Seamus Leydon
Encyclopedia
Seamus Leydon is famous Gaelic footballer from County Galway
. He was a vital part of Galway’s great "Three In A Row" side of the Mid 60’s. The "Dunmore Dynamo" was the scourge of all right half backs up and down the county for a decade.
The groundwork for Seamus’ outstanding career was laid from an early stage. He attended the great footballing college, St. Jarlath's College
of Tuam
, the home of so much football tradition. In 1960, the Dunmore man helped St. Jarlath's to an All-Ireland Colleges Championship. That year Leydon was also in the Galway Minor team which convincingly won the All-Ireland title, winning the Connacht final against Roscommon
by 20 points and then overwhelming Cork in the All-Ireland final, 4-09 to 1-05.
His first Connacht Senior medal came in ’63 when Galway hammered Leitrim
by 14 points in the final. They then accounted for Kerry
in the All-Ireland semi final by four points. They lost to Dublin
in the final but the big breakthrough came the next year when Kerry were toppled by the Connacht champions in the final, with Seamus marking Denis O’Sullivan, one of many formidable wing backs he came up against in his time. Further success was to follow for the tribesmen when Enda Colleran
captained them to another victory over Kerry in the ’65 final and a six point win in the decider against Meath
the following September. That victory ensured a memorable "Three In A Row" for Galway. It would be 32 years before the county would win another one. Seamus featured in the 1971
final when Offaly beat them by three points.
The Dunmore man himself quit the intercounty scene in 1972 when his job with Cantrell and Cochrane forced him to move to Cork to take up a position as regional manager for Munster. After having won six or seven Galway Championships with Dunmore, he started playing for Nemo Rangers in Cork who, at that time, didn’t enjoy the same reputation nationally as they do now as one of the best club footballing sides in Ireland. Since that time Nemo Rangers have won several All-Ireland Club Championships but Seamus’ only final came in 1975 when they were beaten by two points by a very strong U.C.D. side.
In 1999, Seamus was voted on the Galway
"Team Of The Millennium".
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. He was a vital part of Galway’s great "Three In A Row" side of the Mid 60’s. The "Dunmore Dynamo" was the scourge of all right half backs up and down the county for a decade.
The groundwork for Seamus’ outstanding career was laid from an early stage. He attended the great footballing college, St. Jarlath's College
St. Jarlath's College
St. Jarlath's College is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. It is an amalgamation of the former St. Jarlath's College and St...
of Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, the home of so much football tradition. In 1960, the Dunmore man helped St. Jarlath's to an All-Ireland Colleges Championship. That year Leydon was also in the Galway Minor team which convincingly won the All-Ireland title, winning the Connacht final against Roscommon
Roscommon GAA
For more details of Roscommon GAA see Roscommon Senior Club Football Championship or Roscommon Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Roscommon County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Roscommon GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games...
by 20 points and then overwhelming Cork in the All-Ireland final, 4-09 to 1-05.
His first Connacht Senior medal came in ’63 when Galway hammered Leitrim
Leitrim GAA
The Leitrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Leitrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Leitrim. The county board is also responsible for the Leitrim inter-county teams.-Gaelic football:In the 1924 Connacht...
by 14 points in the final. They then accounted for 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 All-Ireland semi final by four points. They lost to Dublin
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...
in the final but the big breakthrough came the next year when Kerry were toppled by the Connacht champions in the final, with Seamus marking Denis O’Sullivan, one of many formidable wing backs he came up against in his time. Further success was to follow for the tribesmen when Enda Colleran
Enda Colleran
Enda Colleran was an Irish Gaelic football manager and player. He played football with his local club Tuam Stars and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team from 1961 until 1971. Colleran captained Galway to back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 1965 and 1966 and later served as manager...
captained them to another victory over Kerry in the ’65 final and a six point win in the decider against 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 :...
the following September. That victory ensured a memorable "Three In A Row" for Galway. It would be 32 years before the county would win another one. Seamus featured in the 1971
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...
final when Offaly beat them by three points.
The Dunmore man himself quit the intercounty scene in 1972 when his job with Cantrell and Cochrane forced him to move to Cork to take up a position as regional manager for Munster. After having won six or seven Galway Championships with Dunmore, he started playing for Nemo Rangers in Cork who, at that time, didn’t enjoy the same reputation nationally as they do now as one of the best club footballing sides in Ireland. Since that time Nemo Rangers have won several All-Ireland Club Championships but Seamus’ only final came in 1975 when they were beaten by two points by a very strong U.C.D. side.
In 1999, Seamus was voted on the Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
"Team Of The Millennium".