Simon Deignan Explained

Simon Deignan (1922 – September 2006) was a former Gaelic footballer for the Cavan county team, and a referee.

Family

His grandnephew is the Dublin footballer Jonny Cooper.^[1]

Playing career

A native of Mullagh. Deignan won an All-Ireland Minor Football Championship medal in 1938. He formed a brilliant half back partnership with P. J. Duke & J. J. O'Reilly that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final in the Polo Grounds, New York in 1947. He was again one of the Breffni county’s stars in the ’48 All-Ireland Final double success.^[2] He also won the National Football League in 1949/50 season. He won numerous Railway Cup medals with Ulster.^[3]

He was also a noted referee, officiating at the 1950, 1954 and 1958 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Finals.

Death

He died in Bon Secours Hospital, Glasnevin, aged 84. His funeral took place from the Church of Our Mother of Divine Grace, Ballygall Road East to Dardistown cemetery.^[4]

Notes and References

1. News: Dermot. Crowe. Learning life the hard way. Sunday Independent. 22 September 2019. 22 September 2019. [Cooper]'s mother's father was a founding member of Na Fianna in 1955 and Cooper's granduncle, Simon Deignan, played for Cavan in the Polo Grounds.. "Learning life the hard way" was the title in the print edition.
2. Web site: Celebrating 125 years of Footballing Excellence in Ulster: 125 - Cavan Player List . Irishnews125.blogspot.com . 2009-02-11 . 2010-06-28.
3. Web site: DEIGNAN : Acknowledgement notice - Irish Times Family Notices . Irish Times . 2006-12-07 . 2010-06-28.
4. Web site: Cavan Obituaries 2007 - Anglo Celt . Eamonn . Gaffney . Hoganstand.com . 2010-06-28.