Odhrán Mac Niallais Explained

Odhrán Mac Niallais
Irish:Odhrán Mac Niallais[1]
Birth Date:17 August 1992
Birth Place:Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland
Height:1.850NaN0
Sport:Gaelic football
Code:Football
County:Donegal
Province:Ulster
Club:Gaoth Dobhair
Clyears:2009–
Clposition:Midfield/Forward
Clcounty:1
Clprovince:1
Counties:Donegal
Icyears:2011–2018; 2021
Icposition:Midfield/Forward
Icapps(Points):26 (4–27)
Icprovince:2
Clupdate:17 March 2014

Odhrán Mac Niallais (born 17 August 1992) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Gaoth Dobhair and, formerly, for the Donegal county team.

With two Ulster Senior Football Championships to his name, Mac Niallais was a prominent feature of the Donegal midfield between 2014 and 2018. He is regarded nationally as "one of the most naturally gifted footballers in Ireland".

He won an Ulster Senior Club Football Championship with Gaoth Dobhair in 2018.

Playing career

Club

Mac Niallais won the 2018 Donegal Senior Football Championship, scoring eight points (including six frees) in the final to help Gaoth Dobhair to their first Donegal senior championship since 2006, and being awarded man of the match.[2]

Mac Niallais then starred in Gaoth Dobhair's first ever Ulster Senior Club Football Championship-winning campaign later in 2018. In the Ulster semi-final defeat of Crossmaglen Rangers at Healy Park in Omagh, Mac Niallais scored four points, including one free.[3] In the final against Scotstown, Mac Niallais was again awarded the "Laoch na hImeartha" (man of the match) after scoring four points, including three frees.[4] [5] [6]

He has also played as a goalkeeper for his club.[7]

Inter-county

Mac Niallais was first called into the Donegal senior team as an 18-year-old in the winter of 2011 by manager Jim McGuinness. He played in the 2012 Dr McKenna Cup but injuries hampered his progress that year for club and county.[8] He returned to training ahead of the next season and played in the 2013 Dr McKenna Cup.[9] [10] During that competition, he scored an early goal against St Mary's in a one-point win at MacCumhaill Park.[11] In the 2013 National Football League he made substitute appearances against Down in the second game and against Dublin in Donegal's final league game of the season, both in Ballybofey.[12] [13] [14] He also played in the under-21 team that lost to Cavan in the 2013 Ulster final.[15]

Mac Niallais arrived in 2014 having played around a half-an-hour of meaningful senior inter-county football for Donegal.[16] That year would bring his first league start — against Laois at O'Moore Park. He palmed home a goal in the twelfth minute and scored a point later in the same match.[17] The year also brought games in the Senior Championship for Mac Niallais for the first time. Called onto the field when Donegal were forced to make emergency reparations to the midfield following injuries to Rory Kavanagh and Neil Gallagher, Mac Niallais scored four points and collected the man of the match award in the Ulster semi-final against Antrim at Clones.[8] [18] [19] He then won his first Ulster senior title, helping himself to three points in the final against Monaghan.[20] [21]

Under the management of Rory Gallagher, Mac Niallais scored a 52nd-minute goal against Derry from a distance of 20 metres in the opening fixture of the 2015 National Football League.[22] He scored 1–4 against Cork in the 2016 National Football League.[23]

Mac Niallais scored a brace in the seven-point 2016 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final victory over Fermanagh.[24] He scored another goal in the 55th minute of the semi-final against Monaghan.[25] He later left the Donegal team.[26] He headed stateside.[27]

Mac Niallais returned to the Donegal team under the management of Declan Bonner in 2018.[28] He scored 1–2 against Kerry in the opening round of the 2018 National Football League in Killarney and repeated the feat against Tyrone in Omagh during the fifth round of fixtures.[29] [30] He started the final and scored a point as Donegal secured the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship.[31]

Following the death of a clubmate in a car accident in January 2019, Mac Niallais opted out of the Donegal panel that year.[32] He thus missed out on the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship, which Donegal won.[33] But from September 2019, Mac Niallais met regularly with county manager Bonner. By November, Mac Niallais had decided to return to the team. "At the same time", Mac Niallais later said, "it was still in the back of my mind to go away. I did say that to [Declan] and he was fine with it". In December 2019, Bonner confirmed that Mac Niallais had opted out of the Donegal panel for 2020.[34]

