Jim McKeever

James McKeever (6 December 1930 – 5 April 2023) was a Northern Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Derry county team in the late 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s and played club football for St Trea's GFC Ballymaguigan and Seán O'Leary's GAC Newbridge. He was captain of the Derry side that finished runners-up to Dublin in the 1958 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

Career McKeever was a very versatile player as evidenced by his playing in all positions with the exception of goalkeeper and wing half-back during his Derry career. Other skills in his repertoire include his surging runs forwards from midfield, shooting accuracy and free taking ability. The first inter-county football game he attended was Derry versus Leitrim in a 1938 National League playoff game with his father, and the quarter-final defeat to Roscommon a week later. He looked up to players who played for local team Newbridge at the time (the Ballymaguigan team hadn't been formed yet), They had three daughters, Ann, Maeve and Deirdre, and two sons, Éamonn and Jim.

McKeever died on 6 April 2023, at the age of 92.

Football career Inter-county McKeever's first inter-county football came as a member of the Antrim minor team in 1947. when the first-time Ulster champions beat Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final 2-06 to 2–05. Ballymaguigan qualified for the Derry Championship final (the Derry Championship was not open-draw until 1958, up to then separate South Derry, North Derry and Derry City Championships were played with the three winners then battling it out for the [All-]Derry Senior Football Championship). They were beaten by Ballerin in the Derry decider, also finishing Derry Championship runners-up to Bellaghy in 1958 and is credited with greatly improving the standard of football at the college during his time there. His coaching at St Mary's influenced other coaches and players, such as Art McRory, Mickey Harte, Peter Canavan and Peter McGinnity. and was in the position when Derry won the 1998 Ulster Championship. He has also been a Central Council delegate.

Honours County All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: Runner up: 1958 National Football League: Runner up: 1958–1959, 1960–1961 Ulster Senior Football Championship: Winner (1): 1958 Runner up: 1955, 1957 Dr Lagan Cup: Winner (4): 1950, 1953, 1959, 1961 All-Ireland Junior Football Championship: Runner up: 1950 Ulster Junior Football Championship: Winner (1): 1950

Province Railway Cup – Winner (2): 1956, 1960

Club Derry Senior Football Championship – Winner (3): 1948, 1950, 1962 Derry Junior Football Championship – Winner (1): 1970 Underage awards

College MacRory Cup – Runner up: 1948, 1949

Individual Texaco Footballer of the Year: 1958 Captain Derry All-Ireland runners up side: 1958

Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.