2019 Donegal county football team season
The following is a summary of Donegal county football team's 2019 season.
| 2019 season | |
|---|---|
| Manager | Declan Bonner |
| Stadium | MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey |
| NFL D2 | 2nd (promoted) |
| All-Ireland SFC | Quarter-finalist |
| Ulster SFC | Winners |
Neil McGee equalled Colm McFadden's record of 173 appearances for Donegal when he came on as a second half substitute in the final round of the 2019 National Football League, a victory over Kildare.[1] He then broke McFadden's record with his 174th appearance for his county against Meath as a substitute in the final at Croke Park, also won by Donegal.[2]
The 2019 season started with a 0-21 to 0-11 defeat of Queen's in the 2019 Dr McKenna Cup at MacCumhail Park on 30 December 2018. Ciarán Thompson was man of the match and scored four of Donegal's points.[3]
Two players started all 18 matches in 2019: these were Jamie Brennan and Hugh McFadden. Niall O'Donnell played each match too, though only as a substitute in the championship meeting with Fermanagh. Paul Brennan only missed one of the eighteen games, though he began just five of these. Jason McGee played in all matches except for the 2019 National Football League fixture with Cork, which he missed due to suspension.[3]
Personnel changes
Oisín Gallen became an "impact sub" during the championship; this was despite him not being part of the Donegal panel at the start of the 2019 season. He was called up over the course of the McKenna Cup as Donegal were short on numbers.[3]
Aaron Doherty began training with the panel in April, shortly after Eoghan McGettigan joined.[4]
Cian Mulligan opted to depart from the panel.[5] Conor Morrison played six games in the 2019 season before deciding to depart in March.[5] In March, Martin McElhinney informed the team manager of his decision to withdraw from the panel, following the team's victory against Armagh in the 2019 National Football League. McElhinney had been an unused substitute in that game and the game before, though he had played in three earlier games of that year's league.[6] In April, Martin O'Reilly withdrew from the panel ahead of the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship after experiencing limited match time during the 2019 National Football League.[7]
Also opting to depart for the 2019 season were Kilcar trio Mark McHugh, Ciaran McGinley and Stephen McBrearty.[8] Following the death of a clubmate in a car accident in January 2019, Odhrán Mac Niallais opted out of the Donegal panel.[9]
Michael Carroll returned to the panel after leaving the previous year.[10]
Competitions
Dr McKenna Cup
National Football League Division 2
Donegal qualified for the Division 2 Final, which they won.
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Meath |
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 111 | 84 | +27 | 12 | Advance to Division 2 Final |
| 2 | Donegal |
7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 112 | 94 | +18 | 10 | |
| 3 |  Fermanagh |
7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 69 | 74 | −5 | 8 | |
| 4 |  Kildare |
7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 87 | 93 | −6 | 7 | |
| 5 |  Armagh |
7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 101 | 97 | +4 | 6 | |
| 6 |  Clare |
7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 107 | 113 | −6 | 5 | |
| 7 |  Cork |
7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 91 | 112 | −21 | 5 | Relegation to Division 3 |
| 8 |  Tipperary |
7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 99 | 110 | −11 | 3 |
Updated to match(es) played on 1 April 2019. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: 1) League points; 2) Where two teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the League; 3) Score difference – subtracting the total scores against from the scores for; 4) Highest total score for; 5) Highest total goals for; 6) A play-off.
Rules for classification: 1) League points; 2) Where two teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the League; 3) Score difference – subtracting the total scores against from the scores for; 4) Highest total score for; 5) Highest total goals for; 6) A play-off.
