Mount Sion and All-Ireland hurling winner, Martin Óg Morrissey dies
The late Mount Sion and Waterford All-Ireland Senior hurling winner Martin Og Morrissey who has died aged 90. Photo: Noel Browne.
The legendary Mount Sion and All-Ireland Senior hurling medal winner of 1959, Martin Og Morrissey, has died (today), December 19, at the age of 90.
Renowned as one of the greatest hurlers to ever play for Waterford, he had an unwavering passion for hurling, his club and his county.
A native of Mount Sion Avenue, Martin first played hurling to a high standard as a student at Mount Sion CBS where he captained the school senior team to land Harty Cup glory back in 1953.
After winning Munster Minor hurling medals with Waterford back in 1949 and 1950, he was part of Mount Sion’s greatest era of success where he won nine consecutive Waterford Senior Hurling titles from 1953-1961.
He also won five senior football medals with the Monastery men during that said period, and would go onto win a total of 15 Waterford Senior hurling championship winning medals.
Martin Og first appeared for Waterford as a member of the minor team in 1950 before going onto play at junior level before going onto make his senior debut for the Waterford senior team back in 1955. where he would go onto establish himself as one of the great centre-backs.
Morrissey, who resided in Kingsmeadow with his beloved wife of 66 years Brigid, went onto win Munster Senior Hurling Championship winning medals in 1957, 1959 and 1963. He was a key figure of the Waterford team that beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Senior final back in 1959. He also won a National Hurling League medal with Waterford back in 1963 and was part of the team that lost the All-Ireland the same year.
His performances for Waterford resulted in his selection for the Munster team on five consecutive occasions. During that time he won four consecutive Railway Cup medals.
Martin Og will be reposing at Tom Hennessy’s Funeral Home, Johnstown, Waterford, on Saturday, December 21, from 6pm-8pm. His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, December 22, at Ballybricken Church, at 1.30pm, followed by burial to St. Otteran’s Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife Brigid (Brid), daughters Roisin and Niamh, sons Eamon, Frank, and Martin, his sisters Bridie and Maura, daughters-in-law Val, Shellagh and Kim, sons-in-law Denis and Graham, his beloved grandchildren Óisin, Eóin, Dylan, Liam, Harri and Maebh, great grandchildren Chloe and Michael, sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, extended families, neighbours and friends, to whom we offer our deepest sympathies.
May he rest in peace.
