Caolan McGonagle explained

Caolan McGonagle
Sport:Gaelic football
Icposition:Midfield
Feet:6
Inches:1
Occupation:Secondary school teacher
Code:Football
Clyears:201?–
Clubs:Buncrana
County:Donegal
Icyears:201?–
Counties:Donegal

Caolan McGonagle (born 1995/6) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Buncrana and the Donegal county team.

Playing career

Club

McGonagle's club Buncrana was relegated to the Donegal Junior Football Championship. However, he led the club back to the Donegal Intermediate Football Championship in 2019.[1]

Under-age

As a youth, McGonagle played as a goalkeeper.[2] Declan Bonner called McGonagle into his development squad but by the 2013 McGuigan Cup (Ulster Under-17) Final, McGonagle had moved outfield.[2]

He played in midfield as Donegal reached the final of the 2014 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship.[2] However, he did not play in the 2017 Ulster Under-21 Football Championship Final, nor did he play in the 2017 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship semi-final.[2]

Senior

First featuring for his county at senior level under the management of Rory Gallagher, McGonagle was first called up ahead of the 2016 season as one of twelve new recruits, alongside such players as Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Stephen McMenamin and Ciarán Thompson.[3] McGonagle played twice during Donegal's Division One campaign in the 2016 National Football League, featuring in the first and last fixtures, both times as a substitute: first he made a late appearance in the league opener against Down,[4] then he came on in the league semi-final defeat to Dublin.[5]

Under the management of Declan Bonner, McGonagle started the opening fixture of the 2018 National Football League against Kerry in Killarney.[6] He also started the next game against Galway.[7] He came on as an early substitute for Nathan Mullins in the next game away to Dublin.[8] He also appeared as a substitute in the fourth and sixth games, against Kildare and Monaghan respectively.[9] [10]

McGonagle made a substitute appearance in the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship preliminary round defeat of Cavan but made no further appearances in the competition as Donegal secured the Anglo-Celt Cup.[11] [12] [13] [14] McGonagle started against Clare in the opening fixture of the 2019 National Football League in Ennis, scoring one point from a free.[15] He scored the only goal of the game against Meath in the second fixture.[16] He started the third, fourth, fifth and sixth fixtures against Tipperary, Fermanagh, Armagh and Cork.[17] [18] [19] [20] He started the seventh fixture against Kildare, scoring one point.[21] Donegal qualified for the National Football League Division 2 final and McGonagle started the game as Donegal defeated Meath to win the title.[22] McGonagle had featured in a lot of matches during the 2019 National Football League. Then he sustained an injury.[23]

McGonagle started Donegal's first fixture of the 2020 National Football League against Mayo and scored a point.[24] He did not participate in the second game against Meath.[25] He later started the third, fourth and fifth games against Galway, Dublin and Monaghan respectively.[26] [27] [28] Then the COVID-19 pandemic brought play to a halt. Play resumed behind closed doors on 18 October with a home game against Tyrone; McGonagle started that game and scored a point.[29] He also started and scored a point in the concluding game of the league campaign away to Kerry.[30]

McGonagle made his first championship start against Tyrone in the 2020 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final.[31] He also started the semi-final victory against Armagh, scoring two points (including one mark), and the final against Cavan, in which he scored two points.[32] [33]

McGonagle started each of Donegal's four fixtures of the 2021 National Football League, against Tyrone, Monaghan, Armagh and Dublin, scoring one point each against Tyrone and Monaghan and two points against Dublin.[34] [35] [36] [37] He started each of Donegal's three fixtures in the 2021 Ulster Senior Football Championship, scoring two points against Derry in the quarter-final and a goal against Tyrone in the semi-final.[38] [39] [40]

McGonagle started Donegal's first two fixtures of the 2022 National Football League, against Mayo and Kildare.[41] [42] He did not play in the third game, against Kerry,[43] nor in the remaining fixtures against Tyrone, Monaghan, Dublin and Armagh.[44] [45] He made a substitute appearance against Armagh in the 2022 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final and followed this with a temporary substitute appearance (for Hugh McFadden) against Cavan in the semi-final (during which he scored a point).[46] [47] He started the final against Derry (which included extra-time, during which he was substituted).[48] He also started the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier loss to Armagh, standing in as goalkeeper for a penalty kick when Shaun Patton was shown a black card.[49]

Personal life

McGonagle is a secondary school teacher at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny.[50] He teaches physical education and mathematics.[2]

