Mickey Niblock
Encyclopedia
Mickey Niblock is an Irish
retired Gaelic football
er who played for Derry
between 1966 and 1973. He won an Ulster Senior Football Championship
with the county, as well as Ulster Minor
, Ulster Under 21
, All-Ireland Minor
and All-Ireland Under 21 Football Championships
.
Niblock started his club career with O'Donovan Rossa Magherafelt
(and returned to win a Derry Senior Football Championship with the club). He later played for various club sides in the United States
. Upon returning to Ireland
he played for Douglas
and Nemo Rangers
in County Cork
. He had much success with Nemo, including winning ? Cork Championships, ? Munster Club Championships
and two All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
s.
He usually played in the half forward line
, but could also play in midfield. Niblock is known as one of Derry's best ever players. He "glided through the heart of defences with consummate ease" and was known for his "silky skills".
. His uncle Frank was part of the Derry side that won the county's first ever National Football League
title in 1947. Frank was a big influence on Mickey during his early years. Mickey's brothers Laurence, Dermot, Hugh, Brendan and twins Robert and Raymond all played for Magherafelt alongside him, with Hugh also playing for Derry.
Niblock emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1971. He met his wife Dolores (from Youghal
, County Cork
) while in New York
. They returned from America in 1978 and settled down in Cork. Niblock's son David has played for Cork in the past.
and soon progressed to the club's Senior team.
For the seven years he was in the United States between 1971 and 1978, Niblock played for a variety of clubs. In New York he played for the Monaghan club, before later transferring to Sligo. He won Championships with both teams. When his team wasn't in action on certain weekends, he'd go to play for clubs in the likes of Chicago
, Philadelphia or Boston
, for example he often played for Tyrone in Philadelphia.
When he moved back to Ireland in 1978 Niblock played with Intermediate Cork side Douglas
for a while. While there he travelled home and helped Magherafelt win the 1978 Derry Senior Football Championship. It was the Magherafelt's first county title in 29 years. It is a breach of the rules to play for two clubs in different counties at the same time, but as Niblock says "I couldn't resist it. Three of my brothers were playing in that final and it gave me a great thrill to win the Championship alongside them". That minor indiscretion deprived him of the opportunity to play for Cork, but he has no regrets.
He was later advised that Nemo Rangers
were a more football orientated club than Douglas and he soon transferred to them. His honours with the club include ? Cork Championships, ? Munster Club Championships
and two All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
s (1982 and 1984). He retired from club football in 1992.
and All-Ireland Minor Championship
s in 1965, beating Cavan
and Kerry
in the respective finals. He played at centre half forward on the team. The success was Derry's first ever All-Ireland Minor title.
Three years later he helped the Derry Under-21 team win both the Ulster Under 21
and All-Ireland Under 21 Championship
s. Having reached the Ulster Under 21 final, they beat Monaghan
. In the All-Ireland semi-final Derry defeated a fancied Kerry
team with ease. In the All-Ireland final Derry met Offaly
in Croke Park
and won 3-09 to 1-09, with Niblock scoring 1-01 from centre half forward. The success was Derry's first ever All-Ireland Under 21 title.
Niblock made his Derry Senior debut in 1966, while still a Minor. In 1970 Niblock helped Derry win the Ulster Senior Football Championship
, overcoming Antrim
in the final. Derry met Kerry in the All-Ireland
semi-final, but were defeated. The following year Derry lost to Down
in the Ulster final. Niblock scored 2-04 from play, a record which was overtaken by Tyrone's Frank McGuigan
in 1984.
Later that year he emigrated to America, interrupting his inter-county career. He flew home from New York to play for Derry in the 1972-1973 National Football League
semi-final against Kerry in Croke Park
. It was Niblock's last game for the county.
Niblock was later selected to play for Cork, but couldn't due to the indiscretion about playing for two clubs at once (see above).
and won a Railway Cup with the province in 1970.
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
retired 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 for 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...
between 1966 and 1973. He won an Ulster Senior Football 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...
with the county, as well as Ulster Minor
Ulster 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...
, Ulster Under 21
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...
, All-Ireland Minor
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...
and All-Ireland Under 21 Football Championships
All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months...
.
Niblock started his club career with O'Donovan Rossa 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 returned to win a Derry Senior Football Championship with the club). He later played for various club sides in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Upon returning to Ireland
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...
he played for Douglas
Douglas GAA
Douglas GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the Douglas suburb of Cork, Ireland. The club participates at different levels in hurling, Gaelic football, camogie and ladies football. The club is part of the Seandun division of Cork GAA....
and Nemo Rangers
Nemo Rangers GAA
Nemo Rangers Hurling and Football Club is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club on the southside of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1922 and is primarily concerned with the game of Gaelic football, though interest in hurling has escalated in recent years.-History:Nemo Rangers...
in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He had much success with Nemo, including winning ? Cork Championships, ? Munster Club Championships
Munster Senior Club Football Championship
The Munster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between the hundreds of senior football clubs in Munster. The winners will represent Munster in the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship. East Kerry were the first winners of the Munster senior...
and two All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
s.
