THE DEATH has taken place of former Tipperary hurler Pat Stakelum, one of the legends of the game. Captain of the county for the first of the three-in-a-row All-Irelands 1949-51 and an ever-present in the other two triumphs, he is regarded as one of the great centre backs in the game's history.

Before a senior intercounty career that spanned 11 years he had captained the county minors in the 1945 All-Ireland final defeat by Dublin. He won every honour the game had to offer: All-Ireland medals 1949-51, six National Hurling League medals in 1949, '50, '52, '54, '55 (at centre forward) and '57, captaining the side in 1949 and '52 and in the latter year scoring the last-minute free that won the home final against Wexford. He played on six Munster Railway Cup winning sides.

In 1993 he was awarded an all-time All Star award to go with his Munster Council and Mid Tipperary Hall of Fame awards as well as a Tipperary Cumann na Sean Ghael award last winter. When his playing career ended Stakelum served as county secretary in 1961 and '62 and was a selector for the county team.

Although a committed club man with Holycross, whom he helped to three county titles in 1948, '51 and '54, he identified the need to develop underage hurling in Thurles and helped to set up the Durlas Óg club in 1979. At the time of his passing, he was president of the Durlas Óg club.

GAA president Nickey Brennan led the tributes yesterday.