Reports
| 27 January 2019 Round 1 | Clare | 0-13 (13) – (16) 0-16 | Donegal | Ennis | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 GMT (UTC+0) | Venue: Cusack Park | ||||
| Report | Referee: Padraig O'Sullivan (Kerry)
|
| 2 February 2019 Round 2 | Donegal | 1-13 (16) – (14) 0-14 | Meath | Ballybofey | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 GMT (UTC+0) | Venue: MacCumhaill Park | ||||
| Report | Referee: Jerome Henry (Meath)
|
| 10 February 2019 Round 3 | Tipperary | 3-09 (18) – (13) 0-13 | Donegal | Thurles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 GMT (UTC+0) | Venue: Semple Stadium | ||||
| Report Report |
|
| 24 February 2019 Round 4 | Donegal | 0-10 (10) – (13) 0-13 | Fermanagh | Letterkenny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 GMT (UTC+0) | Venue: O'Donnell Park | ||||
| Report |
|
| 2 March 2019 Round 5 | Donegal | 1-09 (12) – (11) 0-11 | Armagh | Ballybofey | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:15 GMT (UTC+0) | Venue: MacCumhaill Park | ||||
| Report |
|
| 16 March 2019 Round 6 | Cork | 1-12 (15) – (22) 1-19 | Donegal | Cork | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 GMT (UTC+0) | Venue: Pairc Uí Rinn | ||||
| Report |
|
Ulster Senior Football Championship
Donegal retained the Ulster title.
Bracket
| Preliminary round 12 May 2019 | Quarter-finals 18, 19, 25, 26 May 2019 | Semi-finals 2 & 8 June 2019 | Final 23 June 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
 Cavan
| 1-13 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Monaghan
| 0-12 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cavan (R) | 0-17 0-23 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Armagh (R) | 1-14 0-17 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Down
| 3-13 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Armagh
| 2-17 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cavan
| 2-16 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Donegal
| 1-24 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fermanagh
| 0-09 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Donegal
| 0-15 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Donegal
| 1-16 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Tyrone
| 0-15 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Antrim
| 2-09 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tyrone
| 1-19 | Tyrone
| 2-23 | ||||||||||||||||
| Derry
| 1-13 | ||||||||||||||||||
Reports
| Fermanagh |
0-09 (09) – (15) 0-15 | Donegal |
|---|---|---|
| (HT: 0-4 – 0-5) | ||
Pts: Ultan Kelm 2, Conall Jones 2 (2f), Ciaran Corrigan 2, Ryan Jones 1, Seán Quigley 1, Barry Mulrone 1 |
Pts: Patrick McBrearty 5 (2f), Jamie Brennan 4, Michael Murphy 2, Michael Langan 1, Jason McGee 1, Leo McLoone 1, Ciarán Thompson 1 | |
| Donegal |
1-16 (19) – (15) 0-15 | Tyrone |
|---|---|---|
| (HT: 1-9 – 0-5) | ||
| Gls: Jamie Brennan 1 Pts: Michael Murphy 5 (2f, 1 '45'), Jamie Brennan 3, Patrick McBrearty 3 (1f), Ryan McHugh 1, Michael Langan 1, Eoin McHugh 1, Hugh McFadden 1, Stephen McMenamin 1 |
Pts: Cathal McShane 4 (3f), Darren McCurry 3 (1f), Richard Donnelly 2, Kieran McGeary 2, Niall Morgan 2 (1f, 1 '45'), Michael Cassidy 1, Mattie Donnelly 1 | |
| Cavan |
2-16 (22) – (27) 1-24 | Donegal |
|---|---|---|
| (HT: 0-5 – 0-13) | ||
| Gls: Conor Madden 1, Stephen Murray 1 Pts: Gearoid McKiernan 6 (2f), Dara McVeety 3, Conor Moynagh 1, Conor Brady 1, Oisin Pierson 1, Conor Madden 1, Cian Mackey 1, Caoimhin O'Reilly 1, Jack Brady 1 |
Gls: Jamie Brennan 1 Pts: Patrick McBrearty 5 (1f), Jamie Brennan 4, Michael Murphy 4 (2f), Jason McGee 2, Ciarán Thompson 2, Ryan McHugh 1, Eoghan Bán Gallagher 1, Hugh McFadden 1, Niall O'Donnell 1, Michael Langan 1, Daire Ó Baoill 1, Oisín Gallen 1 | |
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Quarter-Finals Group 1 table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kerry |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 54 | +18 | 5 | Advance to semi-finals |