Honours

Player
Individual

Notes and References

  1. News: Chris. McNulty. Buncrana's late surge takes Junior title from Letterkenny Gaels grasp. 12 October 2019. 12 October 2019.
  2. News: Ryan. Ferry. McGonagle keen to keep hold of a starting jersey. Donegal News. 10 June 2021. In his early teenage years it was thought he might be more of a replacement for Paul Durcan than Rory Kavanagh. In fact when he was first called into the development squad by Declan Bonner it was on the premise of playing as a goalkeeper. Bonner can't even remember if he saw McGonagle in action between the sticks… After working as a PE and Maths teacher in St Eunan's College over the last nine months, he is now on his summer holidays, and will use the spare time to help his recovery between training sessions and matches… The 25-year-old will have to be on his game this weekend as he could be asked to track the runs of Brian Fenton, Brian Howard, or James McCarthy.. Details are from the print edition, published on the same date as "Donegal's McGonagle keen to keep hold of a starting jersey".
  3. News: Gerry. Maguire. Rory Gallagher puts his faith in youth with minor promotions. The Irish News. 24 November 2015. 24 November 2015. The new players on the squad are Danny Rodgers (Dungloe), Stephen McMenamin (Red Hugh's), Kieran Gillespie (Gaoth Dobhair), Michael Carroll (Gaoth Dobhair), Eoin Bán Gallagher (Killybegs), Ciarán Thompson (Naomh Conaill), Stephen McBrearty (Kilcar), Caolan McGonigle (Buncrana), Jack O'Brien (Naomh Muire), Tony McClenaghan (Moville), Rory Carr (St Eunan's) and Caolan Ward (St Eunan's). With the exception of Ward, all of the above are in the 19–20 age bracket..
  4. News: Orla. Bannon. Disastrous return to Division One for Down as Donegal run riot in Newry. Irish Independent. 30 January 2016. 30 January 2016.
  5. News: FL1 semi-final: dazzling Dubs demolish disappointing Donegal. Hogan Stand. 10 April 2016. 10 April 2016.
  6. News: Fintan. O'Toole. Casey hits winning point, O'Shea fires 0-7 and 3 red cards shown in Kerry Donegal clash. The42.ie. 28 January 2018. 28 January 2018.
  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: Kevin. O'Brien. Dublin survive strong Donegal fightback to make it three wins from three. The42.ie. 10 February 2018. 10 February 2018.
  9. News: Peter. Campbell. Donegal scrape by 14-man Kildare in relegation dogfight. RTÉ Sport. 25 February 2018. 25 February 2018.
  10. News: John. Graham. Monaghan ease past relegation-threatened Donegal. RTÉ Sport. 18 March 2018. 18 March 2018.
  11. News: Chris. McNulty. Ulster SFC: Donegal too good for Cavan. 13 May 2018. 13 May 2018.
  12. News: Francis. Mooney. McBrearty excels to fire Donegal past Derry. RTÉ Sport. 27 May 2018. 27 May 2018.
  13. News: Francis. Mooney. 14-man Donegal cruise past Down into Ulster decider. RTÉ Sport. 10 June 2018. 10 June 2018.
  14. News: Francis. Mooney. Energetic Donegal end Fermanagh's Ulster title dream. RTÉ Sport. 24 June 2018. 24 June 2018.
  15. News: Derrick. Lynch. Missing a host of regulars, Donegal come away from Clare with victory. The42.ie. 27 January 2019. 27 January 2019.
  16. News: Peter. Campbell. Fortuitous goal sees Donegal come back to beat Meath. RTÉ Sport. 2 February 2019. 2 February 2019.
  17. News: John. Fallon. Casey strikes late goal as Tipp come back to shock Donegal. The42.ie. 10 February 2019. 10 February 2019.
  18. News: Peter. Campbell. Fermanagh rally against 13-man Donegal to stay unbeaten in Division 2. RTÉ Sport. 24 February 2019. 24 February 2019.
  19. News: Alan. Foley. Super sub Murphy makes decisive impact in narrow win for Donegal. The42.ie. 2 March 2019. 2 March 2019.
  20. News: Denis. Hurley. Cork on brink of drop to Division 3 as Donegal power home. RTÉ Sport. 16 March 2019. 16 March 2019.
  21. News: Peter. Branigan. Murphy masterclass fires Donegal back to top flight. RTÉ Sport. 24 March 2019. 24 March 2019.
  22. News: Kevin. O'Brien. Murphy masterclass helps Donegal to Division 2 glory after comeback win over Meath. The42.ie. 30 March 2019. 30 March 2019.
  23. News: Declan. Bonner. Declan Bonner. Drive for five appears unstoppable. Donegal News. 16 August 2019. 71. Note: he is erroneously referred to as Caolan McMonagle.
  24. News: FL1: Durcan delivers late as Mayo hold Donegal. Hogan Stand. 25 January 2020. 25 January 2020.
  25. News: Paul. Keane. Classy Donegal put Meath to the sword at Navan. RTÉ Sport. 2 February 2020. 2 February 2020.
