P. J. McGowan explained

P. J. McGowan (born 1951/52) is an Irish Gaelic football manager and administrator. He succeeded Brian McEniff as Donegal manager in 1994 and lasted until 1997, thus preceding Declan Bonner's first spell in charge. He also managed Fermanagh.

Career

McGowan is from Ballybofey.[1] His club is Seán Mac Cumhaills. He first became involved in football when he was ten years of age.

McGowan managed Donegal to the 1987 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship.[2] In the early 1990s, he spent a short time as senior manager of Fermanagh.[3]

McGowan took over as Donegal's senior manager in the wake of Donegal's success in the 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, at a time when players such as Anthony Molloy and Martin McHugh had retired. He managed Donegal to the finals of the 1994–95 and 1995–96 National Football Leagues. In between he managed Donegal to an Ulster Senior Football Championship victory over reigning All-Ireland champions Down in 1995, a game which took place one week after the first league final loss.[4] They then lost to Monaghan in a game he described as the lowest point of his time as manager.

His last championship game in charge was a heavy defeat to Cavan, managed by McHugh. McGowan announced his departure as Donegal manager in 1997, The Irish Times reporting: "His statement was equivocal — saying that he would not oppose anyone who wanted to take over the position - but he admits it amounts to a resignation", though McGowan told the newspaper: "I'd have taken it on if no-one else was willing… I don't have a divine right to this job".[5] Among the players he introduced during his time as manager were Damian Diver, Peter McGinley, James Ruane and Brian Roper.[5]

McGowan was later part of the backroom team of Brian McEniff when he returned as manager.[6] [7]

McGowan has been an administrator on the Ulster Council.[5] As vice-chairman of the county board, he was part of the selection committee tasked with choosing a new senior football manager in 2008.[8] He completed five years as Donegal County Chairman in December 2012.[9]

He managed Aodh Ruadh in 2006.[10]

Notes and References

  1. News: Conor. Sharkey. The way we were: 25 years ago — July 20, 1994: McGowan new Donegal manager. Donegal News. 19 July 2019. Forty-two-year-old PJ McGowan from Ballybofey has been appointed manager… He succeeds Brian McEniff who resigned from the post on June 26 and will be in charge of the team for three years..
  2. News: Chris. McNulty. Declan Bonner yearning for repeat of the long-term rewards from the golden age. 20 July 2018. 20 July 2018. At a homecoming reception in '87, PJ McGowan, the then U21 team manager made a prediction as he stood on a platform outside the Abbey Hotel..
  3. News: Tom. Comack. Donegal should be just too strong says former manager P J McGowan: Tom Comack talks to P. J. McGowan, who has managed both Donegal and Fermanagh and would love to see Fermanagh win, but not on Sunday. Donegal chairman and manager, P J McGowan, also managed Donegal's Ulster final opponents, Fermanagh, for a short spell in the early 1990s. As a consequence the Sean MacCumhaill's clubman always watches out for Fermanagh's results with great interest and he has attended both of the Erne County's two championship games so far this season..
  4. News: Declan. Bonner. Declan Bonner. Champions dethroned. Donegal News. 28 May 2020. 55. It was mentioned to me last week that it was 25 years since Donegal dethroned Down in the preliminary round of the Ulster Championship… PJ McGowan had taken over from Brian McEniff at that stage… It's funny looking back now because we had played the League final against Derry the week before and lost..
  5. News: Sean. Moran. McGowan calls it a day with Donegal. The Irish Times. 9 July 1997.
  6. News: Colm. Keys. Royals' seal of approval puts pressure on Boylan. Irish Independent. 5 November 2003.
  7. News: Donegal morale 'good'. BBC Sport. 23 July 2004.
  8. News: Mulgrew and Bonner's joint ticket. BBC Sport. 14 October 2008. 14 October 2008.
  9. News: Chris. McNulty. Molloy considers the top job. Donegal News. 19 October 2012. 19 October 2012.
  10. News: Chris. McNulty. New management team appointed by Aodh Ruadh. 20 January 2016. 20 January 2016.

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