Kieran McKeever

Last updated

Kieran McKeever
Personal information
Irish name Ciarán Mac Íomhair
Sport Dual player
Football Position: Right Corner Back
Hurling Position: Half forward
Born (1968-03-12) 12 March 1968 (age 55)
County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Occupation Joiner
Club(s)
YearsClub
 Dungiven
Kevin Lynch's
Club titles
 FootballHurling
Derry titles 3 5/6/7/8?
Ulster titles 1 -
Inter-county(ies)
YearsCounty
1988–2001
 Derry
Inter-county titles
 FootballHurling
Ulster Titles 2 2
All-Ireland Titles 1 -
League titles 4 -
All-Stars 1 -

Kieran McKeever (born 12 March 1968) is a former dual player of Gaelic games who played Gaelic football and hurling for Derry during the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He is chiefly known as a footballer and was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning side, also won Ulster Senior Football Championships in 1993 and 1998. With Derry footballers he usually played at corner-back and is regarded as one of the best defenders [1] and tightest markers to have played the game. [2]

Contents

In 2000 McKeever became the first Ulster player to be nominated for All Stars in both football and hurling in the same season. [3] He won the football All Star, [4] but narrowly missed out on the hurling accolade. [5] Had he have won the double All Star, he would have become only the second player ever after Cork legend Ray Cummins to win both awards in the same year. [3]

He has won Irish News Ulster All-Star awards and was named right-corner back on the Irish News Team of the Decade in 2004. [6] The public voted him onto the All-Time Derry Football Team via an online poll in 2007. [7] McKeever played club football with St. Canice's GAC Dungiven and club hurling with Kevin Lynchs.

Early life

Kieran McKeever was born into a footballing household. His father Thomas was a Derry minor panelist in the mid 1960s [8] and his brothers Emmet and Cathal have both represented Derry and New York at hurling and football. In 2008 Cathal transferred to Tyrone side Carrickmore. [9]

His abilities as a dual player were nurtured at St Patrick’s Secondary School by former Derry footballers Seán O'Connell, Fintan McCloskey and Francie Brolly and Kilkenny born hurling coach Liam Hinphey. [8] He also excelled at athletics at school, particularly the high jump.

Football career

Inter-county

He captained quite a few successful underage teams including the Derry minor side that were runners up to Down in the Ulster Championship team in 1986. He played the game at Right half back, despite having a fractured arm. [8]

McKeever made his Derry senior debut in February 1988 against Monaghan in the Dr McKenna Cup at Greenlough. [8] McKeever was Right Corner Back on Derry's 1993 All-Ireland winning team, which beat Cork in the final. McKeever also won an Ulster Championship medal that year and won a second in 1998, where he captained the team.

He won four National Football League medals with Derry in 1992, 1995, 1996, 2000. He was corner back on three of those sides and Centre half back on the 2000 team. [10] McKeever and Derry finished runners-up to Offaly in the 1998 National League decider, with McKeever as captain. [11] Having been previously nominated three times for an All Star (1991, 1992 and 1996), [12] McKeever finally received one in 2000. McKeever also won numerous Interprovincial Championship/Railway Cup medals with Ulster.

Club

McKeever won his first senior county football medal as Dungiven won the 1987 Derry Championship. and added a second in 1991. In 1997 McKeever was part of the Dungiven side that won another Derry Championship and Ulster Club Championship.[ citation needed ]

Among his underage achievements, McKeever has won an Under-14, Under-16, and two Derry Minor Football Championships. [8] He has also won two All-Ireland special medals.[ citation needed ]

Hurling career

Inter-county

Among McKeever's hurling honours was winning the Ulster Under 21 Hurling Championship with Derry in 1986, defeating Antrim and Down along the way. They beat Down in the final after a reply; 3-09 to 1-02. In the drawn final McKeever suffered a serious injury. [13]

McKeever started his senior inter-county hurling career in 1987 and played until 1992, when he decided to concentrate on football. [14] He returned to the Derry hurling team in 1999 and for his performances in helping Derry win the 2000 Ulster Hurling Championship, he was nominated as an All Star. McKeever won a second Ulster Hurling Championship in 2001 [15] also represented and captained Ulster in hurling in the Railway Cup. [16]

Club

McKeever was part of the Kevin Lynchs U-14 side that captured the B section of 1982 Féile na nGael in Dublin and won county medals at all possible grades. [8]

Honours

Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dungiven</span> Small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Dungiven is a small town, townland and civil parish in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is near the main A6 Belfast to Derry road, which bypasses the town. It lies where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the 1,525 ft (465 m) Benbradagh. Nearby is the Glenshane Pass, where the road rises to over 1,000 ft (300 m). It had a population of 3,288 people in the 2011 Census, an increase of 10% over the 2001 population of 2,993. It is within Causeway Coast and Glens district council area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derry GAA</span> Gaelic games governing body

The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The county board is also responsible for the Derry county teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Brolly</span> Gaelic footballer and football analyst

Joe Brolly is an Irish Gaelic football analyst, former player and barrister who played at senior level for the Derry county team.

Michael Davitt's GAC Swatragh is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Swatragh. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently caters for Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. The club is named after republican patriot and revolutionary Michael Davitt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Scullion</span>

Tony "The Tiger" Scullion is a former dual player of Gaelic games who played Gaelic football and hurling with Derry in the 1980s and 1990s. He is chiefly known as a footballer and was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, also winning Ulster Senior Football Championships in 1987 and 1993. With Derry footballers he usually played in the full-back line and is regarded as one of the best full-backs of his generation. Scullion played club football and hurling with St Colm's GAC Ballinascreen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drum GAC</span> Derry-based Gaelic games club

Saint Colm's GAC Drum is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the rural area of Drum and Gortnahey, near Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of Derry GAA.

