Former Royal star McDermott dies

PETER McDERMOTT, pictured, a star of Meath’s first All-Ireland SFC triumph in 1949, passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

Popularly known as ‘the man in the cap’ during his playing days, McDermott was born in Belgooley near Kinsale in Co Cork before his family moved back to Meath during his early years.

McDermott captained theRoyal County to asecond Sam Maguiredefeating hot favourites Kerry in the 1954 final, a year he remarkably doubled as countysecretary.

The Navan O’Mahonys clubman, who had earlier assisted Donaghmore and Young Irelands of Cushinstown, refereed two All-Ireland SFC finals in 1953 and ‘56. He is the only man to have played in the final after beingin charge of the whistle in adecider.

His 51 senior championshipappearances for Meath between 1940 and ‘55 stood as a county best until Colm O’Rourkesurpassed the figure in 1992.

McDermott’s six Leinster SFC medals was also a Meath record before being equalled by Martin O’Connell in 1996.

Best known as a tricky leftcorner-forward, Peter was on two league winning teams and was part of Leinster Railway Cup successes on two occasions.

After his playing days ended, McDermott became a noted coach and was in charge of Meath’s All-Ireland winning team in 1967. That was followed by the historic trip to Australia the following year when Meath played a number of games against Aussie Rules teams.

When the gamesbetween Ireland and Australia took place in 1984, the Meath legend was the Irish manager. He was also an advisorfor Down’s breakthroughAll-Ireland success in 1960 and in a remarkably varied GAA career he was an author (Gaels in the Sun, a diary of Meath’s trip Down Under in 1968), a newspaper columnist and a radio analyst with RTÉ in the ‘70s.

McDermott was an honorary president of the Meath County Board for a number of years before his passing.