Seán O'Neill

Seán O'Neill (born 1938, Newry) is a former Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club John Mitchel and was a member of the Down senior inter-county team from the 1950s until the 1960s. O'Neill is one of only four Down players to win three All-Ireland titles.

This article is about the Gaelic footballer. For the Irish hurler, see Seán O'Neill (hurler).

Seán O'Neill
Personal information
Irish name Seán Ó Néill
Sport Gaelic football
Position Left wing-forward
Born Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Club(s)
Years Club
1950s-1970s
 John Mitchel
Club titles
Down titles 4
Ulster titles 0
All-Ireland Titles 0
College titles
Sigerson titles 2
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
1959-1975
 Down 17–125
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 8
All-Irelands 3
NFL 3
All Stars 6

Career
O'Neill (back row; fifth from left) with the 1958 Queens University Belfast Sigerson Cup winning side

O'Neill scored 85 goals and over 500 points for Down senior football team in his career, and was a key figure in the county’s All-Ireland victories of 1960, 1961 and 1968. O'Neill's credits include eight Ulster senior football medals and eight Railway Cup medals in 1960, 1963 to 1966, 1968, 1970 and 1971. He won three National League medals, in 1960, 1962 and 1968, as well as six All Star awards.[1][2] Other honours include a Sigerson Cup medal with the Queen's University of Belfast in 1958, whom he later coached to further wins. He played club football with John Mitchel GFC Newry, winning the Down Senior Football Championship in 1960, 1964, 1967 and 1968. He also won the Down Minor Championship with Newry Mitchels in 1956 - the year the club was formed. His brother Kevin won an all Ireland with down in the 1960s.

Along with Joe Lennon, Dan McCartan and Paddy Doherty he was one of four Down men who won all three All-Ireland medals in the 1960s.[3]

Later life

O'Neill was the Down minor team coach, winning the 1977 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship.[4]

Sean coached the Queen's University Belfast senior team in the early 1980s. As coach, he won the Sigerson Cup in 1982 and the Ryan Cup in 1984 and 1985.

In 1984, the Gaelic Athletic Association centenary year he was honoured by being named on their Football Team of the Century. In 2000 he was again honoured by the GAA by being named on their Gaelic Football Team of the Millennium.

O'Neill is a solicitor by profession.

Honours

Manager

Teams

References
  1. Football All Stars 70's | Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Official Website - GAA.ie Archived 2009-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Football All Stars 60's | Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Official Website - GAA.ie Archived 2008-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
  3. McGrath, Pete (10 October 2008). "Greatest ever corner back?". Gaelic Life. p. 26.
  4. Hoganstand.com - GAA Football & Hurling
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