Anthony Tohill
Encyclopedia
Anthony Tohill is an Irish
retired Gaelic football
er who played for Derry
in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was part of Derry's 1993
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
winning side, also winning two Ulster Championships
and four National League
titles with the county. Tohill won four All Star awards
during his career. He played club football with Michael Davitt's Swatragh.
Tohill played in the half forward line
early in his inter-county career, but is chiefly remember as a midfielder where he played for most of his career. Despite his role as the midfield anchor, he is one of the all-time top Ulster scorers in Championship football, even though most of his playing was done at a time when all teams could expect a lot less matches than they do now.
Tohill has won five Irish News Ulster All-Star awards since its inception in 1995 (1995, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001) and was named midfield on the Irish News Team of the Decade in 2004. Tohill represented Ireland
in four International Rules Series
, was captain
of the victorious 2001 team and is manager of the team for 2010. Tohill also played for Ulster
for many years, winning six? Railway Cup medals with the province. He was described as an "exemplary trainer" during his playing days.
and is the son of Hugh and Eileen Tohill. He has three brothers and four sisters. His brother Hugh Martin was also on the panel of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland winning team. His sister Aileen has had a very successful camogie
career with Swatragh and Derry and is the Ulster Council
's Lifestyle & Wellbeing Manager. Tohill attended St. John's Primary School in the village. Tohill is currently a pundit for RTÉ
's The Sunday Game
GAA coverage.
and All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
winning Derry Minor team. After returning home from Australia in 1991 (see below), he concentrated on Gaelic football.
Tohill was part of Derry's National League
winning team in 1992, scoring a late goal and a point to secure victory over Tyrone
. That year he won his first All Star award
for his performances during the year. In 1993 he won the Ulster Championship
with Derry, before going on to win the 1993 All-Ireland Championship
after a semi-final victory over Dublin
and final defeat of Cork. He again was awarded an All Star.
Derry won back-to-back National Leagues in 1995 and 1996, with Tohill being prominent on both sides. Despite Derry only playing two Championship games in 1995, he was awarded his third All Star award. Tohill and Derry finished runners-up to Offaly
in the 1998 National League decider. He added a second Ulster Championship medal in 1998, before losing out to Galway
in the All-Ireland semi-final. Tohill captained
Derry to another National League title in 2000 and received his fourth All-Star that year. At that stage he had received more All Star nominations that any other Ulster player ever. Tohill won Footballer of the Year at the 2000 Ulster GAA Writer's Association Awards. Tohill had another good season in 2001, when Derry reached the All-Ireland semi-final and his omission from the All Star nominations list caused great shock. He exited the county scene in 2003.
in the snow at Glenullin
. Lavey
narrowly defeated the Swatragh side. Tohill was top scorer in the 1993 Derry Championship with 2-26 (32 points). Prior to this he was part of Swatragh's first ever Derry Minor Championship
winning side in 1988.
s and one Hogan Cup
s with his school St. Patrick's College, Maghera
. He was also part of the 1993 Queens University Belfast team that won the Sigerson Cup
. He was top scorer in the final with 0-06.
. He would sometimes return home to play Gaelic football while there. After breaking his leg, he returned home from Melbourne
in 1991 to concentrate on Gaelic football.
. He was part of the 2006 backroom team, and was a selector for the 2008 Series, and with fellow selector, Eoin Liston
, took charge of the training sessions. Observing Tohill taking the training sessions, Irish News
journalist Paddy Heaney has predicted a future in management for Tohill, stating he "shows all the signs of someone who remains an avid student of the game". In March 2010, he was named as manager of the Irish International rules team.
for Derry City
, and Manchester United Reserves, during a two-week trial at the club in 1995.
Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.
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...
retired Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er who played for Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was part of Derry's 1993
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993
-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
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...
winning side, also winning two Ulster Championships
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
and four National 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...
titles with the county. Tohill won four All Star awards
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
during his career. He played club football with Michael Davitt's Swatragh.
Tohill played in the half forward line
Gaelic football and Hurling positions
The following are the positions in the Gaelic sports of Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. Like rugby and baseball, and unlike soccer, these have set positions which haven't changed in decades...
early in his inter-county career, but is chiefly remember as a midfielder where he played for most of his career. Despite his role as the midfield anchor, he is one of the all-time top Ulster scorers in Championship football, even though most of his playing was done at a time when all teams could expect a lot less matches than they do now.
