The first thing that comes across when you meet Tom Lally is his absolute passion for sport! He was without doubt one of the most influential characters in the development of  Galway Rovers/United and like former team-mate ‘Chick' Deacy broadened all our football horizons here in Galway by moving cross-channel, in Tom's case to join the first British club to win the European cup...Celtic!                                                                                                                           

He progressed through the local scene with Bohs, West and Hibs to join Sligo Rovers in 1968 and two years later made the meteoric jump to Parkhead. This was the great Celtic team which won nine consecutive Scottish League Titles, multiple Scottish Cup and League Cups and became known as the ‘Lisbon Lions' in 1967. The Galway goalkeeper quickly established himself as number two choice behind Evan Williams and as well as being on the bench for crucial European Cup ties starred in a Celtic reserve team that went unbeaten for two seasons sweeping all before them, His team-mates included Danny McGrain, Lou Macari, David Hay and Kenny Dalglish. While in Scotland he also played on loan for Morton before returning to the League of Ireland for a five year stint at St. Pat's. He played the 1976-77 season with Athlone Town, including a historic League cup tie in Terryland against Galway Rovers. Once Rovers joined the League Tommy could not wait to join them.

The pride he took in representing his local team is evident. Progress was slow in the first few seasons but Tom has some great memories of playing under Amby Fogarty and John Herrick. "Amby was a very astute football man and he was extremely competitive. When we used to train up in Digital Amby would take part in the matches and even though he was touching fifty he would insist on playing until his team was winning. As you can imagine some nights the lads would throw a match just to go home! One week we were playing a league match in Cork and Amby directed his team-talk at one player...Miko Nolan. Miko was a great ball winner and when he hit you, you knew you were hit! Miko forget the ball today," ordered Amby. "Why boss," enquired one of Galway's most committed players ever. "Because you are marking Carl Humphries and he has a varicose vein on his left leg. Kick it every chance you get." At half-time Rovers trooped in a bit dejected 1-0 down. "I'm substituting you Miko," shouted Amby. "Why," asked the rugged midfielder. "Because you kicked him in the wrong leg for the whole half!"

Tommy rated John Herrick's contribution very highly and felt that if more funds had been forthcoming during his reign that better results would have followed. Herrick had been a great player who was capped for Ireland and according to Tommy "he would definitely have made it in England." He was still a class act in his twi-light years, putting his body on the line time after time despite long-term persistent injuries.

I asked Tommy why he chose to become a goalkeeper and he answered, "I liked battling against the odds, attempting to defy gravity and speed. Though I did play outfield too, scoring a hat-trick for Bohs against Boys Club at the Sportsground at u-15 level."

His favourite memories at Rovers/United were reaching the League cup final in 1981 and the FAI cup final in 1985. "We were beaten on penalties by Dundalk in '81 and I saved four in the shoot-out but I was disappointed to miss one against Richie Blackmore and another I saved was re-taken as the ref said I moved. In 1985 we lost 1-0 to Shamrock Rovers." Tommy was joint-top scorer for Galway Rovers in 1978 with four penalties and he enjoyed putting the opposition keepers under pressure. He managed the team for the 1984-85 season but due to differences in opinion on where the club was going left at the end of the season. Tony Mannion came in and did a very good job and of course by virtue of their cup final appearance Galway United qualified for Europe the following season. Tommy retired from playing in 1985 but did return briefly to help out Sligo Rovers before hanging up his gloves at 39. He did return to Terryland as assistant manager to former Ireland keeper Seamus McDonagh for a while and has consistently supported Galway United from the terraces and now marvels at the new stand, quality of the playing surface and the whole set up. "The structure is so professional now both financially and on the coaching side. All the junior clubs have way more people with coaching qualifications and Galway United are geared for future success. If the results are good on the pitch the crowds will come. I have no doubt about that," he adds confidently.

Apart from all his success in the League of Ireland and in Scotland Tommy has  been actively involved in supporting other sports and as well as coaching prospects such as Ger Hanley at Salthill Devon he has coached in the G.A.A. with St. Michaels and helped Kiltormer to an All-Ireland Club Title in  1992. Tommy is well used to the banter with the Galway public in his other life...as a post-man. He recalls fondly when supporters would say to him "Jeez, Tommy you played well, but that other fella was useless, wouldn't you agree?" Only once did he feel it necessary to relax his steely concentration during a game when a local was hurling abuse at one of his team-mates at Terryland. Knowing the background to his fellow player's form loss and difficulty Tommy reared up on the culprit, " If you knew what he put himself through to be here you wouldn't  be shouting such rubbish. I won't have a player abused like that so shut up and watch the match." I'm not sure if that's what Galway's most famous keeper meant by good communication with the defence but it sure worked that day! 

- Mike Geraghty        http://www.mgwords.com/