Séamus Darby
Encyclopedia
Séamus Darby is an Irish
former sportsperson who played Gaelic football
for County Offaly
in the 1970s and 1980s. He played most of his club football for the Rhode
club.
He is best remembered for scoring the shock late goal that deprived Kerry
of a 5-in-a-row in the 1982 All-Ireland football
final.
career, Darby won Leinster
provincial titles with Offaly in 1972, 1973 and 1982, playing in various forward positions. He won his first All-Ireland medal in 1972 when Offaly defeated Kerry in the final. He had been an unused substitute in the 1971 final, Offaly's first-ever win. He was dropped from the county panel after the 1976 season.
. He pulled a hamstring
in that match and missed the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway
. His replacement Johnny Mooney played well in that match so Darby was left on the bench for the final.
The 1982 All-Ireland Final was a repeat of the previous year's encounter and was also significant in that a win for Kerry would give them an unprecedented fifth All-Ireland Final victory in a row. Kerry were winning by two points with two minutes to go when Darby arrived on the field of play as a substitute, with instructions to stay forward and try for a goal. Darby got behind his marker Tommy Doyle, caught a "high, lobbing, dropping ball", and scored one of the most famous goals of all time. It was his only kick of the match. Kerry fumbled the counter attack which allowed Offaly to win by one single point with a score of 1-15 to 0-17.
In 2005, Darby's goal against Kerry was voted third in a poll to find the Top 20 GAA Moments
.
in 1989, and for Borrisokane
in County Tipperary
in 1991.
Séamus Darby then went on to hurl for St Gabriels of London where he became acquainted with the small ball, in 2009. He sought out another possible 4 in a row winner in Robert Emmetts. Darby was introduced in the latter stages of the final between Emmetts and Gabriels as a substitute. This was his stage, He danced around the Emmetts defence in the 22nd minute of the 2nd half and rattled the net once again as spectacularly as the first. Thus ensuring his place the annals of Gaa folklore for years to come.
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...
former sportsperson who played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
for County 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 the 1970s and 1980s. He played most of his club football for the Rhode
Rhode, County Offaly
Rhode is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is situated on the R400 at its junction with the R441 which leads to Edenderry, the nearest town, located 12 km east of Rhode....
club.
He is best remembered for scoring the shock late goal that deprived 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...
of a 5-in-a-row in the 1982 All-Ireland football
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.
Early career
During his footballingGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
career, Darby won Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
provincial titles with Offaly in 1972, 1973 and 1982, playing in various forward positions. He won his first All-Ireland medal in 1972 when Offaly defeated Kerry in the final. He had been an unused substitute in the 1971 final, Offaly's first-ever win. He was dropped from the county panel after the 1976 season.
1982 All-Ireland
Darby was recalled to the Offaly team for the 1982 Leinster final, playing full-forward against DublinDublin 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...
. He pulled a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
in that match and missed the All-Ireland semi-final against 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,...
. His replacement Johnny Mooney played well in that match so Darby was left on the bench for the final.
The 1982 All-Ireland Final was a repeat of the previous year's encounter and was also significant in that a win for Kerry would give them an unprecedented fifth All-Ireland Final victory in a row. Kerry were winning by two points with two minutes to go when Darby arrived on the field of play as a substitute, with instructions to stay forward and try for a goal. Darby got behind his marker Tommy Doyle, caught a "high, lobbing, dropping ball", and scored one of the most famous goals of all time. It was his only kick of the match. Kerry fumbled the counter attack which allowed Offaly to win by one single point with a score of 1-15 to 0-17.
In 2005, Darby's goal against Kerry was voted third in a poll to find the Top 20 GAA Moments
Top 20 GAA Moments
Top 20 GAA Moments was a poll of the best moments of Gaelic football and hurling in the television era. In early 2005, the Irish public chose its favourite from 20 memorable moments from the last 40 years, as selected by ten RTÉ sports personalities and featured on the "Sunday Sport" programme...
.
Later life
Darby's last match for Offaly was the Leinster semi-final against Dublin in 1984. He played club football for Rhode till 1986. He later played for EdenderryEdenderry, County Offaly
Edenderry is a town in the north of County Offaly, Ireland. It is near the borders with Counties Kildare, Meath and Westmeath. The Grand Canal passes immediately south of the town through the Bog of Allen and there is a short spur to the town centre....
in 1989, and for Borrisokane
Borrisokane
Borrisokane is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of approximately 1,145. It is situated on the N52/N65 National secondary road between Nenagh and Portumna and the N52 between Nenagh and Birr. It is close to Lough Derg which is only 12 km to the west. It is a...
in County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in 1991.
Séamus Darby then went on to hurl for St Gabriels of London where he became acquainted with the small ball, in 2009. He sought out another possible 4 in a row winner in Robert Emmetts. Darby was introduced in the latter stages of the final between Emmetts and Gabriels as a substitute. This was his stage, He danced around the Emmetts defence in the 22nd minute of the 2nd half and rattled the net once again as spectacularly as the first. Thus ensuring his place the annals of Gaa folklore for years to come.