Brian Smyth (Gaelic footballer)

Brian Smyth
Personal information
Irish name	Brian Mac Gabhann
Sport	Gaelic football
Position	Centre-forward
Born	24 March 1924 Batterstown, County Meath, Ireland
Died	16 March 2016 (aged 91) Blanchardstown, County Dublin, Ireland
Occupation	CIÉ employee
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Skryne
Club titles
Meath titles	5
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
1946–1956	Meath
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles	4
All-Irelands	2
NFL	1

Brian Smyth (24 March 1924 – 16 March 2016) was an Irish Gaelic footballer and hurler who played as a centre-forward for the Meath senior team.^[1]

Born in Batterstown, County Meath, Smyth had his first involvement with Gaelic football and hurling against Boy Scouts from Dublin, who used to come to the local area on weekend camps. He fielded with local club Batterstown in both codes but when the club was unable to muster enough players, he lined out with Flathouse with whom he won a junior championship medal in hurling. He also played both codes with Ratoath before lining out with Oberstown in hurling and Skryne in Gaelic football, helping the latter to five championship victories. He finished his hurling career with Dunboyne.

Smyth made his debut on the inter-county scene when he first linked up with the Meath junior hurling team in 1944. An All-Ireland medal winner in this code, he joined the Meath senior football team for the 1946 championship. Smyth went on to play a key role during a hugely successful era, and won two All-Ireland medals, four Leinster medals and one National League medal. The All-Ireland-winning captain of 1949, Smyth was also an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.

Smyth was a member of the Leinster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, however, he never won a Railway Cup medal. He retired from inter-county football following the conclusion of the 1957 championship.

In retirement from playing, Smyth became involved in team management and administration. His involvement as a trainer was short-lived, however, he guided Drumree to championship success in the junior grade in 1959. Smyth became involved in administrative affairs as a teenager when he took over as secretary of the Batterstown club. He was secretary of the Meath Hurling Board on two occasions, before serving as chairman of the Meath County Board between 1979 and 1985.

Honours

Skryne

Meath Senior Football Championship (5): 1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1954

Meath

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (2): 1949 (c), 1954
Connacht Senior Football Championship (4): 1949 (c), 1951, 1952, 1954
National Football League (1): 1950-51

References

↑ Donohue, John (16 March 2016). "Death of 1949 Royal County captain, Brian Smyth". Meath Chronicle. Retrieved 18 March 2016.

Brian Smyth navigation boxes

Template:Meath Junior Hurling Team 1948

Meath – 1949 All-Ireland Senior Football Champions (1st title)

1 K. Smyth 2 M. O'Brien 3 P. O'Brien 4 K. McConnell 5 S. Heery 6 P. Dixon 7 C. Hand 8 P. Connell 9 J. Kearney 10 F. Byrne 11 B. Smyth (Capt.) 12 M. McDonnell 13 P. Meegan 14 B. Halpenny 15 P. McDermott Sub used P. Carolan for F. Byrne Trainer P. Tully

Meath – 1951 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship runners-up

1 K. Smyth 2 M. O'Brien 3 P. O'Brien 4 K. McConnell 5 S. Heery (c) 6 C. Kelly 7 C. Hand 8 D. Taaffe 9 P. Connell 10 F. Byrne 11 M. McDonnell 12 P. Meegan 13 B. Smyth 14 J. Reilly 15 P. McDermott Subs used 16 P. Dixon for C. Hand 7 C. Hand for S. Heery Subs not used 17 P. Carolan 18 B. Ruske 19 L. McGuinness 20 A. Foran Trainer P. Tully

Meath – 1952 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship runners-up

1 K. Smyth 2 M. O'Brien 3 P. O'Brien 4 K. McConnell 5 T. O'Brien 6 C. Kelly 7 C. Hand 8 B. Maguire 9 D. Taaffe 10 D. Brennan 11 B. Smyth 12 P. Meegan (c) 13 M. McDonnell 14 J. Reilly 15 P. McDermott Played in drawn game P. McGearty P. Connell Trainer P. Tully

Meath – 1954 All-Ireland Senior Football Champions (2nd title)

1 P. McGearty, 2 M. O'Brien 3 P. O'Brien 4 K. McConnell 5 K. Lenihan 6 J. Reilly 7 N. Durnin 8 P. Connell 9 T. O'Brien 10 M. Grace 11 B. Smyth 12 M. McDonnell 13 P. Meegan 14 T. Moriarty 15 P. McDermott (C) Trainer P. Tully

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