2018 Donegal county football team season explained

Club:Donegal county football team
Season:2018
Manager:Declan Bonner
Stadium:MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
League:NFL D1
League Result:7th (relegated)
Cup1:All-Ireland SFC
Cup1 Result:Quarter-finalist
Cup2:Ulster SFC
Cup2 Result:Winners
Cup3:Dr McKenna Cup
Cup3 Result:Winners
Prevseason:2017
Nextseason:2019

The following is a summary of Donegal county football team's 2018 season.

Personnel changes

Declan Bonner began his second spell in charge of the team. John McElholm was appointed team trainer and Gary Boyle coach. Paul Fisher led the strength and conditioning team, Ronan Doherty joined as nutritionist and Cathal Ellis was there as physiotherapist, psychologist Anthony McGrath and video analyst Chris Byrne.[1] Karl Lacey also became part of the coaching team ahead of the 2018 season.[2]

Nathan Mullins, son of former Dublin player Brian, played for Donegal during the 2018 season.[3] [4] He made his debut against Queen's in the 2018 Dr McKenna Cup.[5]

Kevin McBrearty, who had first been called up ahead of the 2015 Dr McKenna Cup,[6] played in the 2018 National Football League.[7]

Goalkeeper Shaun Patton came into the team versus Kildare in the National Football League. He began training in January 2018.[8] Peter Boyle quit in a dispute over Patton replacing him in the team.[9] Mark Anthony McGinley, the other goalkeeper, also quit the county panel — and the sport entirely.[10]

Eoin McHugh was not involved for the 2018 season, electing to go to Boston instead.[11] Michael Carroll also left the panel.[12]

Jason McGee and Niall O'Donnell both missed the 2018 championship after deciding to play for the under-20 team instead.[13]

Karl Lacey retired at the end of the previous season.[14]

Leo McLoone returned after voluntarily departing the previous year.[15] Likewise Odhrán Mac Niallais.[16] And Anthony Thompson.[17]

Competitions

Dr McKenna Cup

See main article: 2018 Dr McKenna Cup.

Donegal won the McKenna Cup in 2018.

National Football League Division 1

See main article: 2018 National Football League (Ireland). Fixtures for the 2018 National League were announced on 13 October 2017.[18]

Fixtures

Ulster Senior Football Championship

See main article: 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship. The draw for the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship took place on 19 October 2017.[19] Donegal won their first Ulster title for four years.

Fixtures

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

See main article: 2018 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

Fixtures

Management team

Confirmed in November 2017:[20]

Declan Bonner

Gary Boyle[21]

Karl Lacey until end of 2018 season[22] but Lacey actually carried on until the end of 2020[23]

Andrew McGovern[20]

Paul Fisher[24]

Ronan Doherty[20]

Kevin Moran

Cathal Ellis[25]

Packie McDyre[20]

Barry McBride[20]

Awards

Player of the Year

Eoghan Bán Gallagher[27]

GAA.ie Football Team of the Week

Donegal News Sports Personality of the Month

Eoghan Bán Gallagher

June[34]

The Irish News Ulster All Stars

Eoghan Bán Gallagher (first appearance), Michael Murphy (sixth appearance) and Ryan McHugh (fourth appearance) were all included.[35]

The Sunday Game Team of the Year

The Sunday Game selected Eoghan Bán Gallagher at left corner-back on its Team of the Year.[36]

All Stars

Ryan McHugh won an All Star. Eoghan Bán Gallagher and Michael Murphy were also nominated.[37]

Pos.PlayerTeamAppearances
GK Rory BegganMonaghan1
RCB Jonny CooperDublin2
FB Colm CavanaghTyrone2
LCB Pádraig Hampsey1
RWB Karl O'ConnellMonaghan1
CB James McCarthyDublin3
LWB Jack McCaffreyDublin3
MD Brian FentonFOTYDublin3
MD Brian HowardDublin1
RWF Paul MannionDublin2
CF Ciarán KilkennyDublin3
LWF Ryan McHughDonegal2
RCF David CliffordKerry1
FF Conor McManusMonaghan3
LCF Ian BurkeGalway1
County breakdown

