Dessie Farrell
Encyclopedia
Dessie Farrell is a former Irish Gaelic football
er 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.http://www.hoganstand.com/dublin/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=80051 He is the current Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players Association
.
on May 31, 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 Carr
s 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. 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.http://www.hill16.ie/viewstoryhill16.asp?id=7540&mainheading=Word+on+The+Hill&viewstory=yes
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.
minor football team in 2011 and led them to a Leinster Minor Football Championship
when younger and represented Ireland at international level. Farrell continued to play Hockey during and after his Dublin career
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 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...
. He plays his club football for Na Fianna although his playing days may be numbered due to suffering a suspected torn cruciate ligament.http://www.hoganstand.com/dublin/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=80051 He is the current Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players Association
Gaelic Players Association
The Gaelic Players Association The GPA was formed in 1999 when former IMG employee Donal O'Neill and a number of high profile inter-county players including Tyrone's Fergal Logan and Peter Canavan, Derry's Fergal McCusker and Dublin's Dessie Farrell were instrumental in the birth of the organisation...
.
Playing career
Dessie Farrell made his championship debut for Dublin against OffalyOffaly 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...
on May 31, 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
Kildare GAA
For more information see Kildare Senior Club Football Championship or Kildare Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Kildare GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County 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
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
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
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...
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 Carr
Tommy Carr
Tommy Carr is a former inter county Gaelic football player for Dublin. He has also managed Dublin, Roscommon and Cavan. He was awarded an all star in 1991 in the same year that he won a National Football League medal with Dublin...
s final game as senior football manager.
Farrell won an all-star, at centre-forward, for his role in Dublin's All Ireland
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...
win in 1995. He has six Leinster Senior Football Championship
Leinster Senior Football Championship
The GAA Leinster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council and are played during the summer months. The competition involves the counties of...
medals for Dublin, which he received in 1992, '93, '94, '95, 2002 and 2005 as well as a leinster minor and NFL
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...
title. As a Dublin Senior footballer he played under seven different management teams, Gerry McCaul
Gerry McCaul
Gerry McCaul is a former Dublin Gaelic football player and manager. Before being appointed as the manager of Dublin, McCaul had been the player/manager of Dublin club Ballymun Kickhams. He is the brother of former Dublin player Anton McCaul who also played with Ballymun Kickhams., Gerry also played...
, Paddy Cullen, Pat O'Neill, Mickey Whelan
Mickey Whelan
Mickey Whelan is former selector on the Dublin senior football team, he was a selector for Pat Gilroy who played for him while he managed St Vincents. He is a former player and manager of Dublin and St Vincents senior football teams...
, Tommy Carr
Tommy Carr
Tommy Carr is a former inter county Gaelic football player for Dublin. He has also managed Dublin, Roscommon and Cavan. He was awarded an all star in 1991 in the same year that he won a National Football League medal with Dublin...
, Tommy Lyons
Tommy Lyons
Tommy Lyons is a retired Irish Gaelic football manager from County Mayo who has managed 2 inter-county sides in his time. He also managed club side Kilmacud Crokes to All-Ireland glory on St. Patricks Day, 1995. He also spent time as chairman of Crokes, until 2007. He is also a regular...
and Paul 'Pillar' Caffrey
Paul Caffrey
Paul Caffrey is a former Dublin Gaelic football Senior manager and a Dublin-based Garda.-Biographical Information:Caffrey grew up on Dorset St. on the Northside of Dublin, where his parents ran a greengrocers' shop...
.
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
Tommy Lyons
Tommy Lyons is a retired Irish Gaelic football manager from County Mayo who has managed 2 inter-county sides in his time. He also managed club side Kilmacud Crokes to All-Ireland glory on St. Patricks Day, 1995. He also spent time as chairman of Crokes, until 2007. He is also a regular...
and his management style. Farrell was named on the 2006 Dublin Bus/Evening Herald Blue Star
Dublin Blue Stars
The DUBLIN BUS/EVENING HERALD DUBS STARS FOOTBALL/HURLING are the players chosen as the top Gaelic football and hurling players in the in their given position in the year that the Blue stars awards are awarded. The Dublin Blue Stars are a similar award to the GAA All Stars Awards which are awarded...
football XV as a substitute.http://www.hill16.ie/viewstoryhill16.asp?id=7540&mainheading=Word+on+The+Hill&viewstory=yes
Gaelic Player's Association
Dessie Farrell is the current Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players AssociationGaelic Players Association
The Gaelic Players Association The GPA was formed in 1999 when former IMG employee Donal O'Neill and a number of high profile inter-county players including Tyrone's Fergal Logan and Peter Canavan, Derry's Fergal McCusker and Dublin's Dessie Farrell were instrumental in the birth of the organisation...
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 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...
minor football team in 2011 and led them to a Leinster Minor Football Championship
Leinster Minor Football Championship
The Leinster Minor Football Championship is a Gaelic football "knockout" competition played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council. Each county in the province fields a team in the competition. The term "minor" is given to players who are...
Hockey
Farrel played HockeyHockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
when younger and represented Ireland at international level. Farrell continued to play Hockey during and after his Dublin career