# Henry Downey

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Irish former dual player of Gaelic games

Henry Downey Personal information Born (1966-12-27) 27 December 1966 (age 59) Lavey, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) Sport Football Position Centre back Hurling Position Half-forward Club Years Club Lavey Club titles Football Hurling Derry titles 4 12 Ulster titles 2 0 All-Ireland titles 1 0 Inter-county Years County 1988–2001 (F) Derry (F) Derry (H) Inter-county titles Football Hurling Ulster Titles 2 0 All-Ireland Titles 1 0 League titles 4 All-Stars 1 0

**Henry Downey** (born 27 December 1966) is a former [dual player](/source/Dual_player) of [Gaelic games](/source/Gaelic_games), who played as a [Gaelic footballer](/source/Gaelic_football) at senior level for the [Derry county team](/source/Derry_county_football_team) in the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, where he usually played in at [centre half back](/source/Gaelic_football%2C_hurling_and_camogie_positions#Centre_half_back).

Downey [captained](/source/Captain_(Gaelic_games)) Derry to the [1993 All-Ireland SFC](/source/1993_All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship) title. He won two [Ulster Senior Football Championship](/source/Ulster_Senior_Football_Championship) (1993 and 1998) and four [National League](/source/National_Football_League_(Ireland)) (1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000) medals during his inter-county career. He also played [hurling](/source/Hurling).

## Playing career

Downey played club football and [hurling](/source/Hurling) with [Erin's Own GAC Lavey](/source/Lavey_GAC), with whom he won the [1990–91 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship](/source/1990%E2%80%9391_All-Ireland_Senior_Club_Football_Championship). He was one of very few players in Ireland to complete this unique double of club and inter-county All-Irelands and almost did the extreme rarity of winning both competitions in the same year in 1993, but Lavey were defeated in the All-Ireland club after winning the [Ulster Senior Club Football Championship](/source/Ulster_Senior_Club_Football_Championship) for the second time. Downey also won four [Derry Senior Football Championship](/source/Derry_Senior_Football_Championship) and 12 [Derry Senior Hurling Championship](/source/Derry_Senior_Hurling_Championship) medals with Lavey.

Some of his key attributes included his leadership qualities and his surging runs up the field from the half back line.[1]

### Inter-county

Downey was part of the Derry side which won four national leagues in eight years (1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000), captaining the team in 1992 and 1996. Downey and Derry finished runners-up to [Offaly](/source/Offaly_county_football_team) in the 1998 National League decider.[2]

In addition to his [All-Ireland Club](/source/All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship) medal and two [Ulster Club Championship](/source/Ulster_Senior_Club_Football_Championship) medals he had massive success at Derry Championship level. He won four [Derry Senior Football Championship](/source/Derry_Senior_Football_Championship), two [Derry Minor Football Championships](/source/Derry_Minor_Football_Championship) and twelve [Derry Senior Hurling Championships](/source/Derry_Senior_Hurling_Championship).

Downey won an [All-star](/source/GAA_All_Stars_Awards) in 1993 at centre back and was named 1993 [Texaco Footballer of the Year](/source/Texaco_Footballer_of_the_Year). He also won Footballer of the Year at the 1993 Ulster GAA Writer's Association Awards.[3]

### School/college

Downey attended school at [St Patrick's College, Maghera](/source/St_Patrick's_College%2C_Maghera), for whom he won two consecutive [MacRory Cups](/source/MacRory_Cup) (1984 and 1985). The school went on to be runners-up in the 1984 [Hogan Cup](/source/Hogan_Cup) final. He attended [Queen's University Belfast](/source/Queen's_University_Belfast), where he won the [Sigerson Cup](/source/Sigerson_Cup).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Hurling career

