Football legend Dermot Earley passes away
June 23, 2010
The late Dermot Earley Snr celebrates a Kildare championship win with his son Dermot during the 2008 season - INPHO
Dermot Earley, a two time All Star and rated as one of Roscommon's all time footballing greats, managed both the Roscommon and Kildare senior football teams.
He played in the 1980 All-Ireland senior final against Kerry, won a NFL medal a year earlier, an All-Ireland U21FC in 1966 and claimed five Connacht SFC medals during an intercounty career that spanned 20 years, before his retirement in 1985. He was named at midfield on the All Star teams of 1974 and 1979.
He is the father of Dermot Earley Jnr., Kildare's current All Star midfielder and another son, David, also played for the Lilywhites for a spell in the 90s, while his daughter Noelle is also an All Star ladies footballer. His brother Paul also played for Roscommon, winning an All Star at full forward in 1985.
A hugely popular figure in GAA circles, Dermot Earley was appointed Lieutenant General of the Defence Forces, the Commander in Chief of the Irish army in 2007, having served the force with distinction over the course of his career. He joined the Defence Forces as a cadet in 1965.
He was presented with the Distinguished Service Medal by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen in April.
Born in 1948, the Michael Glavey's clubman also played on the Sarsfields team that won the 1982 Kildare SFC. A brilliant young footballer, he played at minor level for Roscommon for four years, 1963-66. He won an All-Ireland U21 medal in 1966 and captained Roscommon in the 1969 All-Ireland U21 final.
He made his senior intercounty debut in 1965, at the age of 17, and went on to claim provincial senior honours in 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.
The Roscommon man became ill late last year and stood down from his position with the Defence Forces earlier this month on health grounds.
He is survived by his wife Mary and their six children.
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