Liam Sammon

Liam Sammon (born 1946 in Galway) is an Irish former Gaelic football manager, coach, writer and former player.

Sammon first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Galway minor football team in the early 1960s.

He later progressed to the Galway under-21 football team.

In 1965, he lined out in the provincial under-21 decider with Mayo providing the opposition.

Galway won the game by 3–9 to 1–13, and Sammon collected a Connacht Under-21 Football Championship title.

His side was defeated in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final.

He played football with his local clubs Father Griffins and Salthill-Knocknacarra and was a member of the senior Galway county team from 1966 until 1979.

He won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in his first year with the team, 1966.

Sammon joined the Galway senior inter-county team as a nineteen-year-old in 1966.

In the Connacht final, Galway secured a 0–12 to 1–8 victory over Mayo, winning Sammon a first Connacht Senior Football Championship winners' medal.

Galway beat Cork by 2 points in the All-Ireland semi-final, reaching their fourth consecutive championship final, this time with Meath providing the opposition.

It was Sammon's first championship decider, and Galway were looking for a third All-Ireland title in-a-row, while Meath were looking for their third All-Ireland title ever.

Galway's Mattie McDonagh scored the only goal of the game, when a long clearance found him unmarked at the edge of the Meath square.

At half-time Meath trailed by 1–6 to 0–1.

They fought back after the interval; however, Galway won their three-in-a-row by 1–10 to 0–7.

It was Sammon's first All-Ireland winners' medal.

Galway did not achieve four-in-a-row the following season, as Sammon's side were defeated in the early stages of the 1967 provincial championship.

The team regrouped and qualified for the provincial decider again in 1968.

Reigning champions Mayo were the opponents in a game which Galway won 2–10 to 2–9.

Sammon added a second provincial winners' medal to his collection.

There would be no subsequent All-Ireland final appearance as soon-to-be champions Down narrowly defeated Galway in the semi-final.

In 1969 Galway exited the championship at the hands of Mayo in the Connacht final after a draw and a replay.

Sammon's side was back in the provincial final again in 1970, this time with Roscommon providing the opposition in the first eighty-minute decider.

Sammon's side won comfortably by 2–15 to 1–8.

In the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final, however, Meath beat Galway by 0–15 to 0–11.

He won All Stars in 1971 and 1973.

In 1971 Sammon was appointed captain of the Galway team.

His side retained their Connacht title that year but not without some difficulty.

Sligo were the opponents and held Sammon's side to a 2–15 apiece draw.

In the replay, Galway secured a narrow 1–17 to 3–10 victory.

It was Sammon's fourth Connacht winners' medal.

A second All-Ireland final appearance beckoned with Offaly lining out in opposition.

In the game, a Murt Connor goal gave Offaly a lead; however, Galway's Séamus Leyden scored an equalising goal almost immediately.

Offaly tacked on three more points to secure a 1–14 to 2–8 win and their first All-Ireland title.

In spite of this defeat Sammon was later included on the very first GAA All-Star team.

Galway surrendered their provincial title at an early stage in 1972, however, Sammon was appointed captain again in 1973.

That year his side faced Mayo in the Connacht decider.

A high-scoring 1–17 to 2–12 score line gave Galway the win and gave Sammon a fifth Connacht title.

After an absence of seven years the westerners were back in the All-Ireland final.

Sammon later served as manager of the senior Galway inter-county team from 2007 until 2009.