Great sadness in Tipperary GAA as former All-Ireland winning goalie passes away
Peter O'Sullivan was goalkeeper for Tipperary in the 1971 All-Ireland final
It is with great sadness that the Tipperary GAA community learned of the passing of former Tipperary goalkeeper Peter O’Sullivan, and Cashel King Cormacs.
Peter first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary minor hurling team in the early 1960s.
He won a Munster title in this grade in 1961, following a 7-11 to 1-6 win over Cork. He subsequently lined out against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland minor decider. A high-scoring game developed over the hour, and in the end, Kilkenny emerged victorious by 3-13 to 0-15.
Peter later joined the county under-21 team. Here he won a Munster title in the inaugural year of the competition in 1964, following an 8-9 to 3-1 win over Waterford. An All-Ireland final appearance beckoned, with Wexford providing the opposition.
That game also turned into a rout, as Tipp won easily by 8-9 to 3-1. The victory gave Peter an All-Ireland under-21 winners medal.
Peter subsequently joined the Tipperary senior inter-county team, making his debut as a substitute in the Munster final defeat by Cork in 1970.
He became the first-choice goalkeeper on the team in 1971 and it proved to be a successful year. That year he started in his first full Munster final against Limerick. An exciting game developed, and at the full-time whistle Tipperary were the 4-16 to 3-18 winners.
Kilkenny provided the opposition against Tipperary in the subsequent All-Ireland final, the first to be broadcast in colour by Teilifis Eireann.
In an exciting and high-scoring game that saw Tipperary emerge 5-17 to 5-14 winners. The game itself is still remembered for the image of Babs Keating discarding his worn-out boots and playing the last few minutes of the match in his bare feet. The victory gave Peter a senior All-Ireland winners medal in the senior grade.
Tipperary GAA sent their sincere sympathies to Peter’s wife Joan, son Seamus, daughters Noelette, Siobhán, Laura and Catherine, and their extended family at this sad time. May he Rest in Peace.