Paddy Prendergast (Gaelic footballer)
{{Short description|Irish Gaelic footballer (1926–2021)}}
{{distinguish|Paddy Prendergast (hurler)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox Gaelic Athletic Association player
| code = Football
| sport = Gaelic football
| image =
| name = Paddy Prendergast
| irish = Pádraig de Priondragás
| feet = 5
| inches = 11
| nickname =
| occupation = Garda Síochána
| county = Mayo
| province = Connacht
| club =
| clposition =
| clubs = Dungloe
Ballintubber
| clyears =
| clapps(points) =
| clcounty = 0
| clprovince =
| clallireland =
| colleges =
| colyears =
| sig =
| icposition = Full-back
| icyears = 1946–1947
1947–1956
| icapps(points) =
27 (0-00)
| icprovince = 5
| icallireland = 2
| allstars =
| nfl = 2
| birth_place = Ballintubber,
County Mayo, Ireland
| death_date = 26 September 2021 (aged 95)
| death_place = Tralee,
County Kerry, Ireland
}}
Patrick Prendergast (1926 – 26 September 2021) was a Gaelic footballer. At club level, he played with Dungloe and Ballintubber and was a member of the Donegal and Mayo senior football teams. He usually lined out as a full-back.
Playing career
Although born in Ballintubber, County Mayo, Prendergast first came to prominence with the Dungloe club in County Donegal. His performances at club level earned a call-up to the Donegal senior football team.{{cite news|url=https://www.mayonews.ie/sports/26-sean-rice/29005-paddy-prendergast-a-mayo-legend|title=Paddy Prendergast: a Mayo legend|publisher=The Mayo News|date=22 November 2016|access-date=26 September 2021|first=Seán|last=Rice}} After a number of years with Donegal, Prendergast declared for the Mayo senior football team in 1948. His debut season with his native county saw him win the first of four consecutive Connacht Championship titles, however, the season ended with an All-Ireland final defeat by Cavan. Prendergast lined out at full-back when Mayo won back-to-back All-Ireland Championship titles after defeats of Louth in 1950 and Meath in 1951.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/do-you-think-that-prayer-would-make-a-difference-mayos-all-ireland-survivor-94-hoping-for-one-more-win-39879858.html|title='Do you think that prayer would make a difference?' - Mayo's All-Ireland survivor (94) hoping for one more win|publisher=Irish Independent|date=19 December 2020|access-date=26 September 2021|first=Michael|last=Verney}} He continued to line out with the team until 1956, by which time he had claimed a fifth Connacht Championship title as well as two National League titles. Prendergast was also a Railway Cup-winner with Connacht.
Personal life and death
Paddy spent his entire working career as a member of the Garda Síochána. After being initially stationed in Dungloe, County Donegal, he was later posted back to Mayo and eventually settled in Tralee, County Kerry.
Prendergast died on 26 September 2021, at the age of 95.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/mayo-all-ireland-paddy-prendergast-5558562-Sep2021/|title=Mayo All-Ireland winning hero from 1951 team passes away|publisher=The 42|date=26 September 2021|access-date=26 September 2021|first=|last=}} He was the last surviving member of Mayo's 1951 All-Ireland final-winning starting fifteen.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/paddy-prendergast-the-last-surviving-member-of-mayos-1951-all-ireland-winning-xv-passes-away-aged-95-40889575.html|title=Paddy Prendergast, the last surviving member of Mayo's 1951 All-Ireland winning XV, passes away aged 95|publisher=Irish Independent|date=26 September 2021|access-date=26 September 2021|first=Frank|last=Roche}}
Honours
;Mayo
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 1950, 1951
- Connacht Senior Football Championship: 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1955
- National Football League: 1948–49, 1953–54
;Connacht
- Railway Cup: 1951
References
{{reflist}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Paddy Prendergast navigation boxes
|list1=
{{Mayo Football Team 1948}}
{{Mayo Football Team 1950}}
{{Mayo Football Team 1951}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prendergast, Paddy}}
Category:Ballintubber Gaelic footballers
Category:Donegal inter-county Gaelic footballers
Category:Mayo inter-county Gaelic footballers
Category:Connacht inter-provincial Gaelic footballers