Mathew came through the ranks as a duel player winning underage football and hurling titles for the “Town”.
He was a regular on the celebrated hurling team that won four county championships on the trot for the “Town” from 1981 –’84. A star forward who shot many vital scores for the “Town”, he went on to win further titles in 1987 and ’89 and earn himself an honoured place in the golden years of Portlaoise hurling
I sometimes get asked “when did you first get
involved in the GAA?” and I often respond that
“my grandfather captained Galway to win the
Football All-Ireland in 1938, so I think I got
involved in the GAA about thirty years before I
was born!”
Paddy was a member of the Laois minor hurling team of 1934 that won Leinster honours and was pipped by a point by Tipperary in a farcical finish to the All-Ireland final which was kept going for over ten minutes of extra time until the Munster men got the winning score.
Hailing from an immensely talented sporting family Niall has represented Ireland, Leinster, Laois and Portlaoise.
