Jimmy Smyth (Gaelic footballer)

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Jimmy Smyth
Personal information
Irish name Séamus Mac Gabhann
Sport Gaelic football
Position Centre-forward
Born 1949
Waringstown, Northern Ireland
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Occupation Secondary school teacher
Club(s)
YearsClub
 Clan na Gael
Club titles
Armagh titles 9
Ulster titles 3
All-Ireland Titles 0
Colleges(s)
YearsCollege
 St Joseph's C.O.F.E., Belfast
Inter-county(ies)
YearsCounty
1968–1981
 Armagh
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 2
All-Irelands 0
NFL 0
All Stars 1

James Smyth (born 1949) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played for the Clan na Gael club and at inter-county level with the Armagh senior football team.

Contents

Playing career

Smyth first played Gaelic football as a schoolboy with St Colman's College in Newry. As a member of the college's senor team, he won consecutive MacRory Cup titles as well as a Hogan Cup medal in 1967. [1] Smyth simultaneously enjoyed success at underage level with the Clan na Gael club, winning three Armagh MFC titles. He subsequently progressed to the club's senior team and won nine Armagh SFC titles in a golden age for the club between 1968 and 1981. Smyth also won three successive Ulster SCFC titles and was part of the Clan na Gael team beaten by UCD in the 1974 All-Ireland club final. [2]

Smyth first played for the Armagh senior football team in 1968. He quickly became a constant feature on the team and won a National League Division 3 title in 1976. After being appointed team captain in 1977, Smyth guided the team to a first Ulster SFC title in 24 years. [3] Armagh lost the subsequent All-Ireland final to Dublin, however, he ended the year by being named on the All-Star team. [4] Smyth won a second Ulster SFC title in 1980. His performances at inter-county level also earned inclusion on the Ulster team in the Railway Cup.

Coaching career

In retirement from playing, Smyth became involved in team management and coaching. He won two Armagh SFC titles as Clan na Gael manager, while he also won a number of school underage titles with St Paul's School in Lurgan. [5]

Media career

Smyth was also a commentator for the BBC. [6]

Honours

St. Colman's College
Clan na Gael
Armagh

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References

  1. ↑ "Jimmy Smyth". Hogan Stand. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Club Focus – Clan na Gael". The Sideline Eye. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  3. ↑ "My Greatest Game: Former Armagh captain Jimmy Smyth relives 1977 Ulster Final". BBC Sport. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  4. ↑ "The life and times of Armagh legend Jimmy Smyth". Gaelic Life. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  5. ↑ "Jimmy Smyth honoured as CLG Ard Mhacha Uachtarán". Armagh GAA website. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Watters, Andy (16 September 2020). "Neighbours St Paul's and Clan na Gael do battle for bragging rights and silverware in all-Lurgan Armagh championship final". The Irish News . Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. ...Smyth, winner of nine senior championship medals, the Armagh skipper in the 1977 All-Ireland final and then a popular GAA commentator on BBC.
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