Dinny Hannon

Dinny Hannon

Personal information
Full name	Denis J. Hannon
Place of birth	Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland
Playing position	Inside-Right
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
19xx-19xx	Bohemians
19xx-19xx	Athlone Town
National team‡
1908-1913	Ireland (IFA)	6	(1)
1907-1919	Ireland Amateurs (IFA)
1924	Irish Free State	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of January 13, 2008. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of January 13, 2008

Denis J. Hannon (born Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland), also known as Dinny Hannon or Dinney Hannon, was an Irish footballer who played as an inside-right for both Bohemians and Athlone Town. Hannon was also a dual international and played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI and the FAI XI. He was the first player ever to do this. In 1913 he was a member of the first ever IFA XI to beat England and in 1924 he represented the Irish Free State at the Paris Olympics.

Club career

Bohemians

Hannon helped Bohemians reach three Irish Cup finals in 1908, 1909 and 1911. They won the competition in 1908, beating Shelbourne 3-1 in a replay after initially drawing 1-1.

Athlone Town

In 1924 Hannon helped Athlone Town win the FAI Cup, beating Bohemians and Shelbourne in early rounds, before scoring the winner as they defeated Fordsons in the final. Together with Tommy Muldoon, Frank Ghent, Paddy Reilly and John Joe Dykes, Hannon was one of five Athlone Town players subsequently included in the Irish Free State squad for the 1924 Olympics Games.^[1]

Irish international

When Hannon began his international career in 1908, Ireland was represented by a single team, selected by the Belfast-based Irish Football Association. However during the 1920s, Ireland was partitioned into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. Amid these political upheavals, a rival association, the Football Association of Ireland, emerged in Dublin and from 1924 organised their own national team. As a result several notable Irish players from this era, including Hannon played for both teams – the IFA XI and also the FAI XI.

IFA XI

Between 1908 and 1913, while playing for Bohemians, Hannon then made 6 appearances and scored 1 goal for the IFA XI. He made his international debut on February 15, 1908 in a 3-1 defeat against England at the Solitude Ground. Hannon soon scored on his debut, but this would prove to be his first and last goal at international level. He made his second appearance against Scotland on March 14, 1908 in a 5-0 defeat at Dalymount Park. He went onto to make three appearances against England, two against Scotland and one against Wales. He made his last appearance for the IFA XI on February 15, 1913 in a 2-1 win against England at Windsor Park. This was the first time they ever had beat England. While playing for the IFA XI, Hannon’s team mates included Billy Scott, Val Harris, Bill Lacey and Billy Gillespie ^{[2] [3]}

Irish Free State

In 1924 Hannon had made 2 appearances for the Irish Free State. Together with Paddy Duncan, Tommy Muldoon and Joe Kendrick he had competed in the Paris Olympics. He made his debut for the Irish Free State against Bulgaria in their first ever senior international on May 28, 1924. As a result of winning this game they qualified for the quarter-finals of the competition. Hannon also played in this game on June 2, a 2-1 extra-time defeat against the Netherlands . ^[4] Hannon, aged 36, was a veteran during this era of his career and was one of the oldest players ever to play Olympic football. ^[5] Hannon captained Ireland in both games and although amateur internationals, Olympic Games matches in Paris are recognised by FIFA as full internationals.^[6]

Honours

Bohemians

• Irish Cup
  • Winners 1908: 1
  • Runners Up 1909, 1911: 2

Athlone Town

• FAI Cup
  • Winners 1924: 1

References

1. ^ History of Athlone Town
2. ^ Scotland results at Rsssf
3. ^ England results at Rsssf
4. ^ 1924 Olympic Games at Rsssf
5. ^ Oldest Olympic players
6. ^ When We Were Kings book

External links

• Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
• Hannon's Olympic record

Persondata
Name	Hannon, Denis
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1888
Place of birth	Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland
Date of death
Place of death