Among Downey's hurling honours was winning the [Ulster Under 21 Hurling Championship](/source/Ulster_Under_21_Hurling_Championship) with Derry in 1986, defeating Antrim and Down along the way. He scored 0–12 against Antrim in the semi-final at Loughguile, with his brother Seamus scoring 1–3 in a 2–20 to 1–6 victory. They beat Down in the final after a reply; 3–9 to 1–2.[4]

## Honours

### Football

#### County

- [All-Ireland Senior Football Championship](/source/All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship) - Winner (1): 1993 (c)

- [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League_(Ireland)) - Winner (4): 1992, 1995, 1996, 2000

- [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League_(Ireland)) - Runner up: 1998

- [Ulster Senior Football Championship](/source/Ulster_Senior_Football_Championship) - Winner (2): 1993 (c), 1998

- [Ulster Senior Football Championship](/source/Ulster_Senior_Football_Championship) - Runner up: 1992, 1997, 2000

- [Dr McKenna Cup](/source/Dr_McKenna_Cup) - Winner (1): 1993, 1999

#### Club

- [All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship](/source/All-Ireland_Senior_Club_Football_Championship) - Winner (1): 1991

- [Ulster Senior Club Football Championship](/source/Ulster_Senior_Club_Football_Championship) - Winner (2): 1990, 1992

- [Derry Senior Football Championship](/source/Derry_Senior_Football_Championship) - Winner (4): 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993

- [Derry Senior Football Championship](/source/Derry_Senior_Football_Championship) - Runner up: 1998

- [Derry Minor Football Championship](/source/Derry_Minor_Football_Championship) - Winner (2): 1983, 1984

- Numerous underage awards

#### Province

- [Railway Cup](/source/Railway_Cup) - Winner (?) – 1998, 2000 (captain), more?

#### School/College

- [Sigerson Cup](/source/Sigerson_Cup) - Winner (1): 1990?

- [MacRory Cup](/source/MacRory_Cup) - Winner (2) – 1984, 1985

- [Hogan Cup](/source/Hogan_Cup) - Runner up: 1984

#### Individual

- [Texaco Footballer of the Year](/source/Texaco_Footballer_of_the_Year): 1993

- [All Star](/source/GAA_All_Stars_Awards) - Winner (1): 1993

- [All Star](/source/GAA_All_Stars_Awards) - Nominated (runner up): 1992, more?

- Captain Derry Ulster and All-Ireland winning side: 1993

- Captain Derry National League winning sides: 1992, 1996

- Derry Senior football captain: 1991-1994, 1996

### Hurling

#### County

- [Ulster Under 21 Hurling Championship](/source/Ulster_Under_21_Hurling_Championship) - Winner (1): 1986, 1987?????

#### Club

- [Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship](/source/Ulster_Senior_Club_Hurling_Championship) - Runner up: 1986?, 1988?, 1994?, 1997?, 2001?

- [Derry Senior Hurling Championship](/source/Derry_Senior_Hurling_Championship) - Winner (12): 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002

- [Derry Senior Hurling Championship](/source/Derry_Senior_Hurling_Championship) - Runner up: 1993?, more?

- Numerous underage awards

#### Individual

- Combined Universities - Winner (1): Year?

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

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Rodgers, Alan (10 October 2008). "Experts say Tyrone rank among the best". *[Gaelic Life](/source/Gaelic_Life)*. pp. 20–21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Lyons' pride pass tough test of character to land League"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090903084000/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/04/27/shead.htm). *Irish Examiner*. 27 April 1998. Archived from [the original](http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/04/27/shead.htm) on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Ulster GAA Writer's Association Awards - 1993"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080724232848/http://www.ulstergaawriters.com/1993a.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.ulstergaawriters.com/1993a.htm) on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "Will Derry be singing the Blues at Newry?". *The Mid-Ulster Observer*. 16 August 2007.