In February 2020, he moved to Crouch End in England, close to Alexandra Palace, with the intention of playing football for North London Shamrocks.[35] He had contemplated going to join friends in Sydney; however, the arrival of a then 18-month-old godson convinced him to remain closer to family.[35] In March 2020, he spoke about the intensity of committing to inter-county football: "Your life's completely taken over by it. It's gone to extreme levels where personally, I don't know. I wasn't built for that kinda stuff. I obviously used to love it but after a few years of doing it, I nearly had enough of it. I wouldn't be a big fan of the travelling. If training was down in Magheragallon every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, I'd be there every time, I'd play for Donegal no bother".[35]

By mid-2020, due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mac Niallais was back with Gaoth Dobhair.[36]

He returned to the county team for the 2021 season but decided to depart again ahead of the 2022 season.[37]

Personal life

He plays golf (reaching a handicap of 14 in early 2020) at his local club, located close to the Gaoth Dobhair GAA club's base.[35] He has also been a regular snooker player in Letterkenny.[35]

He is the younger brother of Ronan Mac Niallais, who managed Gaoth Dobhair to the 2023 Donegal Senior Football Championship final during his first year in charge.[38]

Career statistics

TeamYearNational LeagueUlsterAll-IrelandTotal
DivisionScoreScoreScoreScore
Donegal2013Division 1———
201430–731–361–10
201540–320–360–6
201643–320–163–4
2017———
201830–130–660–7
2019Division 2———
2020Division 1———
2021Division 1 North20–0—20–0
Career total163–14101–13264–27

Honours

Donegal

2014,[4] 2018[4]

Gaoth Dobhair

2018[4]

2018[4]

Individual

2018[39]

