Pádraig O'Neill explained

Code:Football
Sport:Gaelic football
Pádraig O'Neill
Irish:Pádraig Ó Néill
Occupation:Engineer
County:Louth
Province:Ulster
Club:Cooley Kickhams
Clyears:1982-2005
Clcounty:0
Colleges:Ulster University
Sig:3
Counties:Armagh
Louth
Icposition:Full-back
Icprovince:0
Icallireland:0
Nfl:0
Allstars:0
Birth Place:Newry,
County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Death Place:Beaumont, Dublin, Ireland

Pádraig O'Neill (1966 – 20 July 2024) was an Irish Gaelic footballer. At club level he played with Cooley Kickhams and at inter-county level with the Armagh and Louth senior football teams.

Playing career

Born in Newry, County Armagh, O'Neill's family moved to Carlingford, County Louth at a young age. He first played Gaelic football to a high standard as a student at the Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School in Newry, losing consecutive MacRory Cup finals in 1982 and 1983.[1] O'Neill later attended Ulster University and won three Sigerson Cup titles.[2]

O'Neill's club career began at juvenile level with Cumann Peile Cuchulainn before progressing to the Cooley Kickhams underage sides. Louth MFC and Louth U21FC titles followed. O'Neill made his senior team debut in 1982. He won several Cardinal O'Donnell Cup and ACC Cup titles in a lengthy career that ended in 2005.[3]

O'Neill first appeared on the inter-county scene with Armagh as captain of the minor team beaten by Derry in the 1984 Ulster MFC final.[4] He later progressed to the under-21 team. O'Neill was part of the senior team beaten by Donegal in the 1990 Ulster SFC final.[5] He later declared for the Louth senior football team.

Coaching career

In retirement from playing, O'Neill became involved in team management and coaching. He was manager of the Naomh Malachi team when they won the Louth IFC title in 2009.[6] [7]

Personal life and death

O'Neill's nephews, Callum, Rian and Oisín O'Neill, were part of the Armagh senior team that won the All-Ireland SFC title in 2024.[8]

O'Neill suffered a heart attack after attending Armagh's defeat of Kerry in the 2024 All-Ireland SFC semi-final. He died at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, on 20 July 2024, at the age of 58.[9]

Honours

Player

Ulster University

1986, 1987, 1991

Cooley Kickhams

1984, 1987, 1998, 2003

1982

1984

Management

Naomh Malachi

2009

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St Pat's put in late burst. Irish Independent. 14 March 1983. 29 July 2024.
  2. Web site: UUJ Sigerson reunion for 1986, '87 and '91 squads. Hogan Stand. 23 September 2011. 29 July 2024.
  3. Web site: Twilight dawns on a dazzling innings. Hogan Stand. 20 November 2005. 29 July 2024.
  4. Web site: Derry's day. Irish Press. 16 July 1984. 29 July 2024.
  5. Web site: Donegal saved by the whistle. Irish Independent. 16 July 1990. 29 July 2024.
  6. Web site: O'Neill takes over at Malachi's. Irish Independent. 10 December 2008. 29 July 2024.
  7. Web site: Third light. Hogan Stand. 30 December 2009. 29 July 2024.
  8. Web site: ‘Finally, luck is shining on us’ – Armagh overjoyed as ‘never-say-die attitude’ secures second Sam Maguire success. Irish Independent. 28 July 2024. 29 July 2024.
  9. Web site: Rian O’Neill has spent his Armagh career trying to live up to his promise and now he can secure it for good. Irish Times. 28 July 2024. 29 July 2024.