After a trial at Clyde Deacy made an impressive League of Ireland debut for Sligo Rovers away to Shelbourne at Harold's Cross Stadium on 14 December 1975.
Returning to his home club, Deacy scored Galway Rovers first goal in the League of Ireland on 2 October 1977.
The 21-year-old full back left Galway for Aston Villa in February 1979, after writing 12 letters to the club requesting a trial.
[6] He had a brief loan spell at Derby, where he played five games, before rejecting an offer of a new two-year deal from Villa to return home to Galway.
Deacy's first game back in the Maroon was in a League of Ireland Cup tie against Finn Harps on 2 September 1984.