Dessie Farrell

Dessie Farrell (Irish: Deasún Ó Fearail) is a former Irish Gaelic footballer who played for Dublin. He plays his club football for Na Fianna although his playing days may be numbered due to suffering a suspected torn cruciate ligament.[1] He is the current Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players Association.

Playing career

Dessie Farrell made his championship debut for Dublin against Offaly on May 31,^[1] 1992 at Tullamore. Dessie scored two points in the game which finished on a scoreline of 2-17 for Dublin and 1-09 for Offaly. He had a total of 67(3-58) points for Dublin in a career that spanned thirteen years. Farrell was arguably seen at his best against Meath in the Leinster Final of 1995. In that game Farrell scored from a sideline ball in the Hill 16 end. Farrell gave the Meath defence a roasting as Dublin went on the rampage mid way through the second half of that game. Dublin went onto win on a scoreline of 1-18 to 1-08. His championship debut as Dublin captain was on June 7, 1998 against Kildare in game that finished a draw at 0-10. Dublin went on to a replay and crashed out of the championship with a 0-12 to 1-08 loss to Kildare in the replay. His second year as captain proved unsuccessful when Dublin were knocked out by bitter rivals Meath by a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-12. In 2000, his third effort as captain, Dublin were knocked out after only one match, losing to Kildare by a scoreline of 2-11 to 0-12. His final year as captain was his most successful, taking rivals Kerry to a replay in 2001 after a tight affair that finished on a scoreline of 2-11 to 1-14 at Thurles on August 4. Kerry went on to win the replay by a goal, and the game proved to be Dessies' final game as captain and also Tommy Carrs final game as senior football manager.

Farrell won an all-star, at centre-forward, for his role in Dublin's All Ireland win in 1995. He has six Leinster Senior Football Championship medals for Dublin, which he received in 1992, '93, '94, '95, 2002 and 2005 as well as a leinster minor and NFL title.^[2] As a Dublin Senior footballer he played under seven different management teams, Gerry McCaul, Paddy Cullen, Pat O'Neill, Mickey Whelan, Tommy Carr, Tommy Lyons and Paul 'Pillar' Caffrey.

As well as representing Dublin at senior level, he also played as a Minor and U21 player. In 1992 he captained the U21 hurlers and he also played Minor for Dublin between 1987 and 1989. In 1988 he won a Leinster Minor Football medal with Dublin before being beaten by Kerry in the All-Ireland final.

Detailed account of his playing career are recorded in his autobiography which was released on the 30th of November 2005, the same night that he announced his official retirement from inter-county football. The book entitled Dessie Tangled Up In Blue was co-written with Seán Potts. In the book, he was highly critical of Tommy Lyons and his management style. Farrell was named on the 2006 Dublin Bus/Evening Herald Blue Star football XV as a substitute.[2]

Gaelic Player's Association

Dessie Farrell is the current Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players Association and is a founder member. In November 2000, the GPA's first annual general meeting took place in Killarney Co. Kerry, where Farrell was elected as Chairman. At the same inaugural event, Séamus Moynihan was elected Secretary, Jamesie O'Connor was elected President and Ciarán McArdle was elected Treasurer.

Management

After retieing from playing Farrell took up management. He took over as manager of the Dublin minor football team in 2011 and led them to a Leinster Minor Football Championship

Hockey

Farrel played Hockey when younger and represented Ireland at international level. Farrell continued to play Hockey during and after his Dublin career^[1]

See also

• Dublin GAA
• Dublin GAA Honours
• Dublin Senior Club Football Championship

References

External links

• Dessie Farrells Speech at the 2006 GPA awards
• Gaelic Players Association
• Official Dublin GAA Website