James Keaveney (born 12 February 1945) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer. His league and championship career at senior level with the Dublin county team spanned sixteen seasons from 1964 to 1980. Keaveney is widely regarded as one of Dublin's greatest-ever players.
Born in Whitehall, Dublin, Keaveney's first sporting interest was in association football; however, he was later introduced to Gaelic games by his Belfast-born father. He was educated at St Joseph's Secondary School in Fairview where he favoured hurling over Gaelic football.
Keaveney first played competitive Gaelic games at underage levels with the St Vincent's club before later joining the club's senior team. Between 1964 and 1981 he won ten county football championship medals, and he won an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship medal in 1976. Keaveney also won two Leinster medals and three county hurling championship medals.
Keaveney made his debut on the inter-county scene when he was selected for the Dublin minor and under-21 teams. He made his senior debut during the 1964-65 league. Over the course of the following sixteen seasons, Keaveney won three All-Ireland medals, beginning with a lone triumph in 1974, followed by back-to-back championships in 1976 and 1977. He also won seven Leinster medals, two National Football League medals and was named Footballer of the Year in 1976 and 1977. He played his last game for Dublin in February 1980.
Playing career
Club
Keaveney played his club football with the famous St Vincent's club in Dublin and had much success during a career that spanned two decades.
He first came to prominence on the club scene as a member of the senior team in the early 1960s. In 1964 Keaveney lined out in his first county championship decider. Nearby rivals O'Toole's provided the opposition, however, at the full-time whistle St Vincent's were the champions and Keaveney picked up his first county senior championship winners' medal.
After surrendering their title in 1965 St Vincent's were back in the county championship decider again in 1966. Seán McDermott's were the opponents; however, Keaveney's side were too strong and regained the title. Both sides met again in 1967, and the result was the same. A win for St. Vincent's gave Keaveney a third county winners' medal in four years.
St. Vincent's failed to make any impact over the next few years and, after losing the county final of 1969, Keaveney's side had a chance to atone in the championship decider of 1970. Raheny were the opponents on that occasion and a close game developed. At the end of the sixty minutes St Vincent's were the champions by 1-10 to 1-8 and Keaveney added a fourth county medal to his collection.
Keaveney's side dominated the county club championship again in 1971. A defeat of Croabh Chiaráin allowed St Vincent's to retain their county title for the second year in succession.
In 1972, St Vincent's set out to win a third county title in-a-row. College side UCD provided the opposition on that occasion and a close game developed. Goals at key moments by St Vincent's proved the difference as Keaveny's side won by 2-8 to 0-9. It was his sixth county winners' medal. St Vincent's subsequently represented the county in the provincial club series of games and even reached the final. Westmeath champions the Downs were the opponents. The game turned into a complete rout as Keaveney's side took complete control. A 6-10 to 2-5 score line gave St Vincent's a first Leinster club title. An All-Ireland final against Cork champions Nemo Rangers followed for the Dublin club. The sides were level six times in that game and a pointed free by Keaveney in the dying seconds secured a draw. The replay saw St. Vincent's being completely outclassed as Nemo won by 4-6 to 0-10.
St Vincent's lost out to UCD in the next two county finals, however, both sides met in the championship decider for a fourth consecutive year in 1975. Keaveney's side were awarded the title after the collegians gave them a walkover due to the final clashing with the university exams. A second provincial championship decider quickly followed for Keaveney. St Joseph's, the Laois county champions, were the opposition and were defeated by 3-9 to 1-8. It was Keaveney's second Leinster club winners' medal. A second All-Ireland club final appearance followed with Roscommon Gaels lining out in opposition. The game was a complete mismatch as St Vincent's secured a huge 4-10 to 0-5 victory. It was Keaveney's first All-Ireland club winners' medal.