Stephen O'Neill
Encyclopedia
Stephen O'Neill is a Gaelic football
er from Strabane
, Northern Ireland
, who plays for the Tyrone Senior football team
. He won three All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
medals, two Under 21 medals, and a Minor medal
. He was the 2005 Footballer of the Year.
His style of play is quite traditional as a full forward, often getting on the end of passes, and scoring with his preferred left foot. It's his superior physical strength that sets him apart from his peers, coupled with his agility on the ball, making him very difficult to mark.
O'Neill announced his retirement from the Tyrone Gaelic football team in January 2008, but made himself available for the All-Ireland final of the same year. Tyrone won the competition, but O'Neill refused to accept the medal, citing the fact that he felt he had not earned it, having not been part of the team on their journey to the final.
, County Tyrone. He previously taught at St. Mary's Primary School in Bellaghy
, County Londonderry
. O'Neill married Phenah McSorley from Aghyaran, County Tyrone on 9 July 2009
—usually dictated by who is kicking on their stronger side.
Stephen won All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
medals with Tyrone in 2003 and 2005, and the National Football League
in Tyrone's break-through year of 2002, and again in 2003. Serious injury ruled him out for much of Tyrone's unsuccessful 2006 championship
.
He won an All-star award
in 2001 and 2005. In 2005, he was won a clean sweep of the Texaco award
, the Gaelic player's award
and the Vodafone award
for Footballer of the Year, after a monumental year where he scored a total of 64 points (5-49). These performances earned him a place in the Irish team
in the international rules
series for 2005
against Australia.
, but he is now retiring from county football at the young age of 27.
However, on September 4, 2008, it was announced that O'Neill would be available for selection for the All-Ireland final, following the approval of the other panel players who had reached the final without his contributions. This was despite the fact that a mere two days earlier he had gone on record denying a return, suggesting that his long absence would affect his match-sharpness.
O'Neill's return to action came earlier than many expected during the 2008 All Ireland final as a 25th minute sub for the injured Colm McCullagh
. Although he failed to register a score he caused the Kerry defence a number of problems and helped Tyrone to their third Senior Football Championship win in six years. Despite being entitled to one, O'Neill refused to accept his winner's medal, saying that he "did not earn" it. He was visibly upset as he was climbing the steps to be presented the trophy, and had to be consoled by teammates, such as Conor Gormley.
O'Neill helped Tyrone win another Ulster Championship in 2009
, beating Antrim
in the final, collecting an end of season All-Star award, third.
in Aughabrack. With the side he has won one Tyrone Junior Championship and one Tyrone Intermediate Championship.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er from Strabane
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, who plays for the Tyrone Senior football team
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
. He won three 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, two Under 21 medals, and a Minor medal
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 was the 2005 Footballer of the Year.
His style of play is quite traditional as a full forward, often getting on the end of passes, and scoring with his preferred left foot. It's his superior physical strength that sets him apart from his peers, coupled with his agility on the ball, making him very difficult to mark.
O'Neill announced his retirement from the Tyrone Gaelic football team in January 2008, but made himself available for the All-Ireland final of the same year. Tyrone won the competition, but O'Neill refused to accept the medal, citing the fact that he felt he had not earned it, having not been part of the team on their journey to the final.
Personal life
O'Neill is a primary four school teacher at St. Mary's Primary School in KillyclogherKillyclogher
Killyclogher is a village on the outskirts of the town of Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is also a townland and an electoral ward of Omagh District Council...
, County Tyrone. He previously taught at St. Mary's Primary School in Bellaghy
Bellaghy
Bellaghy , is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies north west of Lough Neagh and about 5 miles north of Magherafelt. At the centre of the village lies the junction of three main roads leading to Magherafelt, Portglenone and Toome. It had a population of 1,063 people in the...
, County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
. O'Neill married Phenah McSorley from Aghyaran, County Tyrone on 9 July 2009
Youth Player
O'Neill has had considerable success with Tyrone youth teams winning 2 Ulster and All-Ireland under 21 titles in 2000 and 2001 to add to his Ulster Minor championship medals in 1997 and 1998 and his All-Ireland minor championship in 1998.Senior team
O'Neill burst on to the senior county scene and by 2001 had won an Ulster title and the first of his three All-Star awards. During his time with Tyrone he was first choice penalty taker - scoring three in the run up to Tyrone's 2005 All-Ireland victory, and also shared free-taking duty with Eoin MulliganEoin Mulligan
Eoin "Mugsy" Mulligan is an Irish Gaelic football player. He helped Tyrone win the 2003, 2005 and 2008 All-Ireland Finals and plays in Cookstown for the Fr...