He usually played in the half forward line
Gaelic football and Hurling positions
The following are the positions in the Gaelic sports of Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. Like rugby and baseball, and unlike soccer, these have set positions which haven't changed in decades...
, but could also play in midfield. Niblock is known as one of Derry's best ever players. He "glided through the heart of defences with consummate ease" and was known for his "silky skills".
Personal life
Niblock is originally from MagherafeltMagherafelt
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 uncle Frank was part of the Derry side that won the county's first ever 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...
title in 1947. Frank was a big influence on Mickey during his early years. Mickey's brothers Laurence, Dermot, Hugh, Brendan and twins Robert and Raymond all played for Magherafelt alongside him, with Hugh also playing for Derry.
Niblock emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1971. He met his wife Dolores (from Youghal
Youghal
Youghal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
) while in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. They returned from America in 1978 and settled down in Cork. Niblock's son David has played for Cork in the past.
Club
Niblock played his underage football with home-club O'Donovan Rossa MagherafeltMagherafelt 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 soon progressed to the club's Senior team.
For the seven years he was in the United States between 1971 and 1978, Niblock played for a variety of clubs. In New York he played for the Monaghan club, before later transferring to Sligo. He won Championships with both teams. When his team wasn't in action on certain weekends, he'd go to play for clubs in the likes of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Philadelphia or Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, for example he often played for Tyrone in Philadelphia.
When he moved back to Ireland in 1978 Niblock played with Intermediate Cork side Douglas
Douglas GAA
Douglas GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the Douglas suburb of Cork, Ireland. The club participates at different levels in hurling, Gaelic football, camogie and ladies football. The club is part of the Seandun division of Cork GAA....
for a while. While there he travelled home and helped Magherafelt win the 1978 Derry Senior Football Championship. It was the Magherafelt's first county title in 29 years. It is a breach of the rules to play for two clubs in different counties at the same time, but as Niblock says "I couldn't resist it. Three of my brothers were playing in that final and it gave me a great thrill to win the Championship alongside them". That minor indiscretion deprived him of the opportunity to play for Cork, but he has no regrets.
He was later advised that Nemo Rangers
Nemo Rangers GAA
Nemo Rangers Hurling and Football Club is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club on the southside of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1922 and is primarily concerned with the game of Gaelic football, though interest in hurling has escalated in recent years.-History:Nemo Rangers...
were a more football orientated club than Douglas and he soon transferred to them. His honours with the club include ? Cork Championships, ? Munster Club Championships
Munster Senior Club Football Championship
The Munster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between the hundreds of senior football clubs in Munster. The winners will represent Munster in the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship. East Kerry were the first winners of the Munster senior...
and two All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
s (1982 and 1984). He retired from club football in 1992.
Inter-county
Niblock first came to prominence as part of the Derry Minor side that won both the Ulster MinorUlster 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...
and 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...
s in 1965, beating Cavan
Cavan GAA
The Cavan County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Cavan GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Cavan...
and Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
in the respective finals. He played at centre half forward on the team. The success was Derry's first ever All-Ireland Minor title.
Three years later he helped the Derry Under-21 team win both the Ulster Under 21
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...
and All-Ireland Under 21 Championship
All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months...
s. Having reached the Ulster Under 21 final, they beat Monaghan
Monaghan GAA
The Monaghan County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Monaghan GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Monaghan and the Monaghan inter-county football and hurling teams. Separate county boards are responsible for the...
. In the All-Ireland semi-final Derry defeated a fancied Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
team with ease. In the All-Ireland final Derry met 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 Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
and won 3-09 to 1-09, with Niblock scoring 1-01 from centre half forward. The success was Derry's first ever All-Ireland Under 21 title.
Niblock made his Derry Senior debut in 1966, while still a Minor. In 1970 Niblock helped Derry win the Ulster Senior Football 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...
, overcoming Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
in the final. Derry met Kerry in the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
semi-final, but were defeated. The following year Derry lost to Down
Down GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
in the Ulster final. Niblock scored 2-04 from play, a record which was overtaken by Tyrone's Frank McGuigan
Frank McGuigan
Frank McGuigan is a former Tyrone Gaelic footballer and father of current Tyrone player, Brian McGuigan. Despite his playing career being cut short by a car crash, which broke his leg, he is considered a legend in Tyrone football, alongside players such as Frankie Donnelly and Peter Canavan.He is...
in 1984.
Later that year he emigrated to America, interrupting his inter-county career. He flew home from New York to play for Derry in the 1972-1973 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...
semi-final against Kerry in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
. It was Niblock's last game for the county.
Niblock was later selected to play for Cork, but couldn't due to the indiscretion about playing for two clubs at once (see above).
Province
Niblock represented UlsterUlster GAA
The Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
and won a Railway Cup with the province in 1970.
Coaching / management career
Currently Manageing Cork Club Douglas.Soccer
Niblock was also a talented soccer player, and teams he had trials for include Cork HiberniansCork Hibernians F.C.
Cork Hibernians F.C. were an Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1957 and 1976 and played their home games at Flower Lodge. In 1971, they were League of Ireland champions.-History:...
.