Notes and References

  1. News: Countdown to Croker: Donegal name 'team' for All-Ireland final. 20 September 2014. 20 September 2014.
  2. News: Peter. Campbell. Gaoth Dobhair end 12 years of pain with dominant display. RTÉ Sport. 21 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106002759/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1021/1005691-gweedore-0-17-naomh-conaill-1-07-gweedore-donegal/. 6 November 2018.
  3. News: Francis. Mooney. Gaoth Dobhair on the goal trail to book maiden Ulster final spot. RTÉ Sport. 18 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181120105600/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1118/1011725-gweedore-on-the-goal-trail-to-book-ulster-final-spot/. 20 November 2018.
  4. News: Niall. McIntyre. Odhran Mac Niallais sums up what club is all about in one powerful post-match interview. JOE.ie. https://web.archive.org/web/20181204011443/https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/odhran-mac-niallais-sums-club-one-powerful-post-match-interview-186659. 4 December 2018.
  5. News: Donnchadh. Boyle. Composed Ferry has final say as Gaoth Dobhair see off Scotstown: Carey sees red as Monaghan men come up just short in Ulster decider. Irish Independent. 3 December 2018. 3 December 2018.
  6. News: Francis. Mooney. Gaoth Dobhair edge out Scotstown in extra-time to win historic Ulster title. RTÉ Sport. 2 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181203144809/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/1202/1014694-gaoth-dobhair-hold-firm-to-win-historic-ulster-title/. 3 December 2018.
  7. News: Tom. Comack. MacNiallais and McHugh play as goalkeepers. 28 May 2023. 28 May 2023.
  8. News: Keith. Duggan. Odhrán MacNiallais now at the heart of Donegal's championship drive: Gweedore man repaying the faith Jim McGuinness has shown in him. The Irish Times. 24 June 2014. 24 June 2014. Yesterday, he was at the heart of Donegal's drive to a fourth consecutive Ulster final and finished his day in front of the television cameras accepting his first man-of-the-match award in the competition… Both of MacNiallais's championship starts have had a touch of improvisation about them. Just as they did against Derry, the Donegal management was forced to make emergency reparations to its midfield after Rory Kavanagh was unable to recover full fitness and Neil Gallagher broke down after 17 minutes… The Gweedore man was just 18 when McGuinness first called him into the squad and ran the eye over him in McKenna Cup games against Tyrone and Fermanagh in the winter of 2011. Injuries upset his progression that season, curtailing his club career also and it wasn't until last year that he resumed county training..
  9. News: Chris. McNulty. Experimental Donegal for McKenna Cup. Donegal News. 3 January 2013. 3 January 2013.
  10. News: Mac Niallais catches eye. Irish Independent. 17 January 2013. 17 January 2013.
  11. News: Fintan. O'Toole. Dr McKenna Cup semi-final line-up confirmed while Mayo win in FBD League. The42.ie. 16 January 2013. 16 January 2013.
  12. News: Donegal too good for Down. Donegal Democrat. 9 February 2013. 9 February 2013.
  13. News: Donegal 1–10 Dublin 0–13. RTÉ Sport. 7 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225212/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2013/0407/380158-donegal-dublin/. 7 April 2013. 3 March 2016.
  14. News: Colm. Keys. Donegal — the only team to embrace the drop. Irish Independent. 9 April 2013. 9 April 2013.
  15. News: Ulster U21 Final Live: Donegal 1–06 v Cavan 0–13. Donegal Now. 10 April 2013. 10 April 2013. And the second half is underway. Odhran MacNiallais breaks through, but his goal chance goes wide. Donegal are looking a lot livelier already.. https://web.archive.org/web/20131220024738/http://donegalnow.com/sp/article_manager/detail/ulster_u21_final_live_donegal_v_cavan. 20 December 2013. dead.
  16. News: Chris. McNulty. Odhrán MacNiallais now at home in Donegal's first XV. Donegal News. 3 March 2014. 3 March 2014.
  17. News: Chris. McNulty. Odhrán MacNiallais hoping for extended run in Donegal team. Donegal News. 6 February 2014. 6 February 2014.
  18. News: Donegal 3–16 Antrim 0–12. RTÉ Sport. 22 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140704173112/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2014/0622/625688-donegal-power-past-antrim-in-clones/. 22 June 2014. 4 July 2014.
  19. News: Chris. McNulty. Odhrán MacNiallais taking his chance with Donegal. Donegal News. 23 June 2014. 23 June 2014.
  20. News: Monaghan 1–09 Donegal 0–15. RTÉ Sport. 20 July 2014. 20 July 2014.
  21. News: Donegal reverse 2013 result to claim Ulster football title. The42.ie. 20 July 2014. 20 July 2014.
  22. News: Gallagher delighted with early statement as McBrearty steps up. Irish Independent. 1 February 2015. 1 February 2015.
  23. News: Cork crash to 10-point defeat as impressive Donegal go top of Division 1: Goals from Odhrán MacNiallais and Martin O'Reilly spurred Donegal to victory. The42.ie. 7 February 2016. 7 February 2016.
  24. News: Francis. Mooney. Odhran Mac Niallais brace powers Donegal into Ulster semi-finals. RTÉ Sport. 12 June 2016. 12 June 2016.
  25. News: Francis. Mooney. Monaghan and Donegal draw in Ulster thriller. RTÉ Sport. 25 June 2016. 25 June 2016. Conor McManus came to the Farney County’s rescue with three late frees, after their 14-man opponents had pushed ahead with an Odhran MacNiallais goal on 55 minutes..
  26. News: Odhrán MacNiallais confirms Donegal departure. RTÉ Sport. 7 January 2017. 7 January 2017.
  27. 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.
  28. News: Chris. McNulty. Exclusive: 2012 All-Ireland winner to return from Donegal exile. 9 March 2018. 9 March 2018.
  29. 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.
  30. News: Declan. Bogue. Two-goal Tyrone move closer to safety with big win over Donegal in Omagh. The42.ie. 10 March 2018. 10 March 2018.
  31. News: Francis. Mooney. Energetic Donegal end Fermanagh's Ulster title dream. RTÉ Sport. 24 June 2018. 24 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161155/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0624/972816-ruthless-donegal-end-fermanaghs-ulster-title-dream/. 25 June 2018.
  32. 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.
  33. News: Peter. Sweeney. Donegal power past Cavan to claim Ulster title. RTÉ Sport. 23 June 2019. 23 June 2019.
  34. News: No Donegal return for Odhrán Mac Niallais in 2020, manager confirms. 30 December 2019. 30 December 2019.
  35. News: Cahair. O'Kane. London life lifting Odhrán MacNiallais out of a rut. The Irish News. 28 March 2020. 28 March 2020.
  36. News: Ryan. Ferry. Gaoth Dobhair travel to Donegal Town. Donegal News. 30 July 2020. 58. One man who will be donning the famous green and white jersey is Odhran Mac Niallais. Before lockdown he was living in London and was intending on playing his football over there this year. However, he subsequently returned to Donegal… 'He went over to London for work but is back about two months now and he is training away' [Gaoth Dobhair manager Mervyn O'Donnell]..
  37. News: Frank. Craig. MacNiallais blow for Donegal. Donegal News. 23 December 2021. 64. The Donegal News understands that the mercurial Gaoth Dobhair man (pictured) has decided not to return to the set-up after they regrouped for the first time a fortnight ago..
  38. News: Gerry. McLaughlin. Donegal final set to be mix of pride and pragmatism. The Irish News. 20 October 2023. 20 October 2023. In managerial terms, Gaoth Dobhair's Ronan MacNiallais, elder brother of Odhran MacNiallais, is only in his first year..
  39. News: Odhrán Mac Niallais to receive 2018 Séamus Mac Géidigh Award. Highland Radio. 14 November 2018. 14 November 2018.

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