| 2 |  Mayo |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 55 | 52 | +3 | 4 | |
| 3 | Donegal |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 61 | 56 | +5 | 3 | |
| 4 | Meath |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 46 | 72 | −26 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 3 August 2019. Source:
Reports
| 14 July 2019 Phase 1 | Donegal |
2-19 (25) – (16) 1-13 | Meath |
Ballybofey | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-9 – 0-8) | Venue: MacCumhaill Park | |||
| Gls: Patrick McBrearty 1, Oisín Gallen 1 Pts: Patrick McBrearty 6 (2f), Michael Murphy 3 (1 '45'), Jamie Brennan 3, Ryan McHugh 2, Oisín Gallen 1, Niall O'Donnell 1, Michael Langan 1, Jason McGee 1, Eoin McHugh 1 |
Report | Gls: Mickey Newman 1 (1p) Pts: Bryan McMahon 0-3, Mickey Newman 2 (1f), Cillian O'Sullivan 2, Bryan Menton 2, James Conlon 1, James McEntee 1, Shane McEntee 1, Darragh Campion 1 |
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork) TV: Sky Sports
|
| 21 July 2019 Phase 2 | Kerry |
1-20 (23) – (23) 1-20 | Donegal |
Dublin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-10 – 0-9) | Venue: Croke Park | |||
| Gls: Paul Geaney 1 Pts: Paul Geaney 4, Sean O'Shea 4 (3f), David Clifford 3 (1f), Stephen O’Brien 3, Killian Spillane 3, Tom O’Sullivan 1, Jason Foley 1, Paul Murphy 1 |
Report | Gls: Michael Murphy 1 (1p) Pts: Michael Murphy 7 (4f), Patrick McBrearty 5 (3f), Ryan McHugh 2, Oisín Gallen 2, Michael Langan 2, Jason McGee 1, Niall O’Donnell 1 |
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon) TV: RTÉ
|
| 3 August 2019 Phase 3 | Mayo |
1-14 (17) – (13) 1-10 | Donegal |
Castlebar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-7 – 0-4) | Venue: MacHale Park | |||
| Gls: Cillian O’Connor 1 Pts: Cillian O’Connor 4 (4f), Paddy Durcan 3, James Carr 2, Andy Moran 2, Jason Doherty 1, Chris Barrett 1, Kevin McLoughlin 1 |
Report | Gls: Michael Murphy 1 (1p) Pts: Michael Murphy 4 (2f) Paddy McBrearty 2, Niall O’Donnell 2, Daire Ó Baoill 2 |
Referee: David Gough (Meath) Attendance: 27,369 TV: Sky Sports
|
Management team
- Confirmed in November 2017, with replacements noted:[11]
- Manager: Declan Bonner
- Assistant manager: Paul McGonigle,[12] not listed among November 2017 appointments
- Head coach: John McElholm[11]
- Coach: Gary Boyle[12]
- Selector: Stephen Rochford,[12] replacing Karl Lacey after 2018 season[13] but Lacey actually carried on until the end of 2020[14]
- Goalkeeping coach: Andrew McGovern[11]
- Strength and conditioning coach: Paul Fisher[15]
- Nutritionist: Ronan Doherty[11]
- Team physician: Kevin Moran[16]
- Physio: Cathal Ellis[16]
- Psychology and performance manager: Anthony McGrath,[11] previously involved with the minor team[17]
- Video analysis: Chris Byrne[11]
- Logistics: Packie McDyre[11]
- Kitman: Barry McBride[11]
Awards
All Stars
Michael Murphy won an All Star. Shaun Patton, Stephen McMenamin, Ryan McHugh, Jamie Brennan and Patrick McBrearty were also nominated.[18]
| Pos. | Player | Team | Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK |  Stephen CluxtonFOTY |
Dublin | 6 |
| RCB | Michael Fitzsimons |
Dublin | 2 |
| FB | Ronan McNamee |
Tyrone | 1 |
| LCB | Tom O'Sullivan |
Kerry | 1 |
| RWB | Patrick Durcan |
Mayo | 1 |
| CB | Brian Howard |
Dublin | 2 |
| LWB | Jack McCaffrey |
Dublin | 4 |
| MD | Brian Fenton |
Dublin | 4 |
| MD | David Moran |
Kerry | 2 |
| RWF | Paul Mannion |
Dublin | 3 |
| CF | Seán O'Shea |
Kerry | 1 |
| LWF |  Michael Murphy |
Donegal | 3 |
| RCF | David Clifford |
Kerry | 2 |
| FF | Cathal McShane |
Tyrone | 1 |
| LCF | Con O'Callaghan |
Dublin | 2 |
- County breakdown
- Dublin = 7
- Kerry = 4
- Tyrone = 2
- Mayo = 1
- Donegal = 1
Footballer of the Year
References
- Branigan, Peter (24 March 2019). "Murphy masterclass fires Donegal back to top flight". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
Neil McGee was introduced to equal the Donegal appearances record of Colm McFadden on 173.
