Donie Nealon
Encyclopedia
Donie Nealon is a retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
at various times with his local clubs Burgess
in Tipperary and UCD
in Dublin and was a member of the Tipperary
senior inter-county team from 1958 until 1969.
with his local Burgess-Youghlarra
club, however, he enjoyed little success here. He also played club hurling with UCD
and won a senior county title in the 1960s.
senior inter-county team. That year he won his first Munster
title following a trouncing of Waterford
in the provincial final. Nealon later lined out in his first All-Ireland final with Galway
providing the opposition. The game turned into a rout as Tipp scored four goals against the wind in the first-half. One of those goals came from the hurlery of Nealon himself. Tipp won the game by ten points giving Nealon his first All-Ireland
medal. In 1959 Nealon began the year by winning his first National Hurling League
title. It was the first of a three-in-a-row for Tipp and Nelaon made a huge contribution to all those victories. Although he tasted league success Tipp made an early exit from the 1959 championship.
Tipp bounced back in 1960 by defeating arch-rivals Cork in the provincial final giving Nealon a second Munster medal. He later lined out in his second All-Ireland final where Wexford
provided the opposition, however, it was the Wexford men who emerged victorious on that occasion. The game ended in a farce as the crowd invaded the pitch thinking that the game was over. As a result Tipp finisged the game with only twelve men on the field. In 1961 Nealon captured a third Munster title as Tipp trounced Cork in the provincial final. A Dublin
team made up entirely of Dublin natives for the first time ever provided the opposition. The game was a close affair, however, Tipp emerged as the winners by a single point giving Nealon a second All-Ireland title. In 1962 he won a fourth Munster medal as Waterford fell heavily in the final. Once again Tipp faced Wexford in the All-Ireland final. Things looked good for the Munster champions as they scored two goals inside the first minute, however, Wexford came storming back. Tipp went on to win the game by two points giving Nealon a third All-Ireland medal. Three-in-a-row proved beyond even this great team as Tipp were beaten in the 1963 Munster final.
In 1964 Nealon won his fourth National league medal with Tipp before capturing a fifth Munster title. After their trouncing of Cork the All-Ireland final saw Tipp take on Kilkenny
. 'The Cats', as reigning champions were the fovourites, however, Tipp had something to say about that. Nealon played the game of his life and scored three of Tipp's five goals. It was a walk in the park for Tipp as Kilkenny fell heavily and Nealon won a fourth All-Ireland medal. In 1965 he captured a fifth National League medal before winning his sixth provincial medal. Wexford lined out against Tipp in the All-Ireland final, however, victory went to the Munster men as Nealon won a fifth All-Ireland title. Two years later in 1967 Nealon won his seventh Munster medal as Clare
were defeated heavily. The All-Ireland final saw Tipp take on Kilkenny. History was on Tipp's side as the county hadn't been beaten by 'the Cats' since 1922. After 45 years KIlkenny scored three goals at vital times to capture a historic win. Tipp bounced back in 1968 with Nealon winning a sixth National League title and an eighth Munster medal. For the fourth time that decade Tipp faced Wexford in the championship decider. Things looked to be going well for Tipp as they were eight points ahead at half-time. Wexford came storming back to win the game by just two points. Nealon retired from inter-county hurling in 1969 following a defeat in the Munster final to Cork.
in 1959, 1963, 1966 and 1968.
as an accomplished referee
and as a selector to the Tipperary
All-Ireland winning teams of 1971, 1989 and 1991. A keen tactition and student of the game, ever alert as coach and mentor, his late intervention during a break in play in the Munster final of 1971 in FitzGerald Stadium
had a significant effect. On a day of incessant rain, he surreptitiously introduced a dry sliother for Michael 'Babs' Keating to use in a close-in free which the wily Keating converted to a goal. This spurred Tipperary to victory over Limerick after a titanic struggle.
An efficient administrator, Nealon also served as Secretary of the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 1977 until 2004.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
at various times with his local clubs Burgess
Burgess GAA
Burgess GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club is located in the areas of Youghalarra, Newtown and Burgess-Burgessbeg, three miles outside Nenagh in north County Tipperary, Ireland.Intermediate County Champions on several Occasions...
in Tipperary and UCD
UCD GAA
UCD GAA or University College Dublin Gaelic Athletic Association club is a Dublin based Gaelic games club in University College Dublin. The UCD hurling club was founded in 1900 and boasted the motto's "Ad Astra" and "Cothrom Féinne". The first team was an amalgamation of students from UCD and...
in Dublin and was a member of the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
senior inter-county team from 1958 until 1969.
