Damian Cassidy

Cassidy played the majority of his career in the forward line (corner forward for Bellaghy and half forward for Derry), but also had a spell in the half back line early in his career.{{ Cite journal | date =29 May 1994 | journal =1994 Ulster Championship Quarter Final Programme | title=Derry Pen Pics }} Adrian McGuckin who coached him at St. Pat's, Maghera said he had a superb left foot and was very comfortable on the ball.{{cite news |first=Ronan |last=Scott |title=No more messin' |work=Gaelic Life |page=4 |date=10 October 2008 }} GAA journalist and former Derry team-mate Joe Brolly said that despite the presence of many other great footballers at the time, Cassidy at his peak "was easily the best club footballer in Derry".{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Brolly |authorlink=Joe Brolly |title=Damien faces stern test |work=Gaelic Life |page=48 |date=10 October 2008 |accessdate=18 November 2008 |url=http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/GL/free/292823850407440.php }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Cassidy was part of the Derry Minor side that won the 1983 Ulster Minor and All-Ireland Minor Championships. Cassidy scored 2–03 (2 goals and 3 points—each goal equals 3 points; 2 × 3 + 3 = 9 points, see GAA scoring rules) in the Ulster minor final victory over Monaghan. He scored 0–04 from left half forward in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Galway,{{ Cite journal | publisher = DBA Publications Ltd. | date = 23 August 1998 | journal = 1998 All-Ireland Senior & Minor Football Championship Finals Programme | title= Championship meetings: 1983 – Derry 0–16; Galway 3-05 }} before going on to defeat Cork in the decider, playing at left half forward. He also won back-to-back Ulster Under 21 Championships with the Derry Under 21 side in 1985 and 1986. In 1985 Derry Under 21s were defeated by Cork in the All Ireland Under 21 Championship final and by Cork in the 1986 All-Ireland semi-final.

He made his Derry Senior debut straight out of Minors the following year (1984) and was on the 1987 Ulster Senior Football Championship winning team, at right corner forward.{{ Cite journal | publisher = Ulster GAA Council | date = 16 July 2000 | journal = 2000 Ulster Senior & Minor Football Championship Final Programme | title= Armagh/Derry Ulster Final Clashes – 1987 final: Derry 0–11, Armagh 0-09 }} The side defeated Armagh in the final. In 1992 Cassidy was part of the Derry panel that won the National League.{{ Cite journal | publisher = DBA Publications Ltd. | date = 17 March 1995 | journal = 1995 All-Ireland Senior Club Football & Hurling Championship Finals Programme | title= Bellaghy Pen Pictures }} It was 1992 until Cassidy and Derry got back to an Ulster final, however this time they were beat by Donegal. Derry however defeated Donegal in the 1993 Ulster decider and went on to win the 1993 All-Ireland Championship with a semi-final victory over Dublin and a final victory over Cork. The success was the county's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Cassidy won further National League medals in 1995 and 1996.

At underage level with Bellaghy he won Derry Under 16 (1981) and Derry Minor Championships. He made his Senior debut for the club in 1982. He won his first Derry Senior Football Championship medal with Bellaghy in 1986, with victory over Ballinderry in the final; Bellaghy also won the league that year. Despite Bellaghy not reaching the final, Cassidy was the Derry Championship's top-scorer in 1991, with a total haul of 4–06 (18 points).{{ Cite journal | publisher = Derry County Board | date = 14 October 2007 | journal = 2007 Derry Senior, Intermediate, Junior & Minor Championship Finals Programme | title= Top Scorers and Man of the Match awards records }} The club won the Derry Championship again in 1994, and also won that year's Ulster Senior Club Football Championship. The club went on to contest the 1995 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship final against Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin. Bellaghy were beat by three points and unfortunately for Cassidy he missed a vital penalty late in the match. Cassidy won further Derry Championship medals with the club in 1996, 1998 and 1999 —winning Derry league medals in the latter two years as well. Bellaghy were also Ulster Club runners-up in 1996{{cite web|url=http://www.crossrangers.com/theclub/content.asp?id=15 |title=Crossmaglen Rangers – 1997 all Ireland success |accessdate=7 September 2008 |work=Crossmaglen Rangers website |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027132033/http://www.crossrangers.com/theclub/content.asp?id=15 |archivedate=27 October 2007 }} and 1998. He was awarded the man of the match accolade in both the 1994 and 1999 Derry Championship finals. Cassidy won player of the tournament in the All Ireland 7's hosted by Kilmacud in Dublin in 1996. He was also on the 7's team that won the All Ireland 7's in 1986. Cassidy won Player of the Tournament at the 1997 Castlewellan 7's, which Bellaghy won.{{cite web|url=http://www.castlewellangac.com/rollofhonour.html |title=Castlewellan GAC 7's Roll of Honour – Player of the Tournament |accessdate=7 September 2008 |work=Castlewellan GAC website on GAA World (The Irish News) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119154736/http://www.castlewellangac.com/rollofhonour.html |archivedate=19 November 2008 }} Cassidy retired in 1999.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/926477.stm |title=Big weekend of club action |accessdate=7 September 2008 |work=BBC Sport Online |date=15 September 2000 }}

