Eamonn Coleman

Eamonn Coleman (1947 or 1948 – 11 June 2007) was a Gaelic football manager who had previously played for the Ballymaguigan club and the Derry county team.

He had two separate stints as manager of the senior Derry county team, and his chief success was guiding the county to the victory in the 1993 All-Ireland Championship – Derry's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title. He also had spells as manager of the Armagh, Cavan and Longford county teams, as well as various club sides.

Personal life He was born in the small County Londonderry townland of Ballymaguigan in Northern Ireland, on the western shores of Lough Neagh in 1947 or 1948. His son Gary, was also a talented footballer and was left half back on the victorious 1993 Derry team; also winning an All Star for his performances that year.

Playing career Inter-county Coleman was part of the Derry minor team that won the Ulster Minor and All-Ireland Minor Championships in 1965, Anthony Tohill scored a late winning goal for Derry in a two-point victory over neighbours Tyrone.

The following year Coleman later guided Derry to their best ever year, winning both Ulster and All-Ireland Championships. Fergal P. McCusker who was on the All-Ireland winning side said "The Derry team would not have been brought together without his skills. He stitched a bunch of guys together and we would have gone through brick walls. We'd have done anything for him. He was the man that inspired you to go that extra yard". GAA journalist John Haughey described the Derry Board's decision to sack Coleman as "both disgraceful and shortsighted". and thereafter Coleman drifted into club management in County Cavan.

Alongside Adrian McGuckin, Coleman replaced former Dublin footballer Brian Mullins as Derry manager in 1999 having previously won the award in 1993. He stood down as Derry manager in 2002. but they were defeated by Down.

Despite going through chemotherapy at the time, Coleman came into the Derry dressing room before Derry's opening game of the 2006 Championship against reigning All-Ireland champions Tyrone. Joe Brolly said "He delivered a thundering oration and with all the Derry boys, the hairs were standing up on the back of the necks. It was a genuinely motivational speech and to think that just a year on, he's gone. It's very distressing." Derry went on to beat Tyrone comfortably.

Club Coleman was manager of the Kildress team that won the 1978 Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship.

College In the late 1980s Coleman was a key figure in the University of Ulster, Jordanstown (UUJ) Sigerson Cup breakthrough team. Along with Belfast man Charlie Sweeney, "wee Eamonn" steered Jordanstown to inter-varsity wins in 1986 The team featured Dermot McNicholl and Enda Gormley, who would both be part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland winning side.

Death Eamonn Coleman died on 11 June 2007 Monaghan manager Martin McElkennon, who was coach with Coleman with Cavan and in his second term at Derry said "Eamonn Coleman was a one-off. I would have trusted him with my life".

Memorial match A memorial match between the 1993 Derry team and a rest of Ireland select was organised for 7 June 2008 in St. Trea's Ballymaguigan. It was organised to honour Coleman's memory and raise money for five charities (Marie Curie Cancer Care, Foyle Hospice, SMA Fathers, GOAL and Adoption UK ). A post-match dinner was also held to raise money with 64 tables of ten, each costing £1,000. A total of £52,500 was raised. Chairman of the Eamonn Coleman Memorial Fund Committee was Eamonn's son Gary.