Club
Nealon played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local Burgess-Youghlarra
Burgess GAA
Burgess GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club is located in the areas of Youghalarra, Newtown and Burgess-Burgessbeg, three miles outside Nenagh in north County Tipperary, Ireland.Intermediate County Champions on several Occasions...
club, however, he enjoyed little success here. He also played club hurling with UCD
UCD GAA
UCD GAA or University College Dublin Gaelic Athletic Association club is a Dublin based Gaelic games club in University College Dublin. The UCD hurling club was founded in 1900 and boasted the motto's "Ad Astra" and "Cothrom Féinne". The first team was an amalgamation of students from UCD and...
and won a senior county title in the 1960s.
Inter-county
Nealon first came to prominence on the inter-county scene in 1958 as a member of the TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
senior inter-county team. That year he won his first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
title following a trouncing of Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
in the provincial final. Nealon later lined out in his first All-Ireland final 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,...
providing the opposition. The game turned into a rout as Tipp scored four goals against the wind in the first-half. One of those goals came from the hurlery of Nealon himself. Tipp won the game by ten points giving Nealon his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal. In 1959 Nealon began the year by winning his first National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
title. It was the first of a three-in-a-row for Tipp and Nelaon made a huge contribution to all those victories. Although he tasted league success Tipp made an early exit from the 1959 championship.
Tipp bounced back in 1960 by defeating arch-rivals Cork in the provincial final giving Nealon a second Munster medal. He later lined out in his second All-Ireland final where 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...
provided the opposition, however, it was the Wexford men who emerged victorious on that occasion. The game ended in a farce as the crowd invaded the pitch thinking that the game was over. As a result Tipp finisged the game with only twelve men on the field. In 1961 Nealon captured a third Munster title as Tipp trounced Cork in the provincial final. A 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...
team made up entirely of Dublin natives for the first time ever provided the opposition. The game was a close affair, however, Tipp emerged as the winners by a single point giving Nealon a second All-Ireland title. In 1962 he won a fourth Munster medal as Waterford fell heavily in the final. Once again Tipp faced Wexford in the All-Ireland final. Things looked good for the Munster champions as they scored two goals inside the first minute, however, Wexford came storming back. Tipp went on to win the game by two points giving Nealon a third All-Ireland medal. Three-in-a-row proved beyond even this great team as Tipp were beaten in the 1963 Munster final.
In 1964 Nealon won his fourth National league medal with Tipp before capturing a fifth Munster title. After their trouncing of Cork the All-Ireland final saw Tipp take on Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. 'The Cats', as reigning champions were the fovourites, however, Tipp had something to say about that. Nealon played the game of his life and scored three of Tipp's five goals. It was a walk in the park for Tipp as Kilkenny fell heavily and Nealon won a fourth All-Ireland medal. In 1965 he captured a fifth National League medal before winning his sixth provincial medal. Wexford lined out against Tipp in the All-Ireland final, however, victory went to the Munster men as Nealon won a fifth All-Ireland title. Two years later in 1967 Nealon won his seventh Munster medal as Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
were defeated heavily. The All-Ireland final saw Tipp take on Kilkenny. History was on Tipp's side as the county hadn't been beaten by 'the Cats' since 1922. After 45 years KIlkenny scored three goals at vital times to capture a historic win. Tipp bounced back in 1968 with Nealon winning a sixth National League title and an eighth Munster medal. For the fourth time that decade Tipp faced Wexford in the championship decider. Things looked to be going well for Tipp as they were eight points ahead at half-time. Wexford came storming back to win the game by just two points. Nealon retired from inter-county hurling in 1969 following a defeat in the Munster final to Cork.
Provincial
Nealon also won Railway Cup titles with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in 1959, 1963, 1966 and 1968.
Post-playing career
Since his retirement from play, Nealon has continued to contribute to the Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
as an accomplished referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
and as a selector to the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
All-Ireland winning teams of 1971, 1989 and 1991. A keen tactition and student of the game, ever alert as coach and mentor, his late intervention during a break in play in the Munster final of 1971 in FitzGerald Stadium
FitzGerald Stadium
Fitzgerald Stadium is the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Killarney, Ireland, and is the home championship venue for the Kerry senior football team....
had a significant effect. On a day of incessant rain, he surreptitiously introduced a dry sliother for Michael 'Babs' Keating to use in a close-in free which the wily Keating converted to a goal. This spurred Tipperary to victory over Limerick after a titanic struggle.
An efficient administrator, Nealon also served as Secretary of the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 1977 until 2004.