Patrick Prendergast (1926 – 26 September 2021) was an Irish Gaelic footballer. At club level, he played with Dungloe and Ballintubber and was a member of the Donegal and Mayo senior football teams. He usually lined out as a full-back.
Prendergast won consecutive All-Ireland Senior Football Championship titles with Mayo in 1950 and 1951. At his death he was the last surviving member of the fifteen who lined out in the 1951 final.
Early life and career Prendergast was born in Ballintubber, County Mayo, in 1926, and began playing football with the local club. He joined the Garda Síochána and in 1946 was posted to Dungloe in the Rosses in west County Donegal, where he played with the local club and was called up to the Donegal senior football team.
Mayo Prendergast declared for his native county in 1948. His first season ended in defeat by Cavan in the All-Ireland final, but brought the first of four consecutive Connacht Senior Football Championship titles.
He was at full-back when Mayo beat Louth in the 1950 final and Meath in the 1951 final to take back-to-back All-Ireland titles.
Playing career
Although born in Ballintubber, County Mayo, Prendergast first came to prominence with the Dungloe club in County Donegal. His performances at club level earned a call-up to the Donegal senior football team. After a number of years with Donegal, Prendergast declared for the Mayo senior football team in 1948. His debut season with his native county saw him win the first of four consecutive Connacht Championship titles, however, the season ended with an All-Ireland final defeat by Cavan. Prendergast lined out at full-back when Mayo won back-to-back All-Ireland Championship titles after defeats of Louth in 1950 and Meath in 1951. He continued to line out with the team until 1956, by which time he had claimed a fifth Connacht Championship title as well as two National League titles. Prendergast was also a Railway Cup-winner with Connacht.
Personal life and death Paddy spent his entire working career as a member of the Garda Síochána. After being initially stationed in Dungloe, County Donegal, he was later posted back to Mayo and eventually settled in Tralee, County Kerry.
Prendergast died on 26 September 2021, at the age of 95. He was the last surviving member of Mayo's 1951 All-Ireland final-winning starting fifteen.
Honours
Mayo All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 1950, 1951 Connacht Senior Football Championship: 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1955 National Football League: 1948–49, 1953–54
Connacht Railway Cup: 1951
References