Mickey Rattler Byrne dies aged 93

Tipperary and Thurles Sarsfields hurling legend Mickey Rattler Byrne has passed away peacefully at his home in Thurles aged 93.

Winner of five All-Ireland senior hurling medals with Tipperary and a record fourteen county senior hurling championships with Sarsfields, the club of which he has been Honorary President for some time, Rattler was renowned throughout the hurling world as one of the great characters of the game.

His passing, on the morning of the County senior hurling final in which his club is participating is particularly poignant - only on Friday evening he sent a message of best wishes to the players, but said that he would not be able to attend the game which gets underway this afternoon at 3:30pm in Semple Stadium. Little did he know at the time that he would have been called ashore by the Great Referee.

His passing has occasioned great sadness in the Cathedral Town and The Premier County of which he was so proud. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.