Conor McCarthy (Monaghan Gaelic footballer)

Conor McCarthy (born 7 August 1995) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for the Monaghan county team and the Scotstown club.

Conor McCarthy
Personal information
Irish name Concobhar Mac Cárthaigh
Sport Gaelic football
Position Left half-back
Born (1995-08-07) 7 August 1995
San Francisco, California, United States
Club(s)
Years Club
 Scotstown
Club titles
Monaghan titles 8
Colleges(s)
Years College
 University College Dublin
College titles
Sigerson titles 2
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
2016–
 Monaghan
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 0
All Stars 0

Early life

McCarthy spent the first eight years of his life in San Francisco, before moving to Scotstown. He took up Gaelic football shortly after arriving, and reportedly developed "a love of the game" from the first training session.[1]

Playing career

University

During his studies at University College Dublin, McCarthy was a regular on their senior football team. On 20 February 2016, McCarthy started the Sigerson Cup final against Dublin City University. McCarthy scored two points as UCD won their first Sigerson title in 20 years.[2]

On 18 February 2017, McCarthy was in the half-forward line for the Sigerson Cup final against St Mary's University College, Belfast. UCD took an early lead through two goals from Colm Basquel. McCarthy added two points, but St Mary's came back to win the final by a point.[3] McCarthy was named on the Sigerson Cup team of the year at the end of the season.[4]

McCarthy started his third Sigerson final on 17 February 2018, where UCD faced NUI Galway. McCarthy top-scored with 1–6, and a late Liam Casey point sealed a one-point win for UCD.[5] McCarthy was later named on the Sigerson Cup team of the year for a second time.[6]

Club

On 13 October 2013, McCarthy was at corner-forward as Scotstown faced Clontibret O'Neills in the final of the Monaghan Senior Football Championship, scoring 0–3 in a comfortable win for Scotstown.[7] The same two teams met in the 2014 final, with Clontibret winning the final by a point.[8] McCarthy won his second county final in 2015, scoring 1–2 in the nine-point win over Monaghan Harps.[9] On 29 November 2015, Scotstown faced Crossmaglen Rangers in the final of the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship. McCarthy scored two points as Crossmaglen claimed a five-point win after extra-time.[10]

Scotstown won the county final in 2016,[11] but McCarthy didn't feature through injury. The 2017 final saw Scotstown against Magheracloone Mitchells. McCarthy finished with a personal tally of 1–8 as Scotstown were ten-point winners.[12] Scotstown played Ballybay Pearse Brothers in the 2018 final, with McCarthy scoring 1–3 as Scotstown won their fourth title in a row.[13] On 2 December 2018, McCarthy played in his second Ulster club final against Gaoth Dobhair, scoring a point as Scotstown suffered another extra-time loss.[14] In the 2019 county final, Clontibret ended Scotstown's five-in-a-row bid with a 1–14 to 0–11 win.[15]

Scotstown won back the county title in 2020, with McCarthy scoring 1–5 in the final against Ballybay.[16] McCarthy scored 1–1 in the 2021 final against Truagh Gaels as Scotstown defended their title.[17] Scotstown played in their tenth final in a row in 2022, with Ballybay coming out winners by 1–11 to 1–8.[18] Scotstown regained the title in 2023, McCarthy scoring two points in the win over Inniskeen.[19]

Minor and under-21

On 22 July 2012, McCarthy was in the half-forward line as the Monaghan minor team faced Tyrone in the Ulster final. McCarthy scored 1–2, but Tyrone were three-point winners.[20] On 21 July 2013, McCarthy was in the full forward against Tyrone in his second consecutive Ulster final, scoring a point in their 4–10 to 2–14 win.[21] In the All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo, McCarthy finished with a personal tally of 1–4 as Monaghan suffered a heavy defeat.[22]

On 6 April 2016, McCarthy scored three points in Monaghan's two-point win over Tyrone in the Ulster under-21 final.[23] In the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork, McCarthy scored three points, but Cork won the match by 2–15 to 1–16.[24]

Senior

McCarthy joined the Monaghan senior panel in 2016, and made his championship debut on 5 June, scoring two points in a win over Down.[25] Monaghan reached the All-Ireland semi-final for the first time in 30 years in 2018,[26] facing Tyrone on 12 August. McCarthy scored 0–3, but Tyrone won the match by a point.[27]

On 22 May 2021, McCarthy scored a hat-trick against Donegal in a National League match, the game ended in a draw.[28] On 31 July, McCarthy played in his first Ulster final, with Monaghan facing Tyrone at Croke Park. McCarthy scored two points, but Tyrone held on to win the match by 0–16 to 0–15.[29]

