By David Hennessy

The funeral has taken place of one of London’s greatest ever hurlers.

Billy Brophy, from Tipperary, passed away on 27 January, with his funeral taking place at 10.30am on Tuesday 7 February at Our Lady of Peace Church on Lower Britwell Road, Slough.

Brophy played senior hurling for the Premier County before coming over to London at a very young age. Eugene Hickey, former London County Board Chairman and friend of Brophy’s, explains the respect Billy commanded in hurling circles: “He hurled against greats like John Doyle and Billy Duffy and one day kept the great Paddy Kenny scoreless. Paddy Kenny was a legend in Tipperary hurling but got nothing off Brophy. He switched off Billy three times and each time, Billy’s selectors nodded: ‘follow him’. Had he stayed in Ireland, he would have become a permanent fixture in the Tipperary team and crossed paths with the great Christy Ring.”

Billy led London to an intermediate final where they defeated a great Clare team. He played with the St. Mary’s club in London where he also had success and taught a few youngsters lessons on the hurling field.

“There’s a fella here: Paul Kilkenny who would have played minor, under 21 and senior for Galway, Eugene begins. “He came over when he was nineteen and went down to Ealing to join in the hurling. Billy was 38 or 39 at that time and Paul said: ‘Billy gave me a lesson in hurling’.”

When Billy moved out to the Slough area, he joined the ranks of the St. Mel’s club, where he remained involved after hanging up his boots at the age of 50. Billy also lined out for the Hertfordshire county team. 

Eugene Hickey pays tribute to  his fellow Tipperary man: “Many would say he was the best centre back they ever saw. Brophy was a very strong man,  a very nice gentleman and all who knew him would be of the same opinion.”

Billy was 86 and leaves behind his Leitrim wife Rose, a son, a daughter and grandchildren.