Kevin Lynch Hurling Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They currently cater for hurling. The Gaelic football and ladies' Gaelic football club in the town is St. Canice's GAC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dungiven GAC</span> Derry-based Gaelic games club

St Canice's GAC Dungiven is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is part of Derry GAA. It currently caters for Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football. The hurling club in the town is Kevin Lynch's.

Henry Downey is a former dual player of Gaelic games, who played as a Gaelic footballer at senior level for the Derry county team in the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, where he usually played in at centre half back. He was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, where he was captain. He also won two Ulster Senior Football Championships and four National League medals with Derry. He also played hurling.

James McKeever was a Northern Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Derry county team in the late 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s and played club football for St Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan and Seán O'Leary's GAC Newbridge. He was captain of the Derry side that finished runners-up to Dublin in the 1958 All-Ireland Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seán Marty Lockhart</span> Dual player of Gaelic games

Seán Marty Lockhart is an Irish dual player of Gaelic games who plays Gaelic football for the Derry county team. He has won an Ulster Senior Football Championship and three National League titles with the county, as well an All-Ireland Under 21 Championship. He also won an All Star for his performances in the 1998 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. He plays club football for St Mary's Banagher. As a dual player, Lockhart also plays hurling for Banagher, and has in the past also hurled for Derry.

Brian McGilligan is an Irish former dual player of Gaelic games, who played Gaelic football at senior level for the Derry county team in the 1980s and 1990s, especially the 1993 team. He was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side and also won two Ulster Championships with the side. For his performances in the 1987 and 1993 Championships he won two All Star awards.

Liam Hinphey is a dual player of Gaelic games who plays Gaelic football and hurling for the Derry GAA, with whom he has won the National Football League title and Nicky Rackard Cup (hurling).

Peter Stevenson is a former Gaelic footballer who played for the Derry county team in the 1960s and 1970s. Described as a "tower of strength", he won the Ulster Senior Football Championships on three occasions. He was awarded an All Star in 1975. Stevenson played club football with a number of clubs throughout his career including St Colm's GAC Drum and Ballerin Sarsfields.

Damian Cassidy is a former Gaelic football manager and former player for the Derry county team in the 1980s and 1990s, who was part of the county's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, starting at left half forward. He also won two Ulster Senior Championship medals, three National League titles, and a range of under-age inter-county medals with the county. Cassidy played his club football for Bellaghy Wolfe Tones and won five Derry Championships and the 1994 Ulster Senior Club Football Championships with the club. For both club and county he usually played as a forward. Cassidy was also a talented hurler.

Sean O'Connell was a Gaelic football manager and player who featured for the Derry county team in the late 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and was on the Derry side that finished runners-up to Dublin in the 1958 All-Ireland Championship – winning an Ulster Championship with the county that year, and three more in 1970, 1975 and 1976. For his performances in the 1967 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, O'Connell won a Cú Chulainn Award.

Derry GAA honours contains details of the achievements of Derry inter-county teams in the Gaelic games of Gaelic football, hurling, ladies' Gaelic football and camogie. It also where possible, lists the Derry team for each winning final.

Sean Leo McGoldrick is a dual player of Gaelic games who played Gaelic football for the Derry county team, with whom he won a National League title. As a dual player, he played hurling for Derry.

Geoffrey McGonagle is a dual player of Gaelic games who played Gaelic football and hurling for Derry in the 1990s and 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derry county football team</span> Gaelic football team

The Derry county football team represents Derry GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, in the Gaelic sport of football. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Ulster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

References

  1. ↑ "Tiny tornado to rub out Cavan". Sunday Mirror. 20 July 1997. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  2. ↑ Corry, Eoghan (1993). Oakboys - Derry's Football Dream Come True. Dublin, Ireland: Torc Books Ltd. pp. 18–19. ISBN   1-898142-10-6.
  3. 1 2 "Derry sore after lone nomination". BBC News. 25 October 2000. Retrieved 20 August 2007.
  4. ↑ "Ulster gets four All Stars". BBC News. 30 November 2000. Retrieved 20 August 2007.
  5. ↑ "Kilkenny win nine hurling All Stars". BBC News. 1 December 2000. Retrieved 20 August 2007.
  6. ↑ "Team of the Decade". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  7. ↑ "All-Time Derry Senior Football Team" . Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Dungiven's Pocket Battleship" . Retrieved 20 August 2007.
  9. ↑ Woods, Ciaran (1 August 2008). "Derry man making a name in Tyrone". Gaelic Life. Retrieved 2 August 2008.[ dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Football Roll Of Honour" . Retrieved 20 August 2007.
  11. ↑ "Lyons' pride pass tough test of character to land League". Irish Examiner. 27 April 1998. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  12. ↑ "Giles and Storey take the Oscars". Sunday Mirror. 24 November 1996. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  13. ↑ "Will Derry be singing the Blues at Newry?". The Mid-Ulster Observer. 16 August 2007.
  14. ↑ "Multi talented McKeever aims to enjoy Derry's day out after successful but gruelling season". Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  15. ↑ Gill, Barry (29 July 2001). "GAA: A defiant message from Kev". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  16. ↑ "Ulster hurling panel is named". BBC News. 7 November 2000. Retrieved 20 August 2007.
  17. ↑ Campbell, John (26 October 1996). "Ulster's 15 'stars'". Belfast Telegraph . Retrieved 3 October 2008.
Gaelic games
Preceded by Derry senior
football captain
1997–1998		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.