Jimmy Lucey

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Jimmy Lucey
Personal information
Irish name Séamus Ó Luasaigh
Sport Gaelic football
Position Midfield
Born 1941
Caragh Lake, County Kerry, Ireland
Died 16 February 1969 (aged 27)
Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Occupation Army sergeant
Club(s)
Years Club
Glenbeigh-Glencar
Laune Rangers
Mid Kerry
Club titles
Kerry titles 1
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
1962–1966
Kerry 8 (0-00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 3
All-Irelands 1
NFL 1
All Stars 0

James Lucey (1941 – 16 February 1969) was an Irish Gaelic footballer. He played at club level with Glenbeigh-Glencar, Laune Rangers and Mid Kerry and at inter-county level with the Kerry senior football team.

Career[edit]

Born in Caragh Lake, County Kerry, Lucey first played Gaelic football with Glenbeigh-Glencar. He won a County Championship title with divisional side Mid Kerry in 1967.[1] After briefly appearing for the Kerry minor football team during the early rounds of the championship in 1958, Lucey was drafted onto the Kerry senior football team during a number of tournament games in early 1962. He ended the season with an All-Ireland Championship title after lining out at midfield in the final defeat of Roscommon. His brother, Noel Lucey, also lined out that day, while a third brother, Vincent Lucey, played in the 1965 All-Ireland final defeat by Galway.[2] Lucey's inter-county career ended in 1966, by which stage he had also secured a National League title and several Munster Championship titles.

Personal life and death[edit]

Lucey secured a place in the first Army Apprentice School class at Devoy Barracks in 1956. After a three-year apprenticeship he became a fitter and a mechanic in the Cavalry Corps. He served two terms with the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in the Congo and was one of 154 soldiers involved in the Siege of Jadotville.[3]

Lucey died from Hodgkins disease at St Luke's Hospital in Rathgar on 16 February 1969.[4] Aged 27, he was the first member of the 1962 All-Ireland-winning team to die.

Career statistics[edit]

Team Season National League Munster All-Ireland Total
Division Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score Apps Score
Kerry 1961–62 Division 1 0 0-00 2 0-01 2 0-00 4 0-01
1962–63 5 0-00 1 0-00 1 0-00 7 0-00
1963–64 5 0-00 0 0-00 0 0-00 5 0-00
1964–65 2 0-00 2 0-00 0 0-00 4 0-00
1965–66 2 0-00 0 0-00 4 0-00
Career total 14 0-00 5 0-01 3 0-00 24 0-01

Honours[edit]

Mid Kerry
Kerry

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Paul Lucey 'A Rockie Legend' RIP". Austin Stacks GAA website. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Kerry All-Ireland winner Noel Lucey passes away". Hogan Stand. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  3. ^ Evans, Tadhg (12 November 2016). "Tale of the Kerrymen in Siege of Jadotville". The Kerryman. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Eamonn Fitzgerald: Time to honour the heroes of Jadotville". Killarney Advertiser. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2021.