## External links

- [QUB Profile](http://quis.qub.ac.uk/gaelicfc/halloffame/ulster.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202814/http://quis.qub.ac.uk/gaelicfc/halloffame/ulster.htm) 29 October 2013 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

Gaelic games Preceded by Anthony Molloy (Donegal) All-Ireland SFC winning captain 1993 Succeeded by D. J. Kane (Down) Preceded by Mickey Linden (Down) Texaco Footballer of the Year 1993 Succeeded by Martin McHugh (Donegal) Preceded by ? Derry senior football captain 1991–1994 Succeeded by Tony Scullion Preceded by Tony Scullion Derry senior football captain 1996 Succeeded by Kieran McKeever

v t e Lavey – 1991 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Champions (1st title) 1 B. Regan 2 D. Doherty 3 A. Scullion 4 B. Scullion 5 J. McGurk (c) 6 H. Downey 7 Ciarán McGurk 8 D. O'Boyle 9 J. Chivers 10 F. Rafferty 11 B. McCormack 12 H. M. McGurk 13 D. Mulholland 14 S. Downey 15 Colm McGurk Sub used A. McGurk for Colm McGurk

Derry panels v t e Derry – 1991–92 National Football League Champions (2nd title) 1 D. McCusker 2 K. McKeever 3 D. Quinn 4 T. Scullion 5 H. Downey 6 C. Rafferty 7 G. Coleman 8 B. McGilligan 9 D. Heaney 10 A. Tohill 11 D. McNicholl 12 G. McGill 13 J. Brolly 14 F. McCusker 15 E. Gormley Subs used S. Downey for McNicholl J. McGurk for Rafferty D. Bateson for McGill Subs not used E. Heaney K. O'Neill J. McErlean R. Tracey D. Cassidy C. McGurk B. Rafferty E. Burns Manager E. Coleman Backroom team M. Moran (Team as 1991-92 NFL final versus Tyrone) v t e Derry – 1993 All-Ireland Senior Football Champions (1st title) 1 D. McCusker 2 K. McKeever 3 T. Scullion 4 F. McCusker 5 J. McGurk 6 H. Downey (c) 7 G. Coleman 8 A. Tohill 9 B. McGilligan 10 D. Heaney 11 D. Barton 12 D. Cassidy 13 J. Brolly 14 S. Downey 15 E Gormley Subs used 18 D. McNicholl for D Cassidy 20 É. Burns for S Downey Subs not used 16 D. Kelly 17 D. Quinn 19 K. Diamond 21 D. Bateson 22 B. McCormick 23 R. Ferris 24 S. Mulvenna Extended panel D. O'Neill C. McGurk C. Rafferty H. M. Tohill E. Kelly Manager E. Coleman Backroom team M. Moran (coach) H. Gribben D. McKeever (Team as of 19 September 1993 versus Cork) v t e Derry – 1994–95 National Football League Champions (3rd title) 1 D. McCusker 2 K. McKeever 3 T. Scullion 4 G. Coleman 5 J. McGurk 6 H. Downey 7 F. McCusker 8 A. Tohill 9 B. McGilligan 10 D. Heaney 11 D. Barton 12 E. Burns 13 J. Brolly 14 S. Downey 15 E. Gormley Subs used D. Bateson for Brolly Manager Mickey Moran (Team as 1994-95 NFL final versus Donegal) v t e Derry – 1995–96 National Football League Champions (4th title) 1 J. Kelly 2 K. McKeever 3 G. Coleman 4 T. Scullion 5 K. Diamond 6 H. Downey 7 F. McCusker 8 A. Tohill 9 B. McGilligan 10 E. Burns 11 D. Barton 12 S. M. Lockhart 13 J. Brolly 14 S. Downey 15 E. Gormley Subs used 18 D. Dougan for Burns 22 G. McGill for S. Downey Subs not used 16 D. McCusker 17 A.N. Other 19 J. McGurk 20 S. McLarnon 21 D. Quinn 23 C. McEldowney 24 D. Bateson D. Cassidy C. McGurk D. McNicholl D. O'Neill Manager Brian Mullins Backroom team F. Kearney A. McGurk E. Young (Team as 1996 NFL final versus Donegal (5 May 1996)) v t e Derry – 1999–2000 National Football League Champions (5th title) 1 M. Conlan 2 G. Coleman 3 S. M. Lockhart 4 D. O'Neill 5 H. Downey 6 K. McKeever 7 P. McFlynn 8 A. Tohill 9 D. Heaney 10 N. McCusker 11 D. Dougan 12 R. Rocks 13 P. Bradley 14 E. Muldoon 15 J. McBride Subs used C. Gilligan for Rocks G. McGonigle for Gilligan S. McLarnon for Bradley Subs not used B. Gillis A. Heaney E. Burns Manager E. Coleman Backroom team D. Cassidy (Team as 2000 NFL final replay versus Meath)

