Owen Roe McGovern
Encyclopedia
Owen Roe McGovern was a former Gaelic football
player for Cavan
.
, he could play at corner-back or half-back. He won 2 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
medals in 1947,'48. He was a member of the great Cavan squad which won the All-Ireland Final in the Polo Grounds
, New York
in 1947. In the 1948 All-Ireland title success Owen Roe had come on as a second-half substitute in defence. The following year he started at left corner-back in the Final, but Meath
denied Cavan the three in a row. He was a member of the Cavan squad when they won their first National Football League
title in the 1947/48 season and he lined out at right half-back when Cavan reclaimed the National Football League title in 1949/50.
before emigrating to Elizabeth, New Jersey
with his wife Philomena in 1957. They have three sons and one daughter. He was publican of Morley and McGovern public house for many years.
Owen Roe was the last survivor from Cavan's All-Ireland winning teams of 1947 and '48. Owen Roe McGovern died on May 2, 2011.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
player for 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...
.
Playing career
A native of SwanlinbarSwanlinbar
Swanlinbar is a small village on the N87 national secondary road in north-west County Cavan, Ireland, close to the Cladagh river and near the Fermanagh border.The village is in the barony of Tullyhaw....
, he could play at corner-back or half-back. He won 2 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
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...
medals in 1947,'48. He was a member of the great Cavan squad which won the All-Ireland Final in the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
, 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...
in 1947. In the 1948 All-Ireland title success Owen Roe had come on as a second-half substitute in defence. The following year he started at left corner-back in the Final, but Meath
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
denied Cavan the three in a row. He was a member of the Cavan squad when they won their first 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 the 1947/48 season and he lined out at right half-back when Cavan reclaimed the National Football League title in 1949/50.
Later years & personal Life
He served in the Irish ArmyIrish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
before emigrating to Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
with his wife Philomena in 1957. They have three sons and one daughter. He was publican of Morley and McGovern public house for many years.
Owen Roe was the last survivor from Cavan's All-Ireland winning teams of 1947 and '48. Owen Roe McGovern died on May 2, 2011.