- "Record breaking Neil McGee on a memorable night at Croke Park". Highland Radio. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
The Gaoth Dobhair full back broke the record for Donegal appearances on Saturday as he was launched from the bench in the first half to take to the field for the 174th time in a Donegal shirt…
- Ferry, Ryan (9 August 2019). "A–Z of Donegal's 2019 season". Donegal News. pp. 68–9.
- McNulty, Chris (24 April 2019). "Aaron Doherty joins up with Donegal senior football squad". Retrieved 24 April 2019.
The Naomh Columba man trained with Donegal last night for the first time, Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub can reveal… Bonner has also called up Naomh Conaill forward Eoghan McGettigan. Last week, McGettigan joined the senior ranks for the first time and, like Doherty, is now vying for a place in the Championship plans.
- Ferry, Ryan (28 November 2019). "Bonner boosted by young guns return". Donegal News. p. 80.
- McNulty, Chris (6 March 2019). "All-Ireland winner Martin McElhinney pulls out of Donegal panel". Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- McNulty, Chris (15 April 2019). "Martin O'Reilly withdraws from Donegal squad". Retrieved 15 April 2019.
- Craig, Frank (9 August 2019). "Kilcar lay league marker ahead of championship". Donegal News. p. 65.
- O'Brien, Kevin (15 April 2019). "MacNiallais: 'I'm not going back. I just have no real interest in football at the minute': The Gaoth Dobhair midfielder won't be involved with Donegal this summer". The42.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
- McNulty, Chris (13 February 2019). "Micheál Carroll will 'put shoulder to the wheel' for Donegal again in 2019". Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- "Bonner completes backroom team with new goalkeeping coach". 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- McLaughlin, Gerry (22 May 2019). "Paul McGonigle says Donegal are keeping their focus ahead of Fermanagh clash". The Irish News. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
Donegal manager Declan Bonner together with assistant manager Paul McGonigle, coach Gary Boyle and selector Stephen Rochford before the McKenna Cup match against Queens at Ballybofey on Sunday December 30 2018.
- "Stephen Rochford joins Donegal backroom team after Karl Lacey's departure". BBC. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
Rochford replaces Karl Lacey, who recently stepped away from the Donegal set up citing family reasons.
- "Karl Lacey leaves Declan Bonner's Donegal management team for family and work reasons". BBC. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- Watters, Andy (15 December 2020). "A level playing field? Donegal coach Paul Fisher laments lack of resources in quest to close gap on Dublin". The Irish News. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
But Paul Fisher, the man who has overseen that programme for the last six years has reluctantly decided that it is time to move on. With a gym to run, a family to support and a Masters to complete, the Letterkenny native has stepped down after playing a vital role in the successes of managers Jim McGuinness, Rory Gallagher and Declan Bonner.
- Craig, Frank (21 November 2020). "Morrison determined to make swift return". Donegal News. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
'But the Donegal medical team were on the ball right away. I'd two missed calls from Cathal Ellis before I even got my phone in my hand… Dr Kevin Moran organised the MRI for the Wednesday… Morrison anticipated bad news and was braced for the confirmation of Donegal physio Cathal Ellis' earlier prognosis.
- McNulty, Chris (1 August 2014). "It's all in the mind for Anthony McGrath". Donegal News. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- List of nominees
- "County Awards Night — Saturday November 23rd". 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
- "Rampant Donegal set new standard in Ulster", analysis by Martin Clarke for BBC Sport
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