All Stars v t e 1993 All Star Gaelic Football Team 1 J. O'Leary 2 J. J. Doherty 3 D. Deasy 4 T. Scullion 5 J. McGurk 6 H. DowneyFOTY 7 G. Coleman 8 A. Tohill 9 B. McGilligan 10 K. O'Neill 11 J. Kavanagh 12 C. Redmond 13 C. Corkery 14 G. Houlahan 15 E. Gormley v t e Derry All Stars Derry has 33 All Stars, as of 2023. 23 different players have won, as of 2023. No player has won more than four All Stars. 1973: Anthony McGurk 1975: Peter Stevenson, Anthony McGurk2nd, Gerry McElhinney 1984: Dermot McNicholl 1987: Tony Scullion, Brian McGilligan 1992: Tony Scullion2nd, Anthony Tohill, Enda Gormley 1993: Tony Scullion3rd, Johnny McGurk, Henry Downey, Gary Coleman, Anthony Tohill2nd, Brian McGilligan2nd, Enda Gormley2nd 1995: Tony Scullion4th, Anthony Tohill3rd 1996: Joe Brolly 1997: Joe Brolly2nd 1998: Seán Marty Lockhart 2000: Kieran McKeever, Anthony Tohill4th 2004: Enda Muldoon 2007: Kevin McCloy, Paddy Bradley 2022: Chrissy McKaigue, Conor Glass 2023: Conor McCluskey, Gareth McKinless, Brendan Rogers, Shane McGuigan

v t e Texaco Footballer of the Year 1958: J. McKeever 1959: S. Murphy 1960: J. McCartan Snr 1961: J. McCartan Snr 1962: M. O'Connell 1963: L. Foley 1964: N. Tierney 1965: M. L. Newell 1966: M. McDonagh 1967: B. Cunningham 1968: S. O'Neill 1969: M. O'Dwyer 1970: T. Prendergast 1971: E. Mulligan 1972: W. Bryan 1973: B. Morgan 1974: K. Heffernan 1975: J. O'Keeffe 1976: J. Keaveney 1977: J. Keaveney 1978: P. Spillane 1979: M. Sheehy 1980: J. O'Shea 1981: J. O'Shea 1982: M. Furlong 1983: T. Drumm 1984: J. O'Shea 1985: J. O'Shea 1986: P. Spillane 1987: B. Stafford 1988: R. O'Malley 1989: T. McCarthy 1990: S. Fahy 1991: C. O'Rourke 1992: M. McHugh 1993: H. Downey 1994: M. Linden 1995: P. Curran 1996: M. O'Connell 1997: M. Fitzgerald 1998: M. Donnellan 1999: T. Giles 2000: S. Moynihan 2001: P. Joyce 2002: K. McGeeney 2003: P. Canavan 2004: C. Cooper 2005: S. O'Neill 2006: K. Donaghy 2007: M. Ó Sé 2008: S. Cavanagh 2009: T. Ó Sé 2010: B. Brogan Jnr 2011: A. Brogan

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Henry Downey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Downey) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Downey?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.