Gary Coleman (Gaelic footballer)
Encyclopedia
Gary Coleman is an Irish
Gaelic football
er who played with Derry
in the 1990s and early 2000s. He still plays club football with St. Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan
.
Coleman was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
winning side, as well as the 1993 and 1998 Ulster Championship
winning teams. For his performances in the 1993 Championship he won an All Star
award. While usually playing in defence for Derry, he often played in attack for Magherafelt
and current club Ballymaguigan.
in Magherafelt
. His father Eamonn
was manager of the 1993 Derry team that won the All-Ireland.
s and an All-Ireland Minor Championship
. He also won an Ulster Under-21 Championship
medal in 1993.
He was part of Derry's 1993 Ulster Championship
and All-Ireland winning team, which beat Cork in the final. Coleman added a second Ulster Championship medal in 1998.
He won four National Football League
medals with Derry in 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000. Coleman and Derry finished runners-up to Offaly
in the 1998 National League decider.
a few years ago, Coleman transferred to St. Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan in 2002 and currently plays full forward for the side. He won a Derry Intermediate Football Championship
with the club in 2003 and says it as precious and meaningful to him as the All-Ireland medal he won in 1993.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er who played with Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
in the 1990s and early 2000s. He still plays club football with St. Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan
Ballymaguigan GAC
St. Trea's Ballymaguigan GFC is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Ballymaguigan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They play in the Derry league and championships. They currently cater for both Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football....
.
Coleman was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993
-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
winning side, as well as the 1993 and 1998 Ulster Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
winning teams. For his performances in the 1993 Championship he won an All Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award. While usually playing in defence for Derry, he often played in attack for Magherafelt
Magherafelt GAC
O'Donovan Rossa GAC Magherafelt is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football, Camogie and Ladies' Gaelic football. Underage teams play in the South Derry league and...
and current club Ballymaguigan.
Personal life
Coleman attended school at Saint Pius X CollegeSaint Pius X College
Saint Pius X College is a secondary school located in Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is a Roman Catholic co-educational secondary school within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area. The school opened in 1964 and was named Saint Pius X High School.- History :St...
in Magherafelt
Magherafelt
Magherafelt is a small town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 8,372 people recorded in the 2001 Census. It is the biggest town in the south of County Londonderry and is the social, economic and political hub of the area...
. His father Eamonn
Eamonn Coleman
Eamonn Coleman was an Irish Gaelic footballer and later manager.He had two separate stints as manager the Derry senior football team, and his chief success was guiding the county to the victory in the 1993 All-Ireland Championship - Derry's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title...
was manager of the 1993 Derry team that won the All-Ireland.
Inter-county career
Regarded as one of the best Derry minor players of all time, Coleman captained Derry minors to two Ulster Minor ChampionshipUlster Minor Football Championship
The Ulster Minor Football Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The trophy for the winning side is The Liam Murray Cup. The competition began in 1930, with...
s and an All-Ireland Minor Championship
All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
. He also won an Ulster Under-21 Championship
Ulster Under-21 Football Championship
For the Senior equivalent see: Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipThe Ulster Under-21 Football Championship known for sponsorship reasons as the Cadbury Ulster Under-21 Football Championship is a Gaelic football tournament for players under the age of 21, contested by the nine counties of Ulster in...
medal in 1993.
He was part of Derry's 1993 Ulster Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
and All-Ireland winning team, which beat Cork in the final. Coleman added a second Ulster Championship medal in 1998.
He won four National Football League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
medals with Derry in 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000. Coleman and Derry finished runners-up to Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
in the 1998 National League decider.
Club career
Coleman started his career with O'Donovan Rossa GAC Magherafelt. After moving to his father's home townland of BallymaguiganBallymaguigan
Ballymaguigan is a hamlet and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is near the northwest shore of Lough Neagh and close to Magherafelt. The hamlet forms one part of a parish named Ardtrea North. Ballymaguigan is part of the local Magherafelt District Council.-Lough Neagh:Lough...
a few years ago, Coleman transferred to St. Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan in 2002 and currently plays full forward for the side. He won a Derry Intermediate Football Championship
Derry Intermediate Football Championship
The Derry Intermediate Football Club Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition between the intermediate Derry clubs...
with the club in 2003 and says it as precious and meaningful to him as the All-Ireland medal he won in 1993.