Johnny Geraghty

{{Infobox GAA player

| code= Football

| sport = Gaelic football

| image =

| name = Johnny Geraghty

| irish = Seán Mag Oireachtaigh

| fullname =

| feet = 5

| inches = 8

| occupation = Secondary school teacher

| nickname = The cat{{cite news|url=https://www.tuamherald.ie/2021/10/20/the-three-in-a-row-cat/|title=The three-in-a-row cat|publisher=The Tuam Herald|date=20 October 2020|access-date=23 December 2021|first=|last=}}

| county = Galway

| province = Connacht

| club = Kilkerrin
Mountbellew–Moylough
Fr Griffin's

| cposition =

| clubs =

| clyears =

| clapps(points) =

| clcounty = 2

| clprovince=

| clallireland =

| colleges = University College Galway

| colyears = 1961–1965

| sig = 1

| counties = Galway

| icposition = Goalkeeper

| icyears = 1964–1969

| icapps(points) =

| icprovince = 4

| icallireland = 3

| nfl = 1

| allstars =

| clupdate =

| icupdate =

| birth_date={{Birth date and age|1942|6|20|df=yes}}

| birth_place=Kilkerrin, Galway, Ireland

}}

John Geraghty (born 20 June 1942) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played at club level with Kilkerrin, Mountbellew–Moylough and Fr Griffin's and at inter-county level with the Galway senior football team. He usually lined out as a goalkeeper.

Playing career

Geraghty first came to Gaelic football prominence during his student days. He won a Hogan Cup title with St Jarlath's College in 1960 before later winning a Sigerson Cup title with University College Galway.{{cite news|url=https://www.tuamherald.ie/2010/10/25/golden-jubilee-reflections-on-one-of-galways-greatest-ever-minor-football-teams/|title=Golden Jubilee reflections on one of Galway's greatest ever Minor football teams|publisher=The Tuam Herald|date=25 October 2010|access-date=23 December 2021|first=|last=}} At club level he won consecutive Galway SFC titles with the Mountbellew–Moylough club. Geraghty first appeared on the inter-county scene as a member of the Galway minor football team in 1960. He won a Connacht Minor Championship title in 1960 but missed the All-Ireland final win over Cork. Geraghty was promoted to the Galway senior team for a tournament game against Meath in November 1963. He quickly became the first-choice goalkeeper and won three consecutive All-Ireland Championship titles from 1964 to 1966.{{cite news|url=https://connachtgaa.ie/news/connacht-gaa-honour-the-galway-all-ireland-winning-three-in-a-row-team/|title=Connacht GAA Honour the Galway All Ireland Winning three in a row team|publisher=Connacht GAA website|date=21 July 2015|access-date=23 December 2021|first=|last=}}{{cite news|url=https://www.galwaygaa.ie/history/all-ireland-winning-teams|title=All-Ireland Winning Teams|publisher=Galway GAA website|date=|access-date=23 December 2021|first=|last=}} Geraghty's other inter-county honours include Conancht Championship medals and a National League title. He also won a Railway Cup medal with Connacht. Geraghty was a three-time Cúchulainn Award-winner and was later named on the Galway Football Team of the Millennium.{{cite news|url=https://sportsmanager.ie/cake/gaa2/gc/contentPage/41797/millenium_team|title=Football Team of the Millenium|publisher=Galway GAA website|date=|access-date=23 December 2021|first=|last=|archive-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220092227/http://sportsmanager.ie/cake/gaa2/gc/contentPage/41797/millenium_team|url-status=dead}}

Coaching career

Geraghty had two stints in team management after his playing days ended, leading the Galway minor football team to the All-Ireland Championship title in 1976 and later coaching the Connacht Railway Cup team. He was also approached to take over as Galway senior team manager.

Personal life

Geraghty's career as an Irish and Latin teacher took him through the vocational schools in Edenderry and Glenamaddy before taking a position in Coláiste Iognáid in Galway. He later qualified as a physical education teacher. Geraghty was forced out of teaching in 1993, having suffered from arthritis in both hips, which necessitated replacements. He subsequently studied law, qualifying in 1999.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/the-man-who-changed-the-face-of-goalkeeping-30372707.html|title=The man who changed the face of goalkeeping|publisher=Irish Independent|date=20 June 2014|access-date=23 December 2021|first=|last=}}