Tommy Lyons

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Tommy Lyons, born in Mayo, is a Gaelic Football manager who has managed 2 inter-county sides in his time. He also managed club side Kilmacud Crokes to All-Ireland glory on St. Patricks Day, 1995. He is presently the club chairman at Crokes. He is also a regular panalyst on RTÉ's The Sunday Game. Lyons is a landscaper by profession. Although born in County Mayo, Lyons considers himself a Dubliner, having moved to Dublin at a very young age. Lyons playing career ended early when he was injured in a club match for Crokes. He was accidentally kneed in the stomach and his injuries were so bad that he received the last rites on three separate occasions.

[edit] Offaly (1997-1999)

Lyons was announced as Offaly manager in late 1996. In his first year in charge, he won a Leinster Championship beating then All Ireland champions Meath in the final. Offaly were beaten in the semi-final that year. Offaly followed their championship exploits with victory in the National Football League. They were beaten early on in both the Leinster Championshiops of '98 and '99 and following this, Lyons and Offaly parted way. Lyons returned to his position as an analyst on The Sunday Game following this decision.

[edit] Dublin (2002-2004)

A full record of the performance of Dublin between 2002 and 2004 is available at: [1]

Lyons was confirmed as the new Dublin football manager in October 2001. Dublin had a poor league campaign and only avoided relegation following an away draw with Galway on the last day. Dublin came in to the All Ireland Championship as rank outsiders for the first time in many years and following a poor performance over Wexford, Dublins chances were written off even further. Dublin also faced a tricky Leinster semi-final against Meath a team they hadn't beaten in 7 years. Lyons had risked bringing in a lot inexperienced players such as Ray Cosgrove, Alan Brogan and John McNally. Dublin won the day, beating Meath with all the new players playing well, especially Cosgrove who scored 2-2 himself. Dublin went on to win Leinster, beating Kildare in the final, and reach the All-Ireland semi-final following victory after a replay over Donegal. In the semi-final, against Armagh, Dublin went in as favourites but Ray Cosgrove missed a free from 21 yards out with the last kick of the game. Dublin lost by a point.

Lyons had played a media game during his first year in charge. When the team performances dropped in 2003, the media game Lyons had played came back to haunt him. Lyons success in his first year was not repeated in the following two years with Dublin failing to win leinster or get past the quarter finals of the All-Ireland. Lyons and the media's relationship got so bad that by the Summer of 2004, he refused to reveal the team to the media until minutes before throw-in. Lyons final year in charge was one in which he and a large group of the players suffered a very uneasy relationship. Ciarán Whelan has gone on record as saying a group of players where considering informing the county board they had no confidience in Lyons.