Cassidy won three MacRory Cup medals in 1982, 1983 and 1984 whilst at St. Patrick's College, Maghera (secondary school). He also played hurling for the college and won a Mageean Cup in 1984.

{{Infobox Gaelic games manager

|image=

|name =Damian Cassidy

|clyears=2003
2004–2005 & 2007
2008, 2011–2017
2018

|club=Loughmacrory
Bellaghy Wolfe Tones
Clonoe O'Rahilly's
Cargin Erin's Own

|winningclubs=Loughmacrory Under 21s
Bellaghy
Clonoe

|clallireland=–
–
–

|clprovince=–
–
–

|clcounty=1
1
1

|county=Cavan Coach
Derry
Derry Under 21s

|icyears=2006
2009–2010

|winningcounties=

|icprovince=

|icallireland=

|league=

|}}

Cassidy was Derry assistant manager to Eamonn Coleman from 2000 until 2002. Derry won the National League in 2000 and got to the All-Ireland semi-final in 2001. Following the resignation of Coleman in July 2002, Cassidy said he was not interested in becoming Derry manager.{{cite news |first=Orla |last=Bannon |title=Cassidy: I don't want Derry job |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-89913007.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021114306/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-89913007.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2012 |work=Daily Mirror |date=30 June 2002 |accessdate=8 September 2008 }} Mickey Moran in the end succeeded Coleman. In late 2002, Cassidy was linked with the vacant Antrim manager's job, but rejected it.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/2458273.stm |title=O'Hare back as Saffrons boss |accessdate=8 September 2008 |work=BBC Sport Online |date=13 November 2002 }} The post eventually went to PJ O'Hare.

Following illness to then Cavan manager Eamonn Coleman before the start of the 2005 Championship, assistant Martin McElkennon became acting-manager and Cassidy became McElkennon's assistant. He described his position as a "consultancy role", but was assigned an assistant manager / coach's role the following year.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/4970288.stm |title=Cassidy aiming to Down Mournemen |accessdate=7 September 2008 |last=Haughey |first=John |date=3 May 2006 |work=BBC Sport Online }}

In 2008 he applied for the vacant Derry Senior football manager's job.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7608760.stm |title=McCloskey among Derry candidates |accessdate=11 September 2008 |work=BBC Sport Online |date=10 September 2008 }} Cassidy was announced as new Derry boss late on 7 October 2008.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7658431.stm |title=Cassidy is named as Derry manager |accessdate=9 October 2008 |work=BBC Sport Online |date=8 October 2008 }} His backroom team will include former Antrim star Kevin Madden, as well as Martin McConnell, Brendan McCrory and goalkeeping coach Kevin O'Neill.

He managed the Senior and Under-21 teams of St. Teresa's Loughmacrory in 2003{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7189123.stm |title=Cassidy takes over as Clonoe boss |accessdate=5 September 2008 |work=BBC Sport Online |date=15 January 2008 }} and led the club to the Tyrone Under 21 Championship title.{{cite web|url=http://www.tyronegaa.ie/culture/clubchamps/section3/ |title=U21 Football Champions (Roll of honour) |accessdate=5 September 2008 |work=Official Tyrone GAA website |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407003823/http://www.tyronegaa.ie/culture/clubchamps/section3/ |archivedate=7 April 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}

