Séamus Darby
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An Irish Gaelic football player, Séamus Darby was born in 1950 in Rhode, County Offaly.[1] He is best remembered for scoring the shock late goal that deprived Kerry of a 5-in-a-row in the 1982 All-Ireland football final.[2]
Early career
During his footballing career, Darby won Leinster provincial titles with Offaly in 1972, 1973 and 1982, playing in various forward positions. He won his second All-Ireland medal in 1972 when Offaly defeated Kerry in the final.[2] He had been an unused substitute in the 1971 final v Galway,[2] Offaly's first-ever win. He was dropped from the county panel after the 1976 season.[2]
1982 All-Ireland
Darby was recalled to the Offaly team for the 1982 Leinster final, playing full-forward against Dublin.[2] He pulled a hamstring in that match and missed the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway.[2] His replacement Johnny Mooney played well in that match so Darby was left on the bench for the final.[2]
The 1982 All-Ireland Final was a repeat of the previous year's encounter and was also significant in that a win for Kerry would give them an unprecedented fifth All-Ireland Final victory in a row. Kerry were winning by two points with two minutes to go when Darby arrived on the field of play as a substitute, with instructions to stay forward and try for a goal.[2] Darby got behind his marker Tommy Doyle,[2] caught a "high, lobbing, dropping ball", and scored one of the most famous goals of all time. It was his only kick of the match.[2] Kerry fumbled the counterattack which allowed Offaly to win by one single point with a score of 1-15 to 0-17.
In 2005, Darby's goal against Kerry was voted third in a poll to find the Top 20 GAA Moments.
Later life
Darby's last match for Offaly was the Leinster semi-final against Dublin in 1984.[2] He played club football for Rhode till 1986.[2] He later played for Edenderry in 1989, and for Borrisokane in County Tipperary in 1991.[2]
