the opposition. In a close game Galway emerged victorious and Linnane collected his third All-Ireland medal. He finished off the year by winning a third All-Star award. Linnane retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured his first Railway Cup title in 1980 as Connacht defeated Munster
. Linnane later collected further Railway Cup medals in 1982, 1983 and 1986.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
retired sportsman. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Gort
Gort GAA
Gort GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Gort, County Galway, Republic of Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling...
and was a member of the Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s. Linnane is regarded as one of Galway’s greatest-ever players and multi all-star winner.
Club
Linnane played his club hurling with his local club in GortGort GAA
Gort GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Gort, County Galway, Republic of Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling...
and enjoyed some success. He won his first county title in 1981. This was later converted into a Connacht
Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Connacht Senior Club Hurling Championship was an annual hurling tournament played between the senior hurling clubs in Connacht contested from 1970 until it became defunct after the conclusion of the 2007/08 season due to the predominance of the Galway champions coupled with a lack of meaningful...
club title, however, Gort were defeated by James Stephens
James Stephens (GAA Club)
James Stephens is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1887 and has enjoyed equal success in both hurling and Gaelic football.-History:...
in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final. Linnane captured another brace of county and provincial titles in 1983 before lining out in his first All-Ireland club final. Gort took on Ballyhale Shamrocks
Ballyhale Shamrocks GAA
Ballyhale Shamrocks is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Ballyhale in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The club was founded in 1972 and is primarily concerned with the game of hurling...
on that occasion, however, victory went to the Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
men on the day.
Inter-county
Linnane first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with the GalwayGalway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
at under-age levels. At minor level he lined out in the All-Ireland final of 1973, however, Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
were victorious on that occasion. Linnane later played with the Galway under-21 team, however, he had little success in this grade.
Linanne later joined the Galway senior team in the late 1970s. That year the team shocked Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final for the second time of the decade. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Linnane come on as a substitute as Galway played Kilkenny. In one of the least exciting finals of the decade Galway continued their losing streak and capitulated to ‘the Cats’ by 2-12 to 1-8.
In 1980 Galway defeated Kildare
Kildare GAA
For more information see Kildare Senior Club Football Championship or Kildare Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Kildare GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kildare...
and Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
to reach a second consecutive All-Ireland final. On that occasion Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
provided the opposition. Galway got off to a good start with two goals and led by 2-7 to 1-5 at the interval. Limerick fought back in the second-half; however, Galway secured the victory by 2-15 to 3-9. It was Linnane’s first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal and Galway’s first since 1923. The celebrations at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
on that occasion surpassed anything that had ever been seen before.
In 1981 both Galway and Limerick met in the All-Ireland semi-final, however, it took a replay to find a winner. Galway emerged to take part in their third All-Ireland final in-a-row. Offaly, a team that Linnane’s side defeated on the way to the championship the previous year now provided the opposition. In another close encounter Galway looked set to make history as they took a six point lead after the interval. The team, however, failed to score for the last twenty-three minutes and Offaly took their first All-Ireland title.
The next three seasons saw Galway defeated at the All-Ireland semi-final stage. Linnane’s side returned to the big time in 1985 when Galway defeated reigning champions Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final, a victory which allowed the team advance to the All-Ireland final. That game was a close affair; however, for the second year in-a-row Offaly got the better of Galway in the All-Ireland series. In spite of losing another championship decider Linnane was presented with a coveted All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award.
In 1986 Linnane lined out in his fifth All-Ireland final. Cork were the opponents on that occasion but Galway, having played in the championship decider the previous year, were regarded as the red-hot favourites. The favourites tag counted for little as Cork won an exciting game on a score line of 4-13 to 2-15. In spite of losing another championship decider Linnane was presented with a second All-Star award.
In 1987 Linnane captured a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
medal before his side reached the All-Ireland final for a third year in-a-row. The pressure was on the team as no side had ever lost three successive All-Ireland finals. The experience gained in the two previous championship deciders showed against a Kilkenny side that was over the hill. Galway won the game on a score line of 1-12 to 0-9 and Linnane collected his second All-Ireland medal.
In 1988 Galway reached the All-Ireland final for the fourth consecutive year. Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
, the team Galway defeated in the previous year’s semi-final, provided the opposition. In a close game Galway emerged victorious and Linnane collected his third All-Ireland medal. He finished off the year by winning a third All-Star award. Linnane retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.
Provincial
Linnane also lined out with ConnachtConnacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured his first Railway Cup title in 1980 as Connacht defeated Munster
Munster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
. Linnane later collected further Railway Cup medals in 1982, 1983 and 1986.
Teams
See also
- Mauricius Ó LeaáinMauricius Ó LeaáinMauricius Ó Leaáin, Bishop of Kilmacduagh 1254-1284. Ó Leaáin is associated with the Oranmore-Clarenbridge are of County Galway. He was the first of three men of the surname to become bishop of Kilmacduagh....
, Bishop of KilmacduaghBishop of KilmacduaghThe Bishop of Kilmacduagh was an episcopal title which took its name after the village of Kilmacduagh in County Galway, Ireland. In both the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church, the title is now united with other bishoprics.-History:...
1254-1284. - Noel LaneNoel LaneNoel Lane is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Ballinderreen and with the Galway senior inter-county team from 1977 until 1990. Lane served as manager of the Galway senior inter-county team from 2000 until 2002...
(born 1954) retired Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
sportsperson