Ben Hannigan Explained

Ben Hannigan
Birth Date:1943 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Dublin, Ireland
Position:Inside forward[1]
Years1:1961–1965
Clubs1:Shelbourne
Caps1:75
Goals1:35
Years2:1965–1966
Clubs2:Wrexham
Caps2:7
Goals2:2
Years3:1966–1967
Clubs3:Dundalk
Caps3:21
Goals3:14
Years4:1967
Clubs4:Chelmsford City
Years5:1967–1969
Clubs5:Dundalk
Caps5:30
Goals5:19
Years6:1969–1970
Clubs6:Shamrock Rovers
Caps6:15
Goals6:5
Years7:1971
Clubs7:Sligo Rovers
Caps7:6
Goals7:1
Years8:1971
Clubs8:Fortuna Köln
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Years9:1971–1972
Clubs9:St Patrick's Athletic
Caps9:5
Goals9:2
Years10:1972–1973
Clubs10:Shelbourne
Caps10:16
Goals10:5
Years11:1973–1975
Clubs11:Cork Celtic
Caps11:29
Goals11:6
Years12:1980–1981
Clubs12:Shelbourne
Caps12:2
Goals12:0
Nationalteam1:League of Ireland XI
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:1

Ben Hannigan (3 September 1943 – 4 February 2021) was an Irish footballer who played as an inside forward. He spent most of his career playing for Shelbourne in the League of Ireland.

Career

Hannigan had three different spells with Shelbourne as a player from 1961–66, 1972–74, and finally in the 1980–81 season.

His first spell was the most successful as Shels won the league championship in 1962 after defeating Cork Celtic in a play-off and then defeating Cork Hibernians in the following year's FAI Cup final.

In December 1965 he signed for Wrexham but was soon back home with Dundalk where he won the League in 1967. He scored over 50 goals for the Oriel Park side.

Hannigan then signed for Shamrock Rovers in April 1969 and made his debut on 6 April. He won the FAI Cup in his first season and represented Rovers twice in European competition against Schalke 04. In Finn Harps' first ever game in the League of Ireland Hannigan scored four times in a 10–2 win on 17 August 1969.

Hannigan later signed for Sligo Rovers in February 1971. He scored on his debut on 28 February.[2] In his time at the Showgrounds he played a total of six games scoring once. This was followed by a short spell at Fortuna Köln in the early stages of the 1971–72 season[3] but unlike Noel Campbell, whom Fortuna had signed simultaneously, Hannigan went back home soon.

Death

Hannigan died on 4 February 2021, aged 77.[4]

Honours

Shelbourne

Dundalk

Cork Celtic

Shamrock Rovers

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ben Hannigan . dundalkfcwhoswho.com . 17 July 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170122004953/http://www.dundalkfcwhoswho.com/player.php?id=246 . 22 January 2017.
  2. News: The Irish Times - Monday, March 1, 1971 - Page 4. .
  3. Kicker Sportmagazin announced him as a signing from Sligo Rovers. The same magazine, in # 82 of 1971, p. 31, says Hannigan left before having played a league match.
  4. News: Malone . Emmet . 4 February 2021 . Shelbourne legend Ben Hannigan dies aged 77 . The Irish Times . 9 February 2021.