Stephen Melia Explained

Code:Football
Sport:Gaelic football
Stephen Melia
Irish:Stiofán Ó'Máille
Birth Date:1962
Occupation:Great Northern Brewery employee
County:Louth
Icposition:half-back
Province:Leinster
Club:John Mitchels
O'Dwyer's (Dublin)
St Joseph's
Clcounty:1
Counties:Louth
Icyears:1984–2001
Icprovince:0
Birth Place:Ardee, County Louth

Stephen Melia (1962 – 23 October 2015) was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Louth county team. At club level he represented John Mitchels, O'Dwyer's and St Joseph's.

Known for his fitness,[1] Melia made a total of 179 appearances for his county over seventeen years. During that time he won National League, O'Byrne Cup and All-Ireland B honours. He assisted manager Paddy Clarke as a selector for the final two years of his Louth career.[2] He again filled the role of Louth selector during the managerial reign of Eamonn McEneaney.

He was frequently selected on the Leinster panel for Railway Cup matches. In the 1993 final he lined out at left half-back in a three-point defeat to Ulster.[3]

At the age of 44 in 2006, Melia appeared in his first ever Louth SFC final, lining out for the "underdog" St Joseph's against St Patrick's. St Joseph's won the game by four points.[4]

Melia died in October 2015 after battling Motor Neurone Disease.[5] [6]

Honours

John Mitchels
St Joseph's

(1) 2006

Louth

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Louth footballer Stephen Melia has died. Irish Mirror. 23 October 2015.
  2. Web site: Louth mourns the death of football legend Stephen Melia. Irish Independent. 24 October 2015.
  3. Web site: Former Louth great Stephen Melia passes away. Irish Times. 23 October 2015.
  4. Web site: Melia a Wee bit special for Joe's . Irish Independent. 9 October 2006.
  5. Web site: Mauretta’s journey for her beloved brother Stephen. Drogheda Independent. 7 September 2021.
  6. Web site: Stephen Melia RIP. Hogan Stand. 23 October 2015.
  7. Web site: 'B' title is honey sweet for Louth. Irish Independent. 10 November 1997.
  8. Web site: Louth savour their day in the sun. Irish Times. 8 May 2000.