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Gay McManus

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Gay McManus

Gabriel "Gay" McManus (born 28 March 1958) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer. His league and championship career with the Galway senior team spanned thirteen seasons from 1976 until 1989. He played his club football with Milltown.

McManus won his first All-Ireland medal as a part of the Galway Minor team that beat Cork in the 1976 final. He followed this with a Sigerson Cup win with UCG in 1979/80. He won the university title again the following year in 1980/81 as Captain, as well as finishing as Top Scorer and winning the Player of The Tournament Award. McManus joined the Galway senior team during the 1976/77 National League campaign, making his Championship debut in 1977, aged 19. He won a National Football League with Galway in 1981, scoring a goal in the final. McManus was also a part of the Galway team that were beaten by Dublin in the 1983 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.

Gay McManus began his football career with Galway playing at full-forward for the Minor team who were defeated in the Connacht final of 1975. He was still eligible for the minor grade the following year, playing an integral role in helping Galway to go all the way to winning Connacht and All-Ireland minor glory, defeating Cork in the All-Ireland final on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-6.

McManus' next underage success with Galway came with the Under-21 team in 1979. McManus was the difference for Galway that day scoring 0-7 from full-forward as Galway defeated Sligo 0-12 to 0-9. Galway would be defeated by eventual champions Down in the All-Ireland semi-final.

McManus made his senior debut for Galway in the 1976/77 season of the National Football League, just off the back of his All-Ireland Minor success. In 1977, he made his championship debut aged just 19 as Galway would go as far as the Connacht final. Despite McManus doing well for Galway on the frees, they were narrowly beaten by Roscommon on a scoreline of 1-12 to 2-08. Mcmanus and Galway would fall short to Roscommon again the following year on a scoreline of 2-07 to 0-09. Galway wouldn't reach the Connacht final again for another 4 years.

McManus won his first piece of silverware with the Galway senior team following victory over Roscommon in the 1980/81 National Football League Final, Galway running out victors 1-11 to 1-03, McManus providing a great goal for Galway.

1982 saw McManus take the helm of the Galway captaincy after he and his club, Milltown won the 1981 Galway Senior Football Championship. McManus would go on to lead Galway to their first Connacht title win in six years as Galway defeated Mayo 3-17 to 0-10. Galway were defeated by eventual champions Offaly in the All-Ireland Semi-Final.

In 1983, Galway retained their Connacht crown, beating Mayo in the final 1-13 to 1-10. Galway would go on to play Dublin in the 1983 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, the infamous 'Game of Shame'. Galway had one player dismissed, as Dublin had three more. Amazingly, Dublin's 'Dirty Dozen' managed to hold off Galway's attack and win the ill-tempered game 1-10 to 1-08. The game would go down in history as one of the most memorable All-Ireland finals.

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