Henry Downey


Henry Downey is an Irish former dual GAA player, who is most notable for being a Gaelic footballer for the Derry senior football team in the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, where he usually played in at centre half back. He was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, where he was captain. He also won two Ulster Senior Football Championships and four National League medals with Derry.

Football career

Downey played club football and hurling with Erin's Own GAC Lavey, with whom he won the 1991 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 for the second time. Downey also won four Derry Senior Football Championship and 12 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.

Inter-county

Downey was part of the Derry side which won four national leagues in eight years, captaining the team in 1992 and 1996. Downey and Derry finished runners-up to Offaly in the 1998 National League decider.
In addition to his All-Ireland Club medal and two Ulster Club Championship medals he had massive success at Derry Championship level. He won four Derry Senior Football Championship, two Derry Minor Football Championships and twelve Derry Senior Hurling Championships.
Downey won an All-star in 1993 at centre back and was named 1993 Texaco Footballer of the Year. He also won Footballer of the Year at the 1993 Ulster GAA Writer's Association Awards.

School/college

Downey attended school at St. Patrick`s College in Maghera, with whom he won two consecutive MacRory Cups. The school went on to be runners-up in the 1984 Hogan Cup final. He attended Queens University Belfast and while there won the Sigerson Cup.

Hurling career

Among Downey's hurling honours was winning the 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 1-03 in a 2-20 to 1-06 victory. They beat Down in the final after a reply; 3-09 to 1-02.

Honours

Football

County

County

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