Cassidy became Bellaghy manager for the 2004 season{{cite news |first=Micheal |last=McGeary |title=Touch of Cass – Damian has Bellaghy moving in right direction |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/gaa-touch-of-cass-13738724.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=20 November 2005 |accessdate=19 September 2008 }} and managed them to the county final of 2004 where they lost to Slaughneil by 2 points. He also secured the league title in the same season. They captured 2005 Derry Championship title and they also reached the final of that year's Ulster Club Championship.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/4302796.stm |title=Bellaghy beat Loup in Derry final |accessdate=8 September 2008 |work=BBC Sport Online |date=2 October 2005 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2005/1120/championship1.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913061449/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2005/1120/championship1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2012 |title=Round-up of Sunday's club football action |accessdate=7 September 2008 |work=RTÉ |date=20 November 2005 }} Then reached the Derry final again in 2007 under his leadership, but lost by a point to Glenullin after a replay. He announced in December 2007 that he was stepping down as Bellaghy boss.{{cite news|first=John |last=Campbell |title=Glenullin miss top tier |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/other-sports/local-heroes/gaa-glenullin-miss-top-tier-13503826.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729174009/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/other-sports/local-heroes/gaa-glenullin-miss-top-tier-13503826.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 July 2012 |work=The Belfast Telegraph |date=19 December 2007 |accessdate=18 September 2008 }}

He was appointed manager of Tyrone club Clonoe O'Rahilly's in January 2008.{{cite news|first=John |last=Campbell |title=Clonoe can go extra mile with Cassidy |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/other-sports/local-heroes/gaa-clonoe-can-go-extra-mile-with-cassidy-13380691.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801024646/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/other-sports/local-heroes/gaa-clonoe-can-go-extra-mile-with-cassidy-13380691.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2012 |work=The Belfast Telegraph |date=30 January 2008 |accessdate=7 September 2008 }} He successfully guided the club to success in the 2008 Tyrone Championship, the club's first title since 1991. They shocked{{cite news|first=Brendan |last=Crossan |title=Clonoe have puncher's chance insists Cassidy |work=The Irish News |page=57 |date=23 October 2008 |accessdate=13 November 2008 |url=http://www.irishnews.com/searchlog.asp?reason=denied_empty&script_name=/pageacc.asp&path_info=/pageacc.asp&tser1=ser&sid=600940 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223052138/http://www.irishnews.com/searchlog.asp?reason=denied_empty&script_name=%2Fpageacc.asp&path_info=%2Fpageacc.asp&tser1=ser&sid=600940 |archivedate=23 December 2015 }} the "big two" of Tyrone club football – Errigal Ciarán and Carrickmore in the first round and quarter-final respectively.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7485862.stm |title=Clonoe and Donaghmore secure wins |accessdate=13 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport Online |date=3 July 2008 }}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7663878.stm |title=Clonoe and Carrickmore progress |accessdate=11 October 2008 |work=BBC Sport Online |date=11 October 2008 }} Clonoe then defeated Donaghmore to progress to their first Championship final in 17 years.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7678215.stm |title=Clonoe 1–9 2–3 Donaghmore (Match report) |accessdate=13 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport Online |date=18 October 2008 }} They faced defending champions Dromore in the final, who went in as red-hot favourites. However, Clonoe beat Dromore by a point after extra time. The feat is all the more remarkable, considering Clonoe are a very young team and have no Tyrone county players on the team. They were however beaten by St Eunan's of Donegal in the quarter-final of the 2008 Ulster Club Championship.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7705103.stm |title=Clonoe 1–8 2–10 St Eunan's (Match report) |accessdate=13 November 2008 |work=BBC Sport Online |date=2 November 2008 }} Cassidy was reappointed manager of Clonoe O'Rahilly's in 2011, where he guided them back into the Tyrone championship final against Dromore, a repeat of the 2008 final, this time Dromore got their revenge winning by a point. In 2012 he guided Clonoe to their first All County Senior League title, defeating Coalisland in the final. In 2013 he once more lead Clonoe O' Rahilly's to senior championship success, beating Carrickmore in the final. He quickly followed this up with winning the U21 county title and then the Ulster U21 championship with Clonoe, defeating Truagh Gaels of Monaghan. 2015 the O' Rahilly's recaptured the All County Senior League title for the second time in their history under Cassidy's stewardship. Cassidy became manager of Erin's Own Cargin in County Antrim in 2018. Winning the senior championship at his first attempt, beating St Galls in a pulsating high scoring semi-final and then beating parish neighbours Creggan, where the rivalry is intense, in a low scoring championship final. In the same season, Cassidy also lead Wolfe Tones, Bellaghy to their first minor championship win since 1994, by beating close rivals Lavey Gac in the Derry minor championship final at Derry GAA Centre of Excellence, Owenbeg. He followed this up by leading the 'Tones' to the Ulster minor club championship, hosted by Belfast club St Pauls on New Years Day, by heavily defeating Crossmaglen Rangers Gac in the final. Cassidy won his second senior club championship with Cargin in 2019 by beating Lamh Dhearg in a final replay and then extra time in a pulsating final. He also won the All County senior league title to do the double. In 2020 in the year of the Covid virus, he led Erin's Own Cargin to their first historic three in a row, by again defeating Creggan in extra time in a classic high scoring game.

• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship:
• Winner (1): 1993
• National Football League:
• Winner (3): 1992, 1995, 1996
• Ulster Senior Football Championship:
• Winner (2): 1987, 1993
• Runner up: 1985, 1992
• Dr McKenna Cup:
• Winner (1?): 1993{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}

• All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship:
• Runner-up: 1985
• Ulster Under-21 Football Championship:
• Winner (2): 1985, 1986

• All-Ireland Minor Football Championship:
• Winner (1): 1983
• Ulster Minor Football Championship:
• Winner (1): 1983

• All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship – Runner-up: 1995
• All-Ireland Kilmacud Crokes Sevens Championship – Winner (1): 1986
• Castlewellan Sevens – Winner (1): 1997
• Ulster Senior Club Football Championship – Winner (1): 1994
• Ulster Senior Club Football Championship – Runner up: 1996, 1998
• Derry Senior Football Championship – Winner (5): 1986, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999
• Derry Senior Football Championship – Runner up: 1995
• Derry Senior Football League – Winner (3): 1986, 1998, 1999
• Derry U16 Football Championship - Winner 1981
• Derry U18 Hurling Championship - Winner 1983 (Lavey)

• MacRory Cup – Winner (3?): 1982, 1983, 1984
• Mageean Cup (hurling) – Winner (1) – 1984

• All Star – Nominated (runner up): ?
• Derry Championship First Trust Top Scorer award – Winner (1): 1991
• Derry Championship Forbes Kitchen Man of the Match award – Winner (2): 1994, 1999
• All-Ireland Kilmacud Crokes Sevens Championship Player of the tournament – Winner (1): 1996
• Castlewellan Sevens – Winner (1): 1997
• Sunday Independent Inter-county Team of the year (left half forward) – Winner: 1993

• 2003 St Teresa's Loughmacrory, Tyrone U21 Championship
• 2004 Wolfe Tones Bellaghy, Derry All County Senior League
• 2005 Wolfe Tones Bellaghy, Derry Senior Championship

Wolfe Tones Bellaghy, Derry Ulster Club Championship finalist

• 2007 Wolfe Tones Bellaghy, Derry Senior Championship finalist
• 2008 Clonoe O'Rahilly's, Tyrone Senior Championship
• 2009 Derry, National League finalist D1
• 2011 Clonoe O'Rahilly's, Tyrone Senior Championship finalist
• 2012 Clonoe O'Rahilly's, Tyrone All County Senior League
• 2013 Clonoe O'Rahilly's, Tyrone Senior Championship

Clonoe O'Rahilly's, Tyrone U21 Championship

• 2014 Clonoe O'Rahilly's, Tyrone Ulster Club U21 Championship
• 2015 Clonoe O'Rahilly's, Tyrone All County Senior League
• 2018 Erin's Own Cargin, Antrim senior Championship

Wolfe Tones Bellaghy, Derry Ulster Minor Club Championship

• 2019 Erin's Own Cargin, Antrim senior Championship

Erin's Own Cargin, Antrim All County Senior League

• 2020 Erin's Own Cargin, Antrim senior Championship

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130204061830/http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/where-are-they-now-3375712.html Where are they now]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/7661371.stm BBC interview with Cassidy after being appointed Derry manager]
• [http://derrygaa.ie/ Official Derry GAA website]

{{s-start}}

{{succession box

|title=Derry Senior Football Manager

|before=Paddy Crozier |after=John Brennan

|years=2008–2010}}

{{s-end}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassidy, Damian}}

Category:1965 births

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