Dermot Earley Snr

Earley first joined the Roscommon minor football team in 1963, at the age of fifteen. In that year, Earley's side reached the Connacht minor final, losing-out to Mayo.[6]^:155

Two years later, in 1965, Earley lined out in a second Connacht minor decider. Five-in-a-row hopefuls Mayo were beaten by Roscommon, giving Earley a Connacht Minor Football Championship title.[6]^:155 Roscommon were later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final.

In 1966 Roscommon again faced Mayo in a provincial minor decider, this time Earley's side being beaten.[6]^:155 That year Earley was also a member of Roscommon's under-21 team, and he also met Mayo in this grade in the Connacht final. Earley's side won the game,[6]^:163 gaining Earley his first Connacht Under-21 Football Championship winners' medal. Roscommon later qualified for the All-Ireland final where reigning champions Kildare were defeated by Earley's side, earning him an All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship winners' medal.[6]^:156

By 1969, when Earley was still eligible for the under-21 grade, he was appointed captain for the year. The provincial decider that year saw Roscommon face Galway, with the sides finishing level. In the subsequent replay, Roscommon took the title,[6]^:163 and Earley had his second Connacht under-21 title. Roscommon later qualified for a second All-Ireland final in four years, with Antrim ultimately winning.[6]^:156

Earley also played Under 21 hurling with Roscommon. In 1969 he was playing in the All Ireland under-21 final were Roscommon faced Kildare, however Kildare won on the day.

Earley was only seventeen years-old when he made his senior debut for Roscommon in 1965. Playing with the senior team for several years, by 1970, Earley lined out in his first senior provincial decider. Roscommon were beaten by Galway in the game by 2–15 to 1–8.[6]^:143

Two years later in 1972 Roscommon were back in the Connacht final. Playing against Mayo, Roscommon took their first provincial title in ten years.[6]^:143 It was Earley's first Connacht Senior Football Championship title. Roscommon's next game was an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Kerry, which Kerry won.[6]^:123

After surrendering their provincial title in 1973, Roscommon faced Galway in the provincial decider a year later. Earley was one of the few players to shine as his team were absolutely trounced by 2–14 to 0–8.[6]^:143 His efforts were later rewarded when he was presented with his first All-Star award.

In 1977, a new-look Roscommon team saw Earley's side finally triumph over Galway, and he won a second Connacht winners' medal.[6]^:143 Roscommon subsequently faced Armagh in an All-Ireland semi-final. A draw meant a replay was required, which Armagh won by a single point.[6]^:123

The Connacht series of games provided little difficulty for Earley's side again in 1978. Roscommon beat Galway in the final,[6]^:143 gaining Earley his third Connacht title. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final pitted Earley against reigning champions Kerry - a game which Kerry won comfortably by 3–11 to 0–8.[6]^:123

Roscommon made it three Connacht titles in-a-row in 1979 as Mayo were accounted for on a score line of 3–15 to 2–10.[6]^:143 It was Earley's fourth provincial winners' medal. They met Dublin in the All-Ireland championship, who beat them by a single point.[6]^:123 In spite of failing to reach the All-Ireland final, Earley was later presented with a second All-Star award.

In 1980, a fourth Connacht title in succession was claimed.[6]^:143 It was a fifth provincial winners' medal for Earley. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Roscommon finally triumph and, after that defeat of Armagh, Earley lined out in the All-Ireland final against Kerry. The Connacht champions shocked Kerry and took a five-point lead inside the first twelve minutes. Mikey Sheehy popped up to score the decisive goal for 'the Kingdom', as Kerry went on to claim a 1–9 to 1–6 victory in a game that contained sixty-four frees.[7]

In 1985 Earley sustained a fractured jaw in the Connacht semi-final against Galway. When he was leaving the field he received a standing ovation as many thought that would be his farewell to football. Earley confounded everybody and lined out in the Connacht final against Mayo two weeks later. In spite of kicking six points, Mayo still triumphed by 2–11 to 0–8. At the age of thirty-seven, Earley decided to retire from inter-county football.[8]

In May 2020, the Irish Independent named Earley as one of the "dozens of brilliant players" who narrowly missed selection for its "Top 20 footballers in Ireland over the past 50 years".[9]