Sean Delaney
Encyclopedia
Sean "Rab" Delaney was a famous sportsman from County Laois
, Ireland
.
Aged 55, Sean died suddenly in 2004 and the news stunned the county.
He will always be remembered as the man who guided Laois to the county’s first Ladies All-Ireland senior title in 2001, defeating Mayo. It was an honour he enjoyed, and the highlight of a varied and outstanding sporting career.
Sean was a League of Ireland
footballer with Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne
and St. Patrick's Athletic, an inter county goalkeeper and corner forward with Laois seniors, a highly respected respected senior goalkeeper with Portlaoise hurlers.
Son of the late Morgan and Mai Delaney, Goggie spent his early years in Portlaoise and attended St Mary’s CBS where he won numerous under age titles.
With the Portlaoise
hurlers, he won Laois Minor Hurling Championship
titles in 1964 and 1965, and at 17 played in the Laois Junior Hurling Championship decider defeating Camross
in 1965.
He was in goal for Laois in 1966 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
final, a decider Laois lost to Down.
A noted soccer player, Goggie was a free kick specialist. On his debut for Shamrock Rovers, he scored twice, once from a free kick. He was reputed to have turned to the crowd on scoring the spectacular spot kick and announced "If you want to see another one like that, I’m in Portlaoise next Sunday at 3 o’ clock."
He played the game with confidence, and did likewise between the hurling goalposts.
Holder of five SHC medals, Tipperary legend Jimmy Doyle installed Goggie as the number one goalkeeper in the town and Sean was between the posts for the club’s historic four-in-a-row campaign from 1981 to 1984.
Seán was also proud to play some of his hurling career with Park/Ratheniska
where he won a Laois Junior Hurling Championship title in 1971 and a Laois Intermediate Hurling Championship
in 1977. Goggie famously had a bet on that he would keep a clean sheet in one of the finals and could be heard cursing the heavens when a late consolation goal went in, causing great laughter throughout the team and the ground.
He played senior football with Stradbally
, and won a Division One league medal with the club.
At the end of his playing career, he turned to coaching. He was an innovative coach, direct on the one hand yet more than willing to share the concerns and doubts of his players. One of his greatest strengths was involving all on the panel, and being willing to seek outside advice and support for his teams.
He coached football and hurling, camogie and ladies football for various clubs throughout the county with a fair degree of success.
His father Morgan played on the Laois team that won the 1946 Leinster Senior Football Championship
title and he really savoured Laois's next Leinster Senior Football Championship
win in 2003 as his son Damien
lined out on the team which regained the title after a gap of 57 years.
in 2000 Sean Delaney starred in the film There's Only One Jimmy Grimble
as the character Brick
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
Aged 55, Sean died suddenly in 2004 and the news stunned the county.
He will always be remembered as the man who guided Laois to the county’s first Ladies All-Ireland senior title in 2001, defeating Mayo. It was an honour he enjoyed, and the highlight of a varied and outstanding sporting career.
Sean was a 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...
footballer with Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne
Shelbourne
Shelbourne may refer to :*Shelbourne Hotel; a hotel in the centre of Dublin, Ireland*Shelbourne Development; a real estate development company based out of Dublin, Ireland*Shelbourne Road; a street in Dublin, Ireland...
and St. Patrick's Athletic, an inter county goalkeeper and corner forward with Laois seniors, a highly respected respected senior goalkeeper with Portlaoise hurlers.
Son of the late Morgan and Mai Delaney, Goggie spent his early years in Portlaoise and attended St Mary’s CBS where he won numerous under age titles.
With the Portlaoise
Portlaoise GAA
% !!!5 TIMES COUNTY CHAMPIONS!!!Portlaoise GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling and gaelic football club in Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland....
hurlers, he won Laois Minor Hurling Championship
Laois Minor Hurling Championship
The Laois Minor Hurling Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the under 18 players of Laois clubs. The 2011 minor hurling champions are Borris-in-Ossory/Kilcotton who defeated Rathdowney-Errill in the final....
titles in 1964 and 1965, and at 17 played in the Laois Junior Hurling Championship decider defeating Camross
Camross
Camross GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling and gaelic football club in County Laois, Ireland.-History:Founded in 1903, the club is the most successful hurling clubs in County Laois and club colours are black and amber....
in 1965.
He was in goal for Laois in 1966 All-Ireland Minor Football 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...
final, a decider Laois lost to Down.
A noted soccer player, Goggie was a free kick specialist. On his debut for Shamrock Rovers, he scored twice, once from a free kick. He was reputed to have turned to the crowd on scoring the spectacular spot kick and announced "If you want to see another one like that, I’m in Portlaoise next Sunday at 3 o’ clock."
He played the game with confidence, and did likewise between the hurling goalposts.
Holder of five SHC medals, Tipperary legend Jimmy Doyle installed Goggie as the number one goalkeeper in the town and Sean was between the posts for the club’s historic four-in-a-row campaign from 1981 to 1984.
Seán was also proud to play some of his hurling career with Park/Ratheniska
Park/Ratheniska
Park/Ratheniska GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football and hurling club in County Laois, Ireland.The club was founded in 1981 after the amalgamation of Park Football Club and Ratheniska Hurling Club. Club colours are green and gold...
where he won a Laois Junior Hurling Championship title in 1971 and a Laois Intermediate Hurling Championship
Laois Intermediate Hurling Championship
The Laois Intermediate Hurling Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association club competition between the second grade Laois hurling clubs. The winners of the championship qualify to represent their county in the Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship and in turn, go on to the...
in 1977. Goggie famously had a bet on that he would keep a clean sheet in one of the finals and could be heard cursing the heavens when a late consolation goal went in, causing great laughter throughout the team and the ground.
He played senior football with Stradbally
Stradbally GAA
Stradbally GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football club in Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland.The club was founded in 1889 and its colours are green and white...
, and won a Division One league medal with the club.
At the end of his playing career, he turned to coaching. He was an innovative coach, direct on the one hand yet more than willing to share the concerns and doubts of his players. One of his greatest strengths was involving all on the panel, and being willing to seek outside advice and support for his teams.
He coached football and hurling, camogie and ladies football for various clubs throughout the county with a fair degree of success.
His father Morgan played on the Laois team that won the 1946 Leinster Senior Football Championship
Leinster Senior Football Championship
The GAA Leinster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council and are played during the summer months. The competition involves the counties of...
title and he really savoured Laois's next Leinster Senior Football Championship
Leinster Senior Football Championship
The GAA Leinster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council and are played during the summer months. The competition involves the counties of...
win in 2003 as his son Damien
Damien Delaney (Gaelic football)
Damien Delaney is a former Gaelic football player for Laois.He won a Leinster Senior Football Championship medal with Laois in 2003 and he also helped Laois to a Leinster Under 21 Football title in 1994....
lined out on the team which regained the title after a gap of 57 years.
in 2000 Sean Delaney starred in the film There's Only One Jimmy Grimble
There's Only One Jimmy Grimble
There's Only One Jimmy Grimble is a 2000 film set around Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. The film centred on one young boy's dream to play for Manchester City F.C.-Plot:...
as the character Brick