Stephen Melia

Stephen Melia
Personal information
Irish name Stiofán Ó'Máille
Sport Gaelic football
Position half-back
Born 1962
Ardee, County Louth
Died 23 October 2015(2015-10-23) (aged 53)
Occupation Great Northern Brewery employee
Club(s)
Years Club
 John Mitchels
O'Dwyer's (Dublin)
St Joseph's
Club titles
Louth titles 1
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
1984–2001
 Louth
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 0

Stephen Melia (1962 – 23 October 2015) was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Louth county team. At club level he represented John Mitchels, O'Dwyer's and St Joseph's.

Known for his fitness,[1] Melia made a total of 179 appearances for his county over seventeen years. During that time he won National League, O'Byrne Cup and All-Ireland B honours. He assisted manager Paddy Clarke as a selector for the final two years of his Louth career.[2] He again filled the role of Louth selector during the managerial reign of Eamonn McEneaney.

He was frequently selected on the Leinster panel for Railway Cup matches. In the 1993 final he lined out at left half-back in a three-point defeat to Ulster.[3]

At the age of 44 in 2006, Melia appeared in his first ever Louth SFC final, lining out for the "underdog" St Joseph's against St Patrick's. St Joseph's won the game by four points.[4]

Melia died in October 2015 after battling Motor Neurone Disease.[5][6]

Honours

John Mitchels
St Joseph's
Louth

References

  1. ^ "Former Louth footballer Stephen Melia has died". Irish Mirror. 23 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Louth mourns the death of football legend Stephen Melia". Irish Independent. 24 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Former Louth great Stephen Melia passes away". Irish Times. 23 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Melia a Wee bit special for Joe's". Irish Independent. 9 October 2006.
  5. ^ "Mauretta's journey for her beloved brother Stephen". Drogheda Independent. 7 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Stephen Melia RIP". Hogan Stand. 23 October 2015.
  7. ^ "'B' title is honey sweet for Louth". Irish Independent. 10 November 1997.
  8. ^ "Louth savour their day in the sun". Irish Times. 8 May 2000.