Tommy Lyons
Encyclopedia
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 pannellist/analyst on RTÉ
's The Sunday Game
. Although born in County Mayo
, Lyons considers himself a Dubliner, having moved to Dublin at a very young age. Lyons playing career with Kilmacud Crokes ended early due to a persistent knee injury. A screw had to be placed within the knee at one point, which hindered his running ability. An interesting fact about Tommy Lyons is that he is known as 'Ugly Lyons' or 'Butters' to his friends and close relatives, the origin of these nicknames is unfortunately not known at this time
manager in late 1996. In his first year in charge, they won a Leinster Championship beating then All Ireland
champions Meath
in the final. Offaly were beaten in the next game, the All-Ireland semi-final that year. Offaly followed their championship exploits with victory in the National Football League
. They were beaten early on in both the Leinster Championshiops of '98 and '99 and following this, Lyons and Offaly parted ways. Lyons returned to his position as an analyst on The Sunday Game.
Lyons was confirmed as the new Dublin
football manager in October 2001. Dublin had a poor league campaign and only avoided relegation following an away draw with Galway
on the last day. Dublin came in to the All Ireland Championship as rank outsiders for the first time in many years and following a poor performance over Wexford
, Dublin's chances were written off even further. Dublin also faced a tricky Leinster semi-final against Meath
a team they hadn't beaten in 7 years. Lyons had risked bringing in a lot inexperienced players such as Ray Cosgrove
, Alan Brogan
and John McNally. Dublin won the day, beating Meath with all the new players playing well, especially Cosgrove who scored 2-2. Dublin went on to win Leinster, beating Kildare
in the final, and reach the All-Ireland semi-final following victory after a replay over Donegal
. In the semi-final, against Armagh
, Dublin went in as favourites but lost by a point.
Lyons had played a media game during his first year in charge. When the standard of the team's performances dropped in 2003, the media game Lyons had played came back to haunt him. Lyons's success in his first year was not repeated in the following two years with Dublin failing to win leinster or get past the quarter finals of the All-Ireland. Lyons and the media's relationship got so bad that by the Summer of 2004, he refused to reveal the team to the media until minutes before throw-in.
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
manager from County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
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 pannellist/analyst on RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
'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...
. Although born in County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Lyons considers himself a Dubliner, having moved to Dublin at a very young age. Lyons playing career with Kilmacud Crokes ended early due to a persistent knee injury. A screw had to be placed within the knee at one point, which hindered his running ability. An interesting fact about Tommy Lyons is that he is known as 'Ugly Lyons' or 'Butters' to his friends and close relatives, the origin of these nicknames is unfortunately not known at this time
Offaly (1997-1999)
Lyons was announced as 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...
manager in late 1996. In his first year in charge, they won a Leinster Championship beating then 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...
champions 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 :...
in the final. Offaly were beaten in the next game, the All-Ireland semi-final that year. Offaly followed their championship exploits with victory in the National Football 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...
. They were beaten early on in both the Leinster Championshiops of '98 and '99 and following this, Lyons and Offaly parted ways. Lyons returned to his position as an analyst on The Sunday Game.
Dublin (2002-2004)
A full record of the performance of Dublin between 2002 and 2004 is available at: http://www.hill16.ie/viewstoryhill16.asp?mainheading=Word+on+The+Hill&id=4055&viewstory=yesLyons was confirmed as the new 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...
football manager in October 2001. Dublin had a poor league campaign and only avoided relegation following an away draw with 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,...
on the last day. Dublin came in to the All Ireland Championship as rank outsiders for the first time in many years and following a poor performance over Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
, Dublin's chances were written off even further. Dublin also faced a tricky Leinster semi-final against 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 :...
a team they hadn't beaten in 7 years. Lyons had risked bringing in a lot inexperienced players such as Ray Cosgrove
Ray Cosgrove
Ray "Cossy" Cosgrove is an Irish Gaelic footballer, born in Dublin. He attended St. Benildus College in Kilmacud. He plays his club football for Kilmacud Crokes and played for the Dublin senior football team between 1999 and 2008...
, Alan Brogan
Alan Brogan
Alan Brogan is an Irish Gaelic footballer from Dublinwho plays for St. Oliver Plunkett's. He is the son of famous Dublin footballer Bernard Brogan. He can play in the full forward line but usually plays centre half forward for Dublin...
and John McNally. Dublin won the day, beating Meath with all the new players playing well, especially Cosgrove who scored 2-2. Dublin went on to win Leinster, beating 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 the final, and reach the All-Ireland semi-final following victory after a replay over Donegal
Donegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
. In the semi-final, against Armagh
Armagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...
, Dublin went in as favourites but lost by a point.
Lyons had played a media game during his first year in charge. When the standard of the team's performances dropped in 2003, the media game Lyons had played came back to haunt him. Lyons's success in his first year was not repeated in the following two years with Dublin failing to win leinster or get past the quarter finals of the All-Ireland. Lyons and the media's relationship got so bad that by the Summer of 2004, he refused to reveal the team to the media until minutes before throw-in.
Celebrity Bainisteoir
In 2008, Tommy was mentor to Glenda Gilson who was managing "Crumlin" for RTÉ's Celebrity BainisteoirCelebrity Bainisteoir
Celebrity Bainisteoir is a prime-time reality programme produced for Radio Telefís Éireann, which was produced by Animo Television/Kite Entertainment...
.