In the 2023 season, McCarthy was converted to a half-back role by manager Vinny Corey.[30] On 25 June, McCarthy scored 1–2, including a 75th minute winning point, as Monaghan beat Kildare in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.[31] In the quarter-final against Armagh, McCarthy scored three points as Monaghan advanced to the semi-final after a penalty shoot-out.[32] Dublin ended Monaghan's season in the semi-final with a seven-point win.[33] At the end of the season, McCarthy was named on The Sunday Game Team of the Year,[34] and was nominated for an All-Star award.[35]

Honours

Monaghan

UCD

Scotstown

Individual

  • The Sunday Game Team of the Year: 2023
  • GAA Higher Education Rising Stars Football Team: 2017, 2018

References
  1. Loughran, Neil (1 February 2017). "Overcoming obstacles is nothing new for Monaghan's Conor McCarthy". The Irish News. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  2. Duffy, Cóilín (20 February 2016). "UCD end 20-year wait for Sigerson Cup glory". RTÉ. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  3. Fallon, John (19 February 2017). "St Mary's edge UCD to claim Sigerson Cup". RTÉ. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  4. "Independent.ie Football & Hurling Rising Stars for 2017 Announced". Gaelic Athletic Association. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  5. Keane, Paul (17 February 2018). "UCD pip NUIG in nailbiting Sigerson Cup final". RTÉ. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  6. "Electric Ireland HE GAA Rising Stars announced". Gaelic Athletic Association. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  7. "Scotstown finally lift senior title after wait of 20 years". Belfast Telegraph. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  8. "McManus shines as Clontibret stage late smash-and-grab". Irish Independent. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  9. "Superb McCarthy leads Scotstown back to the summit". Irish Independent. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  10. Bannon, Orla (29 November 2015). "Crossmaglen come out on top after epic Scotstown battle". RTÉ. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  11. "Two second-half goals help Scotstown retain Monaghan title". The Irish Times. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  12. Graham, John (15 October 2017). "Scotstown power to impressive Monaghan triumph". RTÉ. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  13. Loughran, Neil (8 October 2018). "Scotstown hold off late Ballybay surge to seal fourth Monaghan title in-a-row". The Irish News. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  14. Mooney, Francis (2 December 2018). "Gaoth Dobhair edge out Scotstown in extra-time to win historic Ulster title". RTÉ. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  15. Shalvey, Colm (20 October 2019). "Monaghan SFC Final: McManus inspires Clontibret". Gaelic Athletic Association. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  16. Graham, John (20 September 2020). "Scotstown return to the summit in Monaghan with comfortable win over Ballybay". RTÉ. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  17. Shalvey, Colm (7 November 2021). "Scotstown overcome battling Truagh to win another Monaghan title". RTÉ. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  18. Shalvey, Colm (16 October 2022). "Ballybay claim first Monaghan title since 2012". RTÉ. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  19. Shalvey, Colm (22 October 2023). "Scotstown triumph over Inniskeen in Monaghan SFC final". RTÉ. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  20. "Ulster MFC Final: Tyrone 0–14 Monaghan 1–8". Monaghan GAA. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  21. Campbell, John (22 July 2013). "Monaghan stun Tyrone in comeback thriller". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  22. "Mayo minors book final berth with convincing win over Monaghan". Irish Examiner. 25 August 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  23. Mooney, Francis (7 April 2016). "Monaghan defeat All-Ireland champions Tyrone in Ulster Under-21 final". RTÉ. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  24. Keane, Paul (16 April 2016). "Cork see off Monaghan in Under-21 semi-final". RTÉ. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  25. Mooney, Francis (5 June 2016). "Monaghan rout disappointing Down at Clones". RTÉ. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  26. Sweeney, Peter (4 August 2018). "Jubilant Monaghan make first All-Ireland SFC semi-final in 30 years". RTÉ. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  27. Mooney, Francis (12 August 2018). "Late goal sees Tyrone pip Monaghan in tense semi-final". RTÉ. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  28. McNulty, Chris (22 May 2021). "Paddy McBrearty hauls Donegal back to share spoils with after Monaghan's Conor McCarthy bags first half hat-trick". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  29. Crowe, Dermot (31 July 2021). "Tyrone withstand Monaghan comeback at Croke Park to claim Anglo-Celt Cup by slimmest of margins". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  30. "Adrenaline rush for Monaghan match-winner Conor McCarthy". RTÉ. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  31. Clerkin, Malachy (25 June 2023). "Conor McCarthy drills the winner as Monaghan outlast Kildare to reach All-Ireland quarter-final". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  32. Bannon, Dan (2 July 2023). "Monaghan hold their nerve in shootout against Armagh to reach All-Ireland SFC semi-final". RTÉ. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  33. Neville, Conor (16 July 2023). "Dublin survive bracing contest with impressive Monaghan". RTÉ. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  34. "James McCarthy leads the way in Sunday Game Team of the Year". RTÉ. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  35. "PwC GAA/GPA Gaelic Football All-Star nominations announced". Gaelic Athletic Association. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
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