Notes and References

  1. News: Chris. McNulty. Declan Bonner's backroom team ratified by county committee. 10 October 2017. 10 October 2017.
  2. News: Fintan. O'Toole. Multi All-Star winner confirmed as part of Donegal's coaching team for next season. The42.ie. 10 October 2017. 10 October 2017.
  3. News: Nathan Mullins not content to give up on Donegal dream. The Irish News. 17 April 2020. 17 April 2020. Nathan Mullins joined the Donegal squad amid much fanfare ahead of the 2018 season and the son of Dublin legend Brian was instantly handed National League starts against Dublin and Kerry. The holder of an Ulster medal from that summer, the St Vincent's clubman tells Cahair O'Kane about how that year unfolded and why he hasn't given up hope yet of playing for Donegal again….
  4. News: Mullins set to join Donegal panel. Donegal News. 9 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171114044521/https://donegalnews.com/2017/11/mullins-set-join-donegal-panel/. 14 November 2017.
  5. News: Gerry. McLaughlin. Michael Langan impresses as Donegal get the better of Queen's. The Irish News. 4 January 2018. 4 January 2018.
  6. News: Harry. Walsh. Thirteen new faces on Gallagher's first Donegal panel. Donegal News. 21 December 2014. 21 December 2014. Other new names on the Donegal panel include… Kevin McBrearty (Four Masters)….
  7. News: Alan. Foley. Last-gasp Galway snatch victory in Donegal to make it two from two. The42.ie. 4 February 2018. 4 February 2018.
  8. News: Paul. Dollery. From a League of Ireland debut at 16 to the Donegal senior panel in 2018: Shaun Patton is leaving professional football behind to pursue success in a different code. The42.ie. 14 January 2018. 14 January 2018.
  9. News: Gerry. McLaughlin. Mark Anthony McGinley return a boost for Donegal. The Irish News. 8 March 2018. 8 March 2018. Boyle quit the panel after the match against Kildare in Ballyshannon after former Sligo Rovers 'keeper Shaun Patton replaced him for that match..
  10. News: McGinley has no regrets. Donegal News. 26 July 2019. 26 July 2019. McGinley was part of the Donegal panel at the start of the year, and the goalkeeper position was rotated between him and Shaun Patton in the early stages of the league. Eventually Donegal manager Declan Bonner decided to go with Patton as his first choice on St Patrick's weekend, and McGinley decided shortly after that to leave the panel..
  11. News: McHugh chasing elusive first medal. Donegal News. 21 June 2019. 21 June 2019. [Eoin] McHugh took a year out from the Donegal camp last season and headed to Boston, and he subsequently missed out as the senior squad landed the Anglo Celt Cup. Jason McGee was also missing for that triumph, but he has an Ulster Minor Championship medal, so that leaves McHugh and newbies Oisin Gallen and Aaron Doherty as the only members of the squad who haven't claimed provincial honours with the county..
  12. News: Chris. McNulty. Micheál Carroll will 'put shoulder to the wheel' for Donegal again in 2019. 13 February 2019. 13 February 2019. Carroll took a step back from the Donegal panel last spring….
  13. News: Chris. Cannon. Niall O'Donnell joins Donegal U-20s panel. 27 May 2018. 27 May 2018.
  14. News: Kevin. O'Brien. Donegal's Karl Lacey announces his retirement from inter-county football: Lacey won one All-Ireland and four All-Stars during an exceptional 14-year career. The42.ie. 31 August 2017. 31 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171006042821/http://www.the42.ie/karl-lacey-donegal-retired-3575400-Aug2017/. 6 October 2017.
  15. News: Chris. McNulty. 'A real leader' — Leo McLoone set for 100th Donegal appearance. 20 February 2019. 20 February 2019.
  16. News: Chris. McNulty. Odhrán Mac Niallais and Leo McLoone set for Donegal returns: Duo opted out of panel in 2017 and have spent summer playing in New York. The Irish Times. 24 September 2017. 24 September 2017.
  17. News: Chris. McNulty. Exclusive: 2012 All-Ireland winner to return from Donegal exile. 9 March 2018. 9 March 2018.
  18. News: Draft 2018 Allianz League fixtures released. Hogan Stand. 13 October 2017. 13 October 2017.
  19. The GAA . officialgaa . 921104000203751425 . 19 October 2017 . 2018 @UlsterGAA SFC QFs @TyroneGAALive v @monaghangaa & @OfficialDownGAA v @AontroimGAA . en . 24 December 2020.
  20. News: Bonner completes backroom team with new goalkeeping coach. 10 November 2017. 10 November 2017.
  21. News: Gerry. McLaughlin. Paul McGonigle says Donegal are keeping their focus ahead of Fermanagh clash. The Irish News. 22 May 2019. 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..
  22. News: Stephen Rochford joins Donegal backroom team after Karl Lacey's departure. BBC. 19 October 2018. 19 October 2018. Rochford replaces Karl Lacey, who recently stepped away from the Donegal set up citing family reasons..
  23. News: Karl Lacey leaves Declan Bonner's Donegal management team for family and work reasons. BBC. 4 January 2021. 4 January 2021.
  24. News: Andy. Watters. A level playing field? Donegal coach Paul Fisher laments lack of resources in quest to close gap on Dublin. The Irish News. 15 December 2020. 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..
  25. News: Frank. Craig. Morrison determined to make swift return. Donegal News. 21 November 2020. 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..
  26. News: Chris. McNulty. It's all in the mind for Anthony McGrath. Donegal News. 1 August 2014. 1 August 2014.
  27. News: CLG Dhún na nGall County Banquet & Awards Night. 20 November 2018. 20 November 2018.
  28. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 29 January 2018. 29 January 2018.
  29. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 12 February 2018. 12 February 2018.
  30. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 26 February 2018. 26 February 2018.
  31. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 11 June 2018. 11 June 2018.
  32. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 25 June 2018. 25 June 2018.
  33. News: GAA.ie Footballer of the Week nominations. 25 June 2018. 25 June 2018.
  34. News: Eoghan 'Ban' Gallagher savours Ulster triumph. Donegal News. 27 August 2018. 27 August 2018. Gallagher was this week revealed as the Donegal News Sports Personality of the Month award winner for June, and he was happy to reflect back on that famous win..
  35. News: Chris. McNulty. Three Ulster All-Stars on a night of celebration for Donegal. 14 September 2018. 14 September 2018.
  36. News: Chris. McNulty. Eoghan Ban Gallagher named on Sunday Game 'Team of the Year'. 2 September 2018. 2 September 2018.
  37. News: Fintan. O'Toole. 12 players from Dublin as 11 counties feature in 2018 All-Star football nominations: Tyrone, Monaghan, Galway, Kildare, Donegal, Kerry, Laois, Fermanagh, Armagh and Carlow also have nominees. The42.ie. 12 September 2018. 12 September 2018.

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