Paddy Linden (born 1954/1955) is a former Gaelic footballer with Ballybay Pearse Brothers and Monaghan. He was a goalkeeper for the teams and often a corner-back for Ballybay. For nearly two decades he was an inter-county player. He is a nephew of the late Cavan player Jack Smallhorny.[1]
Early career
He served his apprenticeship[clarification needed] with Paul McCarthy, the Ballybay, Monaghan and Railway Cup Ulster player.[1] When McCarthy moved into the forward line for Ballybay's replayed 1975 county champions final against Castleblayney Faughs, the position of goalkeeper became available and Linden took the opportunity.[1] Ballybay won a county Division One League title in 1978, with Linden in nets, but he had to wait eight years for another.[1] He won a county league medal in 1986 and a Senior County Championship medal in 1987.[1][2] Joe McMahon, known for his part in the Ballybay-Drumhowan Murray Cup amalgamation side, originally asked Linden in to try the netminder position when Linden was a young man. He played with players such as Kieran Finlay and Gerry Duffy, and the Tullycorbet parish combination got a Murry Cup title.[1]
County appearances, car accident
Linden did not get in on the county minor set-up.[1] He was in on the under-21 set-up, but Clones goalkeeper Gerry McGarry had the spot on the team.[1] His first appearance for Monaghan was at senior level. He got selected for the county team in 1978, succeeding McGarry when Seán McCague was appointed as the manager.[1][2] He conceded four goals at Casement Park in his debut against Antrim, but continued in the netminding role.[1] Monaghan surprised when they won the 1979 Ulster Senior Football Championship, with Linden.[1][2] He got a Railway Cup medal next year while playing for Ulster.[1] He was involved in a car accident in 1981, but kept on playing despite serious injuries.[1][2] He took eighteen months to recover, but it took a heavy physical and psychological toll on his athleticism and he lost two and a half stone.[1][2]
Recovery and national success
He got back inside the county frame in late 1982.[1] He had a place on the 1985 Ulster Championship winning team, which took Kerry to an All Ireland Semi Final replay in 1985.[1][2] He took another Ulster medal in 1988.[1][2] Linden holds his 1984–85 National Football League medal as his most prized possession.[1][2] In 1988 Linden became a household name around the country when at age 33 he won Ulster, County and Railway Cup medals and got an All Star Award. He won attention by saving a penalty hit by Larry Tompkins in the 12th minute of the 1988 All Ireland Senior Semi Final.[1][2]
Retirement
After the 1991 Championship he retired over criticism after the Derry game in Celtic Park.[1] He came back as a stand-in for the 1992 Dr McKenna Cup.[1] Team manager Liam Stirrat pushed him out in the autumn of 1991.[1] Linden was memorable for his dare-devil antics on the pitch, flying off the line, and was 37 in 1992, older than anyone else on the team.[1] He assists younger players at his club.[1]
Awards
Linden was the first Ulster player ever to get an All Star.[2] He was Ballybay's first (and so far only) All Star and was inducted into the Monaghan GAA Hall of Fame.[2][3]