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| Legends of Sport throughout Ireland |
George Best: Born 1946 - 2005
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Sport: Soccer
Greatest Achievement: Winning the 1968 European Cup
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The greatest soccer star produced by this island, the Belfast boy made his name at Manchester United where he won English League Champioships in 1965 and '67 in addition to the European Cup in 1968. That night at Wembley where United beat Benfica 4-1 , Best scored a memorable goal in extra time. In addition to earning 37 caps for Northern Ireland between '64 and '78 , Best also played for Stockport County, Cork Celtic, Los Angeles Aztecs, Fulham FC, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Hibernian FC, San Joes Earthquakes, AFC Bournemouth and Brisbane Lions. A colourful character who loved life. Best passed away in 2005.
Roy Keane Born: 1971 -
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Sport: Soccer
Greatest Achievement: Winning 7 premership titles with Manchester United
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Having commenced his career with Cobh Ramblers Corkman went on to play with Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Glasgow Celtic. After playing for Forest in the FA 1991 Cup Final, he joined Manchester United where he where enjoyed Premiership wins in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999. 2000. 2001, 2003 and FA Cup victories in 1994, 1996, 1999, and 2003. He won a Champions League medal in 1999, although was unfortunately suspended for the final. An inspiring captain, he left Manchester United in 2005 and joined Celtic, winning the Scottish Premier League and League Cup in a brief spell at Parkhead. He retired as a player in the summer of 2006 and became manager of Sunderland in August 2006.
Brian O'Driscoll Born 1979 -
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Sport: Rugby
Greatest Achievement: Captain of Ireland and The Lions.
Profile
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O'Driscoll burst into the national sporting headlines with a hat-trick of tries for Ireland against France in the Stade de France in 2000 and toured with th Lions in 2001 to Australia. In 2005 he led the Lions tour to New Zealand but a controversal injury in the first test curtailed his involvement. Captain of Leinster, O'driscoll has also being captain of Ireland since 2003. Playing in the outside centre, he is widely regarded as the finest player in his position in the world.
Stephen Roche Born 1959 -
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Sport; Cycling
Greatest Achievement: Winning the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and World Championships in 1987.
Profile;
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Roche won the Ras Tailteann as a teenager before turning professional and made his mark immediately , capturing the Paris -Nice stage race in 1981. He then went on to win numerous international tours before his historic treble in 1987, a superlative feat that has never being repeated since. A classy all-round cyclist, the Dubliner was plagued by knee trouble and retired from professional cycling in 1993.
Ken Doherty Born 1969 -
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Sport; Snooker
Greatest Achievement; Winning the world snooker championships
Profile
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Doherty took the snooker world by storm after winning the world amateur championship in 1989.Since turning professional, the Ranalagh cueman ahs being amaster of the green baize, winning the world championships in 1997 as well as numerous other titles as well including Regal Welsh Championship (1993, 2001) Malta Grand Prix (1997, 2000) Irish Masters (1998) Scottish Masters (1993, 1994) Thailand Masters (2001) Recent victories have included the 2006 Malta Cup. At 37 Doherty began the 2006-7 season as the No 2 ranked player in the world.
Eddie Macken Born 1949 -
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Sport: Showjumping
Greatest Achievement: World No 1 show jumper from 1976 to 1978.
Profile
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Eddie Macken from Granard in Co Longford is arguably the finest showjumper this country has ever produced. Together with Paul Darragh, Con Power and James Kernan, Macken was a member of the Irish team that won the Aga Khan Cup in 1977, '78 & '79. Other notable career highlights include a record four consecutive Hickstead Derby wins (1976-79), two silver medals in the world championships, in 1974 with Pele and 1978 on Boomerang, Macken also won a silver medal in the 1977 European Championship with Pele. Macken was the worlds number one showjumper from 1976 to 1978 and represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996. He served as the Olympic team trainer in 2004.
DJ Carey Born 1970
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Sport; Hurling
Greatest Achievement: Winner of 5 All Ireland medals with Kilkenny
Profile
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Denis Joseph Carey, known throughout Ireland as DJ, is a true living legend in hurling. A clubman with Young Irelands in Gowran, the Kilkenny forward, widely regarded as the finest hurler of his generation, has won nine Leinster hurling Championships ( 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003) and 9 All Star awards (1991,1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002. Carey retired in 2005 and is the current President of the Gaelic Players Association. An accomplished golfer, he also holds World Championship medals in handball.
Catherine McKiernan Born 1969 -
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Sport: Athletics & Cross country running
Greatest Achievement: Winning the London City Marathon
Profile
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A native of Cornafean, Co Cavan brought Irish cross-country running to a new level, winning the European championships in 1994,, as well as four silver medals in the World Cross Country Championships. Having made the fastest debut for a marathon in Berlin, 1997, she followed this with winning the London marathon and subsequently breaking her own Irish record witha time of 2 hours 22 mins and 23 seconds in Amsterdam in 1998.
