Gary Coleman (Gaelic footballer)

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Gary Coleman
Personal information
Sport Gaelic football
Irish Name Gearóid Ó Colmáin
Date of birth June 26, 1972 (1972-06-26) (age 35)
Place of birth County Londonderry , Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Occupation Postman
Club information
Club Ballymaguigan
Position Defender / Forward
Club(s)*
Club Years Apps (scores)
Magherafelt
Ballymaguigan
?-2001
2002-Present
?
?-?
Inter-County
County Derry
Position Defender
Inter-County(ies)**
County Years Apps (scores)
Derry ?-? ?
Senior Inter-County Titles
Ulster Titles 2
All-Ireland 1
NFL 4
All Stars 1

* club appearances and scores
correct as of .
**Inter County team apps and scores correct
as of .

Gary Coleman (Irish: Gearóid Ó Colmáin; born 26 June 1972) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who played with Derry in the 1990s and early 2000s. He still plays club football with St. Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan.

Coleman was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, as well as the 1993 and 1998 Ulster Championship winning teams. For his performances in the 1993 Championship he won an All Star award. While usually playing in defence for Derry, he often played in attack for Magherafelt and current club Ballymaguigan.

Contents

[edit] Personal life

Coleman attended school at Saint Pius X College in Magherafelt. His father Eamonn was manager of the 1993 Derry team that won the All-Ireland.

[edit] Inter-county career

Regarded as one of the best Derry minor players of all time, Coleman captained Derry minors to two Ulster Minor Championships and an All-Ireland Minor Championship[1]. He also won an Ulster Under-21 Championship medal in 1993.

He was part of Derry's 1993 Ulster Championship and All-Ireland winning team, which beat Cork in the final. Coleman added a second Ulster Championship medal in 1998.

He won four National Football League medals with Derry in 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000. Coleman and Derry finished runners-up to Offaly in the 1998 National League decider.[2]

[edit] Club career

Coleman started his career with O'Donovan Rossa GAC Magherafelt. After moving to his father's home townland of Ballymaguigan a few years ago, Coleman transferred to St. Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan in 2002 and currently plays full forward for the side. He won a Derry Intermediate Football Championship with the club in 2003 and says it as precious and meaningful to him as the All-Ireland medal he won in 1993.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Corry, Eoghan (1993). Oakboys - Derry's Football Dream Come True. Dublin, Ireland: Torc Books Ltd., 22. ISBN 1-898142-10-6. 
  2. ^ "Lyons' pride pass tough test of character to land League", Irish Examiner, 1998-04-27. Retrieved on 2008-04-06. 
  3. ^ Crowe, Dermot. "Coleman's enduring legacy", Irish Independent, 2008-06-01. Retrieved on 2008-06-02. 

[edit] External links