Tohill has won five Irish News Ulster All-Star awards since its inception in 1995 (1995, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001) and was named midfield on the Irish News Team of the Decade in 2004. Tohill represented Ireland
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 four International Rules Series
International Rules Series
The International Rules Series is a senior men's International rules football competition between the Australia international rules football team and the Ireland international rules football team...
, was captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of the victorious 2001 team and is manager of the team for 2010. Tohill also played for Ulster
Ulster GAA
The Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
for many years, winning six? Railway Cup medals with the province. He was described as an "exemplary trainer" during his playing days.
Personal life
Tohill was born in SwatraghSwatragh
Swatragh is a small village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Swatragh is on the main A29 road north of Maghera. The population was 435 in the 2001 Census....
and is the son of Hugh and Eileen Tohill. He has three brothers and four sisters. His brother Hugh Martin was also on the panel of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland winning team. His sister Aileen has had a very successful camogie
Camogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
career with Swatragh and Derry and is the Ulster Council
Ulster GAA
The Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
's Lifestyle & Wellbeing Manager. Tohill attended St. John's Primary School in the village. Tohill is currently a pundit for RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
's The Sunday Game
The Sunday Game
The Sunday Game is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's main Gaelic games television programme. It is shown on RTÉ Two every Sunday during the Football Championship and Hurling Championship seasons. It is one of RTÉ Two’s longest-running shows, having been on air since 1979, one year after the channel first...
GAA coverage.
Inter-county
Tohill was an "outstanding minor" and played a prominent part in the 1989 Ulster MinorUlster Minor Football Championship
The Ulster Minor Football Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The trophy for the winning side is The Liam Murray Cup. The competition began in 1930, with...
and All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
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...
winning Derry Minor team. After returning home from Australia in 1991 (see below), he concentrated on Gaelic football.
Tohill was part of Derry's National 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...
winning team in 1992, scoring a late goal and a point to secure victory over Tyrone
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....
. That year he won his first All Star award
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
for his performances during the year. In 1993 he won the Ulster Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
with Derry, before going on to win the 1993 All-Ireland Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993
-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
after a semi-final victory over Dublin
Dublin 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...
and final defeat of Cork. He again was awarded an All Star.
Derry won back-to-back National Leagues in 1995 and 1996, with Tohill being prominent on both sides. Despite Derry only playing two Championship games in 1995, he was awarded his third All Star award. Tohill and Derry finished runners-up to 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 1998 National League decider. He added a second Ulster Championship medal in 1998, before losing out to 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,...
in the All-Ireland semi-final. Tohill captained
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
Derry to another National League title in 2000 and received his fourth All-Star that year. At that stage he had received more All Star nominations that any other Ulster player ever. Tohill won Footballer of the Year at the 2000 Ulster GAA Writer's Association Awards. Tohill had another good season in 2001, when Derry reached the All-Ireland semi-final and his omission from the All Star nominations list caused great shock. He exited the county scene in 2003.
Club
Tohill played a major role in Swatragh's run to the 1993 Derry Championship final. The game was played on St. Stephen's DaySt. Stephen's Day
St. Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, is a Christian saint's day celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church and 27 December in the Eastern Church. Many Eastern Orthodox churches adhere to the Julian calendar and mark St. Stephen's Day on 27 December according to that calendar, which...
in the snow at Glenullin
Glenullin GAC
John Mitchel's GAC Glenullin is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Glenullin, County Londonderry - a valley near Garvagh, partly coinciding with the parish of Errigal. The club is a member of the Derry GAA. They currently cater for both Gaelic football and Camogie...
. Lavey
Lavey GAC
Erins Own GAC Lavey is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the parish of Lavey, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football, Hurling, Camogie and Ladies' Gaelic football....
narrowly defeated the Swatragh side. Tohill was top scorer in the 1993 Derry Championship with 2-26 (32 points). Prior to this he was part of Swatragh's first ever Derry Minor Championship
Derry Minor Football Championship
The Derry Minor Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition between the top Derry Minor clubs. The winners of the Derry Championship qualify to represent their county in the Ulster Minor Club Football Championship...
winning side in 1988.
