Tony Hadden


Anthony Hadden was a Northern Irish Gaelic footballer and selector. At club level, he played with Shamrocks GAC|Newry Shamrocks] and at inter-county level with the Down [senior football team].

Playing career

Hadden played Gaelic football at all levels during his time as a student at Abbey CBS in Newry. He later played with the Shamrocks club and won Down [Senior Football Championship|Down SFC] medals in 1956 and 1961.
At inter-county level, he first played for Down as part of the Minor team in 1954. He made his senior team debut in a Dr Lagan Cup game in September 1954. Hadden lined out with the All-Ireland [Junior Football Championship|junior team] in 1955, while he was on and off the senior team over the course of the following few years. He won an Ulster JFC medal in 1958.
Hadden won his first Ulster SFC medal in 1959. It was the first of three successive Ulster SFC titles, while he also claimed consecutive All-Ireland SFC medals in 1960 and 1961. Hadden won four Ulster SFC titles in all, as well as two National [Football League (Ireland)|National League] titles. He was also part of the Ulster team that claimed Railway Cup honours in 1960.

Management career

After bringing his inter-county career to an end in 1964, Hadden later moved to team management and coaching. In 1977, he was part of the team management that guided Down to a first All-Ireland MFC success with victory over Meath. In 1981, Hadden was a senior team selector when Down won the Ulster SFC title.

Death

Hadden died on 7 August 2025, at the age of 89.

Honours

Player

;Newry Shamrocks
;Down
;Ulster

Management

;Down