Dermot "Monkey" O'Neill (born in 27 November 1960 in Dublin) was a football goalkeeper

Goalkeeper (football)

In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...

 who played in the League of Ireland

League of Ireland

The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...

 during the 1980s and 1990s.

Son of Robert who played for Shelbourne F.C.

Shelbourne F.C.

Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....

 he was educated at Scoil Mhuir in Marino and Ard-Scoil Rís where he excelled at Gaelic football

Gaelic football

Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

 and even made it as far as the Dublin GAA

Dublin GAA

Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...

 minor team. But soccer was O'Neill's first love and he signed for Shamrock Rovers youth team where his brother Alan was the first choice goalkeeper. He also won 5 caps for the Irish youth team around this time.

He then moved to Jim McLaughlin

Jim McLaughlin

James "Jim" McLaughlin was an American thoroughbred race horse jockey.Orphaned and homeless in his early teens, McLaughlin was taken in by horse trainer William Daly who taught him how to ride. While individual statistics from all of McLaughlin's career races aren't documented, McLaughlin began...

's Dundalk team where he struggled to break into the first team but at Reserve level won 2 Reserve league titles. Those performances attracted Billy Young

Billy Young

Billy Young is an Irish soccer player who was born in Dublin. He represented Bohemian F.C. with distinction for nearly 30 years as player, coach and manager and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in November 2007.-Playing career:...

 and O'Neill was soon on his way to Bohemians where he made his League of Ireland debut, alongside Paul Doolin

Paul Doolin

Paul Doolin is a former Irish footballer and manager.He played for Bohemians, scoring on his debut on 13 September 1981. In June 1985 he signed for Shamrock Rovers and in his three years at the club won the double twice scoring 30 goals in 107 appearances. In his first season at Milltown he was...

 at Sligo on 13 September 1981, keeping a clean sheet. He would stay at "Dalyer" for the rest of the decade, missing only 1 league game between 1981 and 1988. He was to make 6 appearances in European competition for Bohs against the likes of Rangers, Dundee United and Aberdeen. He had near misses while at Dalymount Park

Dalymount Park

Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...

 but never managed to pick up a winners medal - winning numerous League runners-up medals and 2 FAI Cup

FAI Cup

The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...

 runners up medal (1982 and 1983).

Dermot earned one cap for the Republic of Ireland U21 at Fratton Park

Fratton Park

Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...

 in March 1985.

After 283 league appearances and 10 seasons at Bohs, O'Neill signed for Derry City under new manager Roy Coyle

Roy Coyle

Roy Coyle is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and the most successful manager in the history of the Irish Football League.-Playing career:...

. O'Neill seemed destined to remain trophyless throughout his career when Derry lost the 1994 FAI Cup Final to Sligo Rovers and then lost the league on the last day of the 1994/95 season when Dundalk pipped Derry to the title. But one week after that league disaster, O'Neill finally got his winners medal that his talent deserved as Derry beat Shelbourne to win the 1995 FAI Cup. Ironically that would mark the end of his career at Derry as he moved on to the Irish League

IFA Premiership

The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...

 with Glenavon. He played in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/harsh-lesson-for-parttimers-of-glenavon-1603321.html and won the Irish Cup

Irish Cup

For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...

 in 1997 beating Cliftonville in the final. A mixed season for Glenavon followed and Dermot moved on to Ballymena United under Nigel Best. He only spent one season there and after just avoiding relegation, O'Neill hung up his boots and retired.

O'Neill got back into football in 2001 when he became goalkeeping coach at Longford Town under Stephen Kenny

Stephen Kenny

Stephen Kenny may refer to:*Stephen Kenny , Guantanamo detainee David Hicks' original lawyer*Stephen Kenny , Irish football manager...

. When Kenny moved on to Bohemians, O'Neill returned his footballing home and stayed there as goalkeeping coach till the summer of 2006 when under pressure boss Gareth Farrelly

Gareth Farrelly

Gareth Farrelly is an Irish footballer. He currently plays for Warrington Town and Paul Hastings FC ....

 decided he was surplus to requirements. However when Pat Fenlon

Pat Fenlon

Patrick "Pat" "Nutsy" Fenlon is an Irish former footballer and manager. He is currently in charge of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian....

 was appointed manager of Bohs, he brought back O'Neill as goalkeeping coach for the 2008 season.

Earned one cap for the Republic of Ireland U21

Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team

The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...

 side.

Honours

• FAI Cup
  FAI Cup
  The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
  
  
  • Derry City
    Derry City F.C.
    Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
    
     - 1995

• Irish Cup
  Irish Cup
  For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
  
  
  • Glenavon - 1997