School and college
Tohill won MacRory CupMacRory Cup
The MacRory Cup is an inter-college Gaelic football tournament in Ulster. It is staged every year with the stipulation that players must be under eighteen-and-a-half at the start of the tournament...
s and one Hogan Cup
Hogan Cup
The Hogan Cup 1946-48 & 1957-) is the cup presented to the winners of the colleges All-Ireland "A" senior football championship, the top level Gaelic football championship for secondary schools in Ireland. The competition itself is regularly referred to by reference to the trophy's name.St...
s with his school St. Patrick's College, Maghera
St. Patrick's College, Maghera
St. Patrick's College in Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, is a specialist secondary school for science....
. He was also part of the 1993 Queens University Belfast team that won the Sigerson Cup
Sigerson Cup
The Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
. He was top scorer in the final with 0-06.
Australian Rules Football
After leaving school and All-Ireland Minor and Hogan Cup success, Tohill was head-hunted by the Melbourne Demons and after spent some time as an rookie player in Australian Rules footballAustralian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
. He would sometimes return home to play Gaelic football while there. After breaking his leg, he returned home from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1991 to concentrate on Gaelic football.
International Rules
Tohill played for Ireland on four International Rules tours between 1998 (when the series was revived) and 2001. He made eight appearances for his country. In 2001 he captained Ireland in their victorious tour of Australia. He has since moved into the backrooms of the international setup, under manager Sean BoylanSeán Boylan
Seán Boylan is a former football manager from Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland. He retired from his position as manager of the Meath GAA Senior Football team on the evening of 31 August 2005 after twenty-three years in charge...
. He was part of the 2006 backroom team, and was a selector for the 2008 Series, and with fellow selector, Eoin Liston
Eoin Liston
Eoin 'Bomber' Liston is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Beale, his divisional side Shannon Rangers and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1978 until 1993...
, took charge of the training sessions. Observing Tohill taking the training sessions, Irish News
The Irish News
The Irish News is a compact-sized daily newspaper based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is perceived as being broadly Irish nationalist in outlook...
journalist Paddy Heaney has predicted a future in management for Tohill, stating he "shows all the signs of someone who remains an avid student of the game". In March 2010, he was named as manager of the Irish International rules team.
Soccer
Tohill played soccerFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
for Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
, and Manchester United Reserves, during a two-week trial at the club in 1995.
County
- All-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe 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...
- Winner (1): 1993 - All-Ireland Minor Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Minor Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
- Winner (1): 1989 - National Football LeagueNational 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...
- Winner (4): 1992, 1995, 1996, 2000 - National Football LeagueNational 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...
- Runner up: 1998 - Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipUlster Senior Football ChampionshipFor information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
- Winner (2): 1993, 1998 - Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipUlster Senior Football ChampionshipFor information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
- Runner up: 1992, 1997, 2000 - Ulster Minor Football ChampionshipUlster Minor Football ChampionshipThe Ulster Minor Football Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The trophy for the winning side is The Liam Murray Cup. The competition began in 1930, with...
- Winner (1): 1989
Club
- Derry Senior Football Championship - Runner up: 1993
- Derry Minor Football ChampionshipDerry Minor Football ChampionshipThe Derry Minor Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition between the top Derry Minor clubs. The winners of the Derry Championship qualify to represent their county in the Ulster Minor Club Football Championship...
- Winner (1): 1988
College
- Sigerson CupSigerson CupThe Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
- Winner (1): 1993 - Sigerson CupSigerson CupThe Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
- Runner up: 1992?, 1994? - Ryan Cup - Winner (1): 1992?
- Hogan CupHogan CupThe Hogan Cup 1946-48 & 1957-) is the cup presented to the winners of the colleges All-Ireland "A" senior football championship, the top level Gaelic football championship for secondary schools in Ireland. The competition itself is regularly referred to by reference to the trophy's name.St...
- Winner (1/2?): 1989, 1990? - MacRory CupMacRory CupThe MacRory Cup is an inter-college Gaelic football tournament in Ulster. It is staged every year with the stipulation that players must be under eighteen-and-a-half at the start of the tournament...
- Winner (1/2?): 1989, 1990?
Individual
- All StarGAA All Stars AwardsThe All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
- Winner (4): 1992, 1993, 1995, 2000 - All StarGAA All Stars AwardsThe All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
- Nominated (runner up): 1996, 1997, 1999, more? - Irish News Ulster All Stars Team of the Decade (1995-2004) - Winner
- Irish News Ulster GAA All-Star - Winner (5): 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001
- Derry Senior football captain
Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.