 | |||
| Sport: | Football | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish: | Dún na nGall[1] | ||
| Nickname(s): | The Tír Chonaill men[2] | ||
| County board: | Donegal GAA | ||
| Manager: | Jim McGuinness | ||
| Captain: | Patrick McBrearty | ||
| Most appearances: | Neil McGee (195) | ||
| Top scorer: | Michael Murphy (500+) | ||
| Home venue(s): | MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey[1] | ||
| Recent competitive record | |||
| Current All-Ireland status: | Ulster W in 2024 | ||
| Last championship title: | 2012 | ||
| Current NFL Division: | 1 (4th in 2022) | ||
| Last league title: | 2007 | ||
| |||
The Donegal county football team (/ˌdʌnɪˈɡɔːl, ˌdɒn-/ DUN-ig-AWL, DON-) represents Donegal in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Donegal GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Ulster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.
Donegal's home ground is MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey. The team's manager is Jim McGuinness.
Donegal was the third Ulster county to win an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC), following Cavan and Down. The team last won the Ulster Senior Championship in 2024, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 2012 and the National League in 2007.
The team is a major force in the sport.[3] Currently regarded as one of the best teams in the sport,[4] Karl Lacey won the 2012 All Stars Footballer of the Year, Michael Murphy won the 2009 All Stars Young Footballer of the Year and Ryan McHugh won the 2014 All Stars Young Footballer of the Year, while numerous other players have been selected on All Star teams. Donegal players comprised most of the 2012 All Stars Team of the Year, as well as all three nominations for Footballer of the Year, ultimately won by Lacey.[5] In addition, having been invited to assist the Celtic association football club in Scotland, Donegal manager Jim McGuinness became the first Gaelic football inter-county manager to have been offered a role at a professional sports team abroad.[6] McGuinness's services have also been sought by Premier League clubs.[7] In terms of style, "the system" deployed by McGuinness's team was likened to that of the Spanish association football team FC Barcelona.[8][9]
Donegal is one of only five counties to have defeated Kerry in their first Championship meeting — the others being Down (1960), Derry (1958), Dublin (1893) and Cork (1889).[10] Distances to games involving provincial opponents have been a problem.[11]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Ulster_GAAwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Bonner happy with his lot". Hogan Stand. 30 May 2021.
For the second game running, the Tír Chonaill men came from behind to salvage a point as a late effort from man-of-the-match Paddy McBrearty secured them a place in the Allianz League Division 1 semi-finals at Armagh's expense.
- ^ "Colm McFadden praises role of Donegal boss Jim McGuinness". BBC Sport. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Football rankings: How does your county rate?". Hogan Stand. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ^ "Donegal's Karl Lacey is named Gaelic Footballer of 2012". BBC Sport. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ Moran, Seán (9 November 2012). "McGuinness move would be huge blow to Donegal". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
Whereas the GAA has sustained a modest loss of players to the AFL over the years this is the first time that a top-rank inter-county manager has been offered a job in professional sport. McGuinness is unusual in the ranks of All-Ireland winning managers in that he has extensive academic qualifications in both sports science and sports psychology, in which he holds a masters degree.
- ^ "Donegal dismiss reports linking Jim McGuinness to Liverpool FC". RTÉ Sport. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ O'Shea, Joe (27 August 2012). "Donegal one step from Sam after 20-year wait". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
Cork never really got going. Outnumbered, out-sung and watching a supposedly 'negative' team suddenly transform themselves into the FC Barcelona of Gaelic football, the Rebels were left muttering about 'lads who didn't show up' and a manager who, to many of them at least, made some questionable calls…
- ^ "Jimmy's like Messi! Donegal are the Barcelona of GAA, say Cork legends". 27 August 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
Double All-Ireland winner Tony Davis… reckons Donegal play GAA the way Barcelona play soccer!
- ^ "Kerry full-house awaits Kilkenny". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ O'Kane, Cahair (28 May 2019). "Devenney criticises decision to overlook Celtic Park in favour of Breffni". The Irish News. Retrieved 28 May 2019.