2019 Donegal county football team season explained

Club:Donegal county football team
Season:2019
Manager:Declan Bonner
Stadium:MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
League:NFL D2
League Result:2nd (promoted)
Cup1:All-Ireland SFC
Cup1 Result:Quarter-finalist
Cup2:Ulster SFC
Cup2 Result:Winners
Cup3:Dr McKenna Cup
Cup3 Result:Semi-finalist
Prevseason:2018
Nextseason:2020

The following is a summary of Donegal county football team's 2019 season.

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.[1]

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.[1]

Aaron Doherty began training with the panel in April, shortly after Eoghan McGettigan joined.[2]

Cian Mulligan opted to depart from the panel.[3] Conor Morrison played six games in the 2019 season before deciding to depart in March.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

Also opting to depart for the 2019 season were Kilcar trio Mark McHugh, Ciaran McGinley and Stephen McBrearty.[6] Following the death of a clubmate in a car accident in January 2019, Odhrán Mac Niallais opted out of the Donegal panel.[7]

Michael Carroll returned to the panel after leaving the previous year.[8]

Competitions

Dr McKenna Cup

See main article: 2019 Dr McKenna Cup. 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.[1]

Donegal qualified for the semi-final.

Fixtures

National Football League Division 2

See main article: 2019 National Football League (Ireland). 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.[9] 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.[10]

Donegal qualified for the Division 2 final, and won the game.

Fixtures

Ulster Senior Football Championship

See main article: 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship. Donegal retained the Ulster title.

Fixtures

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

See main article: 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

Fixtures

Management team

Confirmed in November 2017, with replacements noted:[11]

Declan Bonner

Gary Boyle[12]

Stephen Rochford,[12] replacing Karl Lacey after 2018 season[13] but Lacey actually carried on until the end of 2020[14]

Andrew McGovern[11]

Paul Fisher[15]

Ronan Doherty[11]

Kevin Moran

Cathal Ellis[16]

Packie McDyre[11]

Barry McBride[11]

Awards

Footballer of the Year

Michael Murphy[18]

GAA.ie Football Team of the Week

The Irish News Ulster All Stars

Shaun Patton, Stephen McMenamin, Paddy McGrath, Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Michael Murphy, Jamie Brennan and Patrick McBrearty were all included, and Murphy was named Player of the Year.[38]

The Sunday Game Team of the Year

The Sunday Game selected Michael Murphy on its Team of the Year.[39]

All Stars

Michael Murphy won an All Star. Shaun Patton, Stephen McMenamin, Ryan McHugh, Jamie Brennan and Patrick McBrearty were also nominated.[40]

Pos.PlayerTeamAppearances
GK Stephen CluxtonFOTYDublin6
RCB Michael FitzsimonsDublin2
FB Ronan McNameeTyrone1
LCB Tom O'Sullivan1
RWB Patrick DurcanMayo1
CB Brian HowardDublin2
LWB Jack McCaffreyDublin4
MD Brian FentonDublin4
MD David MoranKerry2
RWF Paul MannionDublin3
CF Seán O'SheaKerry1
LWF Michael MurphyDonegal3
RCF David CliffordKerry2
FF Cathal McShaneTyrone1
LCF Con O'CallaghanDublin2
County breakdown

References

Notes and References

  1. News: Ryan. Ferry. A–Z of Donegal's 2019 season. Donegal News. 9 August 2019. 68–9.
  2. News: Chris. McNulty. Aaron Doherty joins up with Donegal senior football squad. 24 April 2019. 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..
  3. News: Ryan. Ferry. Bonner boosted by young guns return. Donegal News. 28 November 2019. 80.
  4. News: Chris. McNulty. All-Ireland winner Martin McElhinney pulls out of Donegal panel. 6 March 2019. 6 March 2019.
  5. News: Chris. McNulty. Martin O'Reilly withdraws from Donegal squad. 15 April 2019. 15 April 2019.
  6. News: Frank. Craig. Kilcar lay league marker ahead of championship. Donegal News. 9 August 2019. 65.
  7. News: Kevin. O'Brien. 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. 15 April 2019. 15 April 2019.
  8. News: Chris. McNulty. Micheál Carroll will 'put shoulder to the wheel' for Donegal again in 2019. 13 February 2019. 13 February 2019.
  9. News: Peter. Branigan. Murphy masterclass fires Donegal back to top flight. RTÉ Sport. 24 March 2019. 24 March 2019. Neil McGee was introduced to equal the Donegal appearances record of Colm McFadden on 173..
  10. News: Record breaking Neil McGee on a memorable night at Croke Park. Highland Radio. 31 March 2019. 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….
  11. News: Bonner completes backroom team with new goalkeeping coach. 10 November 2017. 10 November 2017.
  12. 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..
  13. 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..
  14. News: Karl Lacey leaves Declan Bonner's Donegal management team for family and work reasons. BBC. 4 January 2021. 4 January 2021.
  15. 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..
  16. 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..
  17. News: Chris. McNulty. It's all in the mind for Anthony McGrath. Donegal News. 1 August 2014. 1 August 2014.
  18. News: County Awards Night — Saturday November 23rd. 14 November 2019. 10 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191210215429/https://donegalgaa.ie/2019/11/14/21695/. dead.
  19. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 28 January 2019. 28 January 2019.
  20. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 25 March 2019. 25 March 2019.
  21. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 1 April 2019. 1 April 2019.
  22. News: GAA.ie Footballer of the Week nominations. 1 April 2019. 1 April 2019.
  23. News: Diarmuid O'Connor voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week. 2 April 2019. 2 April 2019.
  24. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 10 June 2019. 10 June 2019.
  25. News: GAA.ie Footballer of the Week nominations. 10 June 2019. 10 June 2019.
  26. News: Michael Murphy voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week. 11 June 2019. 11 June 2019.
  27. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 24 June 2019. 24 June 2019.
  28. News: GAA.ie Footballer of the Week nominations. 24 June 2019. 24 June 2019.
  29. News: Jamie Brennan voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week. 25 June 2019. 25 June 2019.
  30. News: Jamie Brennan is the GAA's Player of the Week. Highland Radio. 26 June 2019. 26 June 2019.
  31. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 15 July 2019. 15 July 2019.
  32. News: GAA.ie Footballer of the Week nominations. 15 July 2019. 15 July 2019.
  33. News: David Clifford voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week. 16 July 2019. 16 July 2019.
  34. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 22 July 2019. 22 July 2019.
  35. News: GAA.ie Footballer of the Week nominations. 22 July 2019. 22 July 2019.
  36. News: Michael Murphy voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week. 23 July 2019. 23 July 2019.
  37. News: GAA.ie Football Team of the Week. 6 August 2019. 6 August 2019.
  38. News: Chris. McNulty. Murphy is Player of the Year as eight Donegal players get Ulster All-Stars. 13 September 2019. 13 September 2019.
  39. News: Chris. McNulty. Michael Murphy selected in Sunday Game Team of the Year. 15 September 2019. 15 September 2019.
  40. News: Fintan. O'Toole. 13 players from Dublin as 11 counties feature in 2019 All-Star football nominations: Kerry, Donegal, Mayo, Tyrone, Meath, Roscommon, Armagh, Clare, Cavan and Cork also have nominees. The42.ie. 27 September 2019. 27 September 2019.

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