Sonia O'Sullivan Born 1969
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Sport: Athletics - Middle Distance & Cross Country Running
Greatest Achievement: Winning the World Championship 5,000 m in 1995
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Hailing from Cobh in County Cork O'Sullivan has being Irelands leading female athlete for over 15 years. Her crowning achievement was a gold medal over 5,000 m at the 1995 World Athletic Championships in Gothenburg. That year she recorded the fastest time in the world over 1,500 m, 1 mile, 2,000 m and 3,000m. She later won a silver medal over 5,000 m at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney as well as winning 3 European Championship gold medals and 2 World Cross Country Championship Gold medals. O'Sullivan secured the 2,000 m world record in 1994 and now, as a mother of 2 she continues to compete internationally.
Ronnie DelaneyBorn: 1935
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Sport: Athletics - Middle Distance Running
Greatest Achievement: Winning the Olympic 1500 metres at Melbourne 1956
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Delaney won an Olympic Gold Medal for 1,500 m in Melbourne producing a breathtaking burst of acceleration to win in a new Olympic record time. He therefore became the first Irishman to win an Olympic title in Athletics since Bob Tisdall in 1932 and the last one to date. He subsequently won numerous Golden Mile titles. Since retiring from active athletics Delaney has enjoyed significant success in the world of business. He was made a "Freeman of the City of Dublin" in 2006
Keith Wood Born: 1972 -
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Sport: Rugby
Greatest Achievement: IRB World player of the year in 2001
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A former hurler, Wood played hooker for Ireland, The Lions, Garryowen, Harlequins and Munster. He started his career with Garryowen whom he helped to 2 All Ireland League Titles in 1992 and 1994 before moving to Harlequins. Wood made his international debut against Australia in 1994. He was capped 58 times for Ireland and five times for the Lions. Wood always put his body on the line with trademark charging runs at the defence. He played on the 1997 and 2001 Lions Tours and was the first winner of the IRB Player of the Year Award in 2001. He played a major part in the Lions 2-1 seriesw victory over the Springboks in 1997. Wood retired after the 2003 Rugby World Cup and became a member of the Rugby Hall of Fame in 2005.
Jimmy Keaveney Born: 1945 -
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Sport: Gaelic Football
Greatest Achievement: Winning three All Ireland senior medals
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A terrific place kicker with an eye for goal, Keaveney was persuaded to come out of semi retirement by Kevin Heffernan in 1974 and embarked on a glorious second career with Dublin winning three All Ireland titles in '74 '76 & '77Keaveney also won two National League titles with the Dubs in 1974 & 1976. He was awarded 3 All Star awards in '74, '77 & '78 and in 2006 was entered into the GAA's Hall of Fame. A long serving stalwart of the St Vincents Club, Keaveney won the 1976 All-Ireland Club Championship with the famous Northside outfit.
Barry McGuigan Born: 1961-
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Sport: Boxing
Greatest Achievement: WBA World Featherweight Champion
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Hailing from Clones in Co Monaghan, McGuigan won the All-Ireland Amateur Championships in 1976 and took gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. He became European Featherweight Champion in 1983 before gaining the WBA World Featherweight Champion in 1985 with a famous victory over Eusebio Pedroza at Loftus Road, London. The following year he lost his title in dramatic circumstances to Texan Steve Cruz in Las Vegas. In a career that spanned 35 fights, he enjoyed 32 wins, 26 by knockout and became a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.
Christy O'Connor Senior Born : 1924 -
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Sport: Golf
Greatest Achievement: British Masters Winner, 1956 and '59, Played in every Ryder Cup from 1955 to 1973.
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Sweet singing Christy's many wins included the 1956 and 1959 British Masters. He played in every Ryder Cup from 1955 to 1973, setting a then record of 10 appearances, played in the Canada Cup (World Cup) 15 times, won 10 Irish Professional Championships and was twice World Seniors Champion.'Himself' as he was known to his legion of Irish fans, famously finished eagle-birdie-eagle at Royal Dublin to win Carrolls International in 1966. Past 80 he regularly shoots below his age.
Dr Vincent O'Brien Born: 1917 -
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Sport: Horse Racing
Greatest Achievement: Training 6 Epsom Derby Winners
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A legend in the pantheon of racing trainers, O'Brien won 3 successive Gold Cups at Cheltenham with 'Cottage Rake' (1948, '49 & '50) and three Aintree Grand Nationals with 'Early Mist' (1953, "Royal Tan' (1954) and 'Quare Times' (1955) Turning his attention to the flat, O'briend won the first of 6 Derby winners with 'Larkspur' (1962), 'Sir Ivor" (1968), 'Nijinsky II (1970) 'Roberto' (1972), 'The Minstrel' (1977), and 'Golden Fleece' (1982) followed. He also won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with 'Ballymoss' (1958), 'Alleged' (1977, 1978); the King George IV with 'Ballymoss' (1958) and 'Nijinsky II" (1970); the Breeders Cup Mile with 'Royal Academy' (1990). Vincent O'Brien retired from active horse training after College Chapel won at Royal Ascot in 1993 - 45 years after his first Gold Cup win.
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