Tom Cheasty

Who was Tom Cheasty?

Thomas "Tom" Cheasty was an Irish hurler who played as a centre-forward for the Waterford senior team.

Born in Knockaderry near Ballyduff, County Waterford, Cheasty first excelled at hurling during his school days. He arrived on the inter-county scene as a dual player in the minor grade with Waterford. He made his senior debut in the 1954-55 National Hurling League. Cheasty went on to play a key part for Waterford in what has come to be known as a defining era for the county, and won one All-Ireland medal and three Munster medals.

Cheasty represented the Munster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions throughout his career, winning three Railway Cup medals in 1958, 1960 and 1961. At club level he won five championship medals with Portlaw.

Cited by many of his hurling peers as one of Waterford's greatest-ever players, Cheasty was described by Jim Irish as "the greatest centre-forward I ever played with or saw in Waterford."

Cheasty retired from inter-county hurling after breaking his finger during a 1967 championship clash with Cork.