  26. News: Chris. McNulty. Allianz FL D1: Galway secure valuable victory. 9 February 2020. 9 February 2020.
  27. News: Mannion goal crucial as Dubs reel in Donegal. RTÉ Sport. 22 February 2020. 22 February 2020.
  28. News: Alan. Foley. McFadden and Ward hit the net as Donegal claim easy victory over Monaghan. The42.ie. 1 March 2020. 1 March 2020.
  29. News: Chris. McNulty. Allianz FL D1: Donegal defeat Tyrone. 18 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  30. News: Understrength Donegal well beaten by Kerry. Donegal News. 24 October 2020. 24 October 2020.
  31. News: Declan. Bonner. Declan Bonner. Great to be still standing. Donegal News. 5 November 2020. 63. From the print edition, not included in the online edition.
  32. News: Declan. Bogue. Donegal ease past Armagh to reach yet another Ulster final. The42.ie. 14 November 2020. 14 November 2020.
  33. News: Kevin. O'Brien. As it happened: Donegal v Cavan, Ulster senior football final. The42.ie. 22 November 2020. 22 November 2020. 16 mins — Ryan McHugh swivels and points, before Caolan McGonagle adds another… 63 mins – McGonigle[sic] levels the game with a pressure point. We're in for a thrilling final 10 minutes now..
  34. News: Declan. Bogue. Allianz FL D1 North: Donegal edge Tyrone. 15 May 2021. 15 May 2021.
  35. News: Chris. McNulty. Allianz FL D1 North: Spoils shared in Ballybofey. 22 May 2021. 22 May 2021.
  36. News: Declan. Bogue. Allianz FL D1 North: Donegal finish strongly to earn important point. 29 May 2021. 29 May 2021.
  37. News: Peter. Campbell. Dublin share title with Kerry after defeating Donegal. RTÉ Sport. 14 June 2021. 14 June 2021.
  38. News: Declan. Bogue. Donegal signal their intent with Ulster Championship trouncing of Down. The42.ie. 27 June 2021. 27 June 2021.
  39. News: Alan. Foley. McBrearty kicks late winner as Donegal squeeze past Derry. The42.ie. 11 July 2021. 11 July 2021.
  40. News: Declan. Bogue. Murphy sent off as Tyrone edge out 14-man Donegal to book Ulster final spot. The42.ie. 18 July 2021. 18 July 2021.
  41. News: Mike. Finnerty. Rob Hennelly the hero as Mayo snatch draw against Donegal in Allianz Football League. RTÉ Sport. 30 January 2022. 30 January 2022.
  42. News: Peter. Campbell. Donegal have too much for Kildare despite losing Michael Murphy. RTÉ Sport. 6 February 2022. 6 February 2022.
  43. News: Paul. Brennan. Kerry impress as victory over Donegal sends them top of Division 1. RTÉ Sport. 20 February 2022. 20 February 2022.
  44. News: Peter. Campbell. Goals crucial as gritty Donegal see off Tyrone. RTÉ Sport. 26 February 2022. 26 February 2022. News: Peter. Campbell. Monaghan end Donegal's Ballybofey record to maintain Division 1 survival hope. RTÉ Sport. 13 March 2022. 13 March 2022.
  45. News: Paul. Keane. Allianz FL D1: Dublin finish strongly against Donegal. 20 March 2022. 20 March 2022. News: Chris. McNulty. Donegal hang on for win as things get hot and heavy with Armagh. The Irish Times. 27 March 2022. 27 March 2022.
  46. News: Andy. Watters. Donegal cruise to victory over mis-firing Armagh in Ulster Championship quarter-final. The Irish News. 25 April 2022. 25 April 2022.
  47. News: John. Haughey. Donegal 2–16 Cavan 0–16: Tir Conaill men survive Breffni onslaught to reach Ulster decider. BBC Sport. 8 May 2022. 8 May 2022.
  48. News: Declan. Bogue. Derry outscored Donegal 0–4 to 0–2 in the extra-time period. The42.ie. 29 May 2022. 29 May 2022.
  49. News: Declan. Bogue. Armagh power past Donegal to book All-Ireland quarter-final. The42.ie. 12 June 2022. 12 June 2022.
  50. News: Ryan. Ferry. Ryan takes a look at the key battles ahead of Sunday's Ulster final. Donegal News. 19 November 2020. 59. Caolan McGonagle… will be a key player for Donegal on Sunday… He also brings huge workrate and the St Eunan's College teacher is happy to carry possession for his team..
  51. News: Donegal are Ulster minor champions. Donegal Live. 21 July 2014. 21 July 2014.
  52. News: Seven county players gain Gaelic Life awards. Donegal News. 16 January 2020. 73. ... Anthony Thompson, Ciaran Thompson from Naomh Conaill along with Buncrana's Caolan McGonagle were all named on the football team. The Thompsons and Caolan McGonagle were unable to attend the event though their awards were collected in their absence..
  53. News: Football Team of the Year 2019.

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