Seán Silke

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Seán Silke
irish = Seán Ó Síoda
fullname = Seán Silke
placeofbirth = Meelick
countryofbirth = County Galway
dob =
dod =
height =
nickname =
county = Galway
province = Connacht
club = Meelick-Eyrecourt
clposition = Half-back
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Galway
icposition = Half-back
icyears = 1972-1984
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 0
icallireland = 1
nhl = 1
allstars = 2
clupdate =
icupdate = Seán Silke (born 1950 in Meelick, County Galway) is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Meelick-Eyrecourt and with the Galway senior inter-county team from 1972 until 1984. Silke is regarded as one of Galway’s greatest-ever players.

Playing career

Club

Silke played his club hurling with his local Meelick-Eyrecourt club. He enjoyed little success with the club and never won a senior county title.

Inter-county

Silke first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with Galway in the early 1970s. Galway were in the doldrums at the time after having an unsuccessful eleven season spell participating in the Munster Championship.

Silke first tasted major success in 1975 as Galway captured the National Hurling League title. It was a sign of things to come for the team. Later that summer Silke’s side trounced Westmeath and shocked Cork to book their place in the All-Ireland final. Kilkenny, the reigning champions, provided the opposition on that occasion. Galway got off to a good start and took a 0-9 to 1-3 lead at half-time. Kilkenny, inspired by marvelous displays by Eddie Keher and Liam O’Brien, powered on to win by 2-22 to 2-10. In spite of this defeat Silke was later presented with his first All-Star award.

Galway faced a series of defeats at the penultimate stage of the championship for the next few seasons. In 1979 Silke’s side shocked Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final for the second time of the decade. Once again the All-Ireland final saw Galway play 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 Silke’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. Silke capped off a remarkable year by collecting a second All-Star award.

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 Silke’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. Silke retired from inter-county hurling in 1984.

Provincial

Silke also lined out with Connacht in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He captured his first Railway Cup title in 1980 as Connacht defeated Munster. Silke captured a second Railway Cup medal in 1982.

Teams

References

* Corry, Eoghan, "The GAA Book of Lists" (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).

External links

* [http://www.hoganstand.com/Galway/Profile.aspx Galway GAA honours]