—usually dictated by who is kicking on their stronger side.
Stephen won 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 with Tyrone in 2003 and 2005, and the 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...
in Tyrone's break-through year of 2002, and again in 2003. Serious injury ruled him out for much of Tyrone's unsuccessful 2006 championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2006
The 2006 Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship began on Sunday, May 7, 2006. The 2006 championship used the same "Qualifier" system that was used in 2005....
.
He won an All-star award
GAA All Stars Awards Past Winners (Football)
This is a list of all past winners of the official GAA All Stars Awards since the first awards in 1971. As an insight to the prominent players of the 1960s, it also includes the unofficial "Cuchulainn" awards presented from 1963 to 1967 under the auspices of Gaelic Weekly magazine.For each year...
in 2001 and 2005. In 2005, he was won a clean sweep of the Texaco award
Texaco Footballer of the Year
The Texaco Footballer of the Year is a Gaelic football award, created in 1958, that honours the achievements of a footballer of outstanding excellence...
, the Gaelic player's award
GPA Footballer of the Year
The GPA Footballer of the Year is awarded annually by the Gaelic Players Association, as part of the Opel Gaelic Players awards scheme, established in 2006. The title was first awarded in 2001, at the foundation of the association, and was first sponsored in 2005, also by Opel. The award honours...
and the Vodafone award
Vodafone Footballer of the Year
The Gaelic Athletic Association All Stars Footballer of the Year known for sponsorship reasons as the Vodafone Footballer of the Year is a Gaelic football award, created in 1995, that honours the achievements of a footballer of outstanding excellence...
for Footballer of the Year, after a monumental year where he scored a total of 64 points (5-49). These performances earned him a place in the Irish team
Ireland international rules football team
The Ireland International rules football team is the representative team for Ireland in international rules football, a compromise between Gaelic football and Australian rules football...
in the international rules
International rules football
International rules football is a team sport consisting of a hybrid of football codes, which was developed to facilitate international representative matches between Australian rules football players and Gaelic football players....
series for 2005
2005 International Rules Series
The 2005 International Rules series was the 8th annual International Rules Series and the 14th time that a test series of International rules football was played between Ireland and Australia and was won by Australia....
against Australia.
Retirement and return
Following two years where he was blighted by recurring injuries, O'Neill agreed to undergo surgery before the end of 2007 in order to resolve a complex knee tendinitis condition. It was hoped that this would make him fully fit for the 2008 ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2008
The 2008 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was that year's Gaelic football championship, having kicked off on May 11 and ended with the All-Ireland Final in Croke Park on September 21...
, but he is now retiring from county football at the young age of 27.
However, on September 4, 2008, it was announced that O'Neill would be available for selection for the All-Ireland final, following the approval of the other panel players who had reached the final without his contributions. This was despite the fact that a mere two days earlier he had gone on record denying a return, suggesting that his long absence would affect his match-sharpness.
O'Neill's return to action came earlier than many expected during the 2008 All Ireland final as a 25th minute sub for the injured Colm McCullagh
Colm McCullagh
Colm McCullagh is a former Gaelic football player for County Tyrone who was a member of the 2005 All Ireland winning panel. He plays his club football for Dromore who won the League and Championship double in 2007....
. Although he failed to register a score he caused the Kerry defence a number of problems and helped Tyrone to their third Senior Football Championship win in six years. Despite being entitled to one, O'Neill refused to accept his winner's medal, saying that he "did not earn" it. He was visibly upset as he was climbing the steps to be presented the trophy, and had to be consoled by teammates, such as Conor Gormley.
O'Neill helped Tyrone win another Ulster Championship in 2009
Ulster Senior Football Championship 2009
The Ulster Senior Football Championship 2009 will be the 2009 installment of the annual Ulster Senior Football Championship run by the Ulster GAA. The winners will receive the Anglo-Celt Cup. The winners will automatically advance to the quarter-final stage of the 2009 All-Ireland Championship...
, beating 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, collecting an end of season All-Star award, third.
Club
Stephen's home club is Clan na GaelClann na nGael, Tyrone
Clann na nGael, abbreviated CnaG, is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the north of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, with its home grounds based at Aughabrack and Dunamanagh....
in Aughabrack. With the side he has won one Tyrone Junior Championship and one Tyrone Intermediate Championship.