Tommy Lyons

Tommy Lyons is a retired Irish Gaelic football manager from County Mayo^[1] who has managed 2 inter-county sides in his time. He also managed club side Kilmacud Crokes to All-Ireland glory on St. Patricks Day, 1995. He also spent time as chairman of Crokes, until 2007. He is also a regular pannellist/analyst on RTÉ's The Sunday Game. Although born in County Mayo, Lyons considers himself a Dubliner, having moved to Dublin at a very young age. Lyons playing career with Kilmacud Crokes ended early due to a persistent knee injury. A screw had to be placed within the knee at one point, which hindered his running ability.

Offaly (1997-1999)

Lyons was announced as Offaly manager in late 1996. In his first year in charge, they won a Leinster Championship beating then All Ireland champions Meath in the final. Offaly were beaten in the next game, the All-Ireland semi-final that year by Mayo. Offaly followed their championship exploits with victory in the National Football League. They were beaten early on in both the Leinster Championshiops of '98 and '99 and following this, Lyons and Offaly parted ways. Lyons returned to his position as an analyst on The Sunday Game.

• O'Byrne Cup (2): 1997 1998
• Leinster Senior Football Championship (1): 1997
• National Football League (1): 1998

Dublin (2002-2004)

A full record of the performance of Dublin between 2002 and 2004 is available at:

Lyons was confirmed as the new Dublin football manager in October 2001. Dublin had a poor league campaign and only avoided relegation following an away draw with Galway on the last day. Dublin came into the All Ireland Championship as rank outsiders for the first time in many years and following a poor performance over Wexford, Dublin's chances were written off even further. Dublin also faced a tricky Leinster semi-final against Meath a team they hadn't beaten in 7 years. Lyons had risked bringing in a lot inexperienced players such as Ray Cosgrove, Alan Brogan and John McNally. Dublin won the day, beating Meath with all the new players playing well, especially Cosgrove who scored 2-2. Dublin went on to win Leinster, beating Kildare in the final, and reach the All-Ireland semi-final following victory after a replay over Donegal. In the semi-final, against Armagh, Dublin went in as favourites but lost by a point.

Lyons had played a media game during his first year in charge. When the standard of the team's performances dropped in 2003, the media game Lyons had played came back to haunt him. Lyons's success in his first year was not repeated in the following two years with Dublin failing to win leinster or get past the quarter finals of the All-Ireland. Lyons and the media's relationship got so bad that by the Summer of 2004, he refused to reveal the team to the media until minutes before throw-in.

Celebrity Bainisteoir

In 2008, Lyons mentored Glenda Gilson as she "managed" Crumlin for RTÉ's Celebrity Bainisteoir.

Media

Lyons, one of a string of former Dublin managers never to have won an All-Ireland title, bit into Martin McHugh ahead of the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, charging McHugh with "being the cute auld hoor". McHugh being a native of Donegal whose team were to take on Lyons's native county Mayo in that final.^[2]

References