Seán Dempsey is an Irish Gaelic football manager, coach, selector and former player. He played at minor, under-21 and senior level for the Laois county team. Dempsey later managed Laois at minor, under-21 and senior level and has been involved with the St Joseph's club, as well as several clubs in other counties (e.g. Dublin, Offaly).

Seán Dempsey
Personal information
Irish name Seán Ó Diomsaigh
Sport Gaelic football
Position Forward
Born County Laois, Ireland
Nickname Kang[citation needed]
Club(s)
Years Club
St Joseph's
Club titles
Leinster titles 0
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
Laois

Early life

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Born to Jack Dempsey (originally from Laois) and Annie Spain (originally from County Offaly), Dempsey is one of seven children: the others are Martin, Michael, P. J., Betty (Moore), Margaret (Farrelly) and Ann (Smith), all of whom have links with the St Joseph's club.[1]

Playing career

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As a player, Dempsey was a member of the St Joseph's club, winning four Laois Senior Football Championship titles with them.[1]

After his minor football career, he graduated to become a member of the Laois under-21 and senior football panels, playing alongside his brothers Martin and Mick for a number of years.[citation needed]

Post-playing career

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Dempsey was Laois GAA's Football Officer from 1997 until 2007.[1] He was chairman of the Leinster Provincial Council Football Committee between 2009 and 2014.[1]

During his spell with Laois minors he coached the underage teams.[citation needed] Dempsey led the team to the 2003 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship title and to the 2004 Leinster Minor Football Championship title.[1]

He was selector under Val Andrews when Leinster won consecutive Railway Cup titles in 2005 and 2006.[1]

He led Laois to successive Leinster Under-21 Football Championship titles in 2006 and 2007.[1] He also led the team to an All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship final appearance in 2007, where they were defeated by Cork.[citation needed]

Dempsey was appointed manager of the Laois senior team on the night of 15 September 2008.[2][3] Despite a poor first season, with disciplinary problems surfacing in the panel, Kildare knocking the team out of the Leinster Senior Football Championship and Down knocking the team out of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, Dempsey was unexpectedly retained as manager for one more year.[4][5] After two relatively unsuccessful years in the position, he was relieved of the job in July 2010.[citation needed]

Dempsey was later[when?] confirmed as manager of Kildare GAA club Naas.[citation needed]

Dempsey was involved when Jack Sheedy managed Longford to promotion from Division 4 of the 2015 National Football League.[1]

He managed Offaly GAA club Ferbane to an Offaly Senior Football Championship title in 2019.[1][6]

In December 2020, he was named as manager of Dublin Senior Football Championship club Ballinteer St John's.[7]

As of 2021, he was his club's coaching officer.[1] He also managed the senior Laois ladies' county team.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Croke, Denis J. (26 February 2021). "The Dempsey clan are honoured with prestigious award".
  2. ^ Foley, Cliona (15 September 2008). "Dempsey named new Laois boss". Irish Independent. Sean Dempsey will be installed as the new Laois senior football manager tonight, writes Cliona Foley.
  3. ^ "Laois name football and hurling managers". RTÉ. 15 September 2008. Sean Dempsey has been ratified as the new Laois senior football manager at a meeting of the county board.
  4. ^ "Laois stick with Dempsey". RTÉ. 12 August 2009.
  5. ^ "Dempsey given one more year". RTÉ. 5 August 2009. Laois SFC manager Sean Dempsey will remain in charge the of county's football team for one more season pending ratification.
  6. ^ "Offaly SFC final: Johnson stars as Ferbane dethrone Rhode". Hogan Stand. 13 October 2019.
  7. ^ Hartnett, Alan (9 December 2020). "Former Laois manager takes Dublin club job while hurling selector heads to Leinster rival".
Gaelic games
Preceded by Laois Senior Football Manager
2008–2010
Succeeded by