Seán Dempsey
Laois Gaelic footballer and manager
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Seán Dempsey is an Irish Gaelic football manager, coach, selector and former player. He played at minor, under-21 and senior level for the Laois county team. Dempsey later managed Laois at minor, under-21 and senior level and has been involved with the St Joseph's club, as well as several clubs in other counties (e.g. Dublin, Offaly).
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| Sport | Gaelic football | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
Born to Jack Dempsey (originally from Laois) and Annie Spain (originally from County Offaly), Dempsey is one of seven children: the others are Martin, Michael, P. J., Betty (Moore), Margaret (Farrelly) and Ann (Smith), all of whom have links with the St Joseph's club.[1]
Playing career
As a player, Dempsey was a member of the St Joseph's club, winning four Laois Senior Football Championship titles with them.[1]
After his minor football career, he graduated to become a member of the Laois under-21 and senior football panels, playing alongside his brothers Martin and Mick for a number of years.[citation needed]
Post-playing career
Dempsey was Laois GAA's Football Officer from 1997 until 2007.[1] He was chairman of the Leinster Provincial Council Football Committee between 2009 and 2014.[1]
During his spell with Laois minors he coached the underage teams.[citation needed] Dempsey led the team to the 2003 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship title and to the 2004 Leinster Minor Football Championship title.[1]
He was selector under Val Andrews when Leinster won consecutive Railway Cup titles in 2005 and 2006.[1]
He led Laois to successive Leinster Under-21 Football Championship titles in 2006 and 2007.[1] He also led the team to an All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship final appearance in 2007, where they were defeated by Cork.[citation needed]
Dempsey was appointed manager of the Laois senior team on the night of 15 September 2008.[2][3] Despite a poor first season, with disciplinary problems surfacing in the panel, Kildare knocking the team out of the Leinster Senior Football Championship and Down knocking the team out of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, Dempsey was unexpectedly retained as manager for one more year.[4][5] After two relatively unsuccessful years in the position, he was relieved of the job in July 2010.[citation needed]
Dempsey was later[when?] confirmed as manager of Kildare GAA club Naas.[citation needed]
Dempsey was involved when Jack Sheedy managed Longford to promotion from Division 4 of the 2015 National Football League.[1]
He managed Offaly GAA club Ferbane to an Offaly Senior Football Championship title in 2019.[1][6]
In December 2020, he was named as manager of Dublin Senior Football Championship club Ballinteer St John's.[7]
As of 2021, he was his club's coaching officer.[1] He also managed the senior Laois ladies' county team.[1]