Pete McGrath explained

Peter McGrath
Birth Place:County Down, Northern Ireland
Occupation:Teacher
Sport:Gaelic football
Club:Rostrevor
Clallireland:0
Clprovince:0
Clcounty:1 Player
County:Down
Fermanagh
Icyears:1989-2002
2014-2017
Winningcounties:Down
Icprovince:6
Dr Mckenna Cup:4
Icallireland:3
League:1

Peter McGrath (born 6 June 1953), from Rostrevor, County Down, is an Irish former Gaelic footballer and current manager. He managed the Down senior football team to the All-Ireland titles in 1991 and 1994.[1] [2]

Professional career

McGrath was employed for almost thirty years as a physical education teacher at St Colman's College, Newry. He retired from this position in 2006.[3]

Playing career

McGrath played at all grades for Rostrevor GAC, including togging out for the first team aged only 15, and represented St Colman's at all levels of schools' competition; he also played for Down Minors.[4] McGrath captained the first Queen's University team to win the All-Ireland Freshers title by defeating UCD 2-16 to 0-6 in Dundalk in March 1973.[5] [6]

Management career

In 1987 McGrath was in charge of the Down team that won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship.He managed the Down senior team between 1989 and 2002[7] and was at the helm when Down won the Ulster and All Ireland Senior Championships in 1991 and 1994.[8] He managed the Ireland team in the International Rules Series in 2004[9] and 2005.[3]

McGrath managed the Down U-21 team to the All Ireland final in 2009,[10] before stepping down in October 2009.[11]

McGrath has had spells in club management with Cooley Kickhams,[12] An Riocht[13] and Bryansford.[14] He also coached the Gaelic football teams at St Colman's College, guiding them to five Hogan Cup wins between 1975 and 1998.[15]

In October 2010, he returned to county management after being named as the Down minor manager on a three-year term, his second time in charge of the team.[16] [17]

He was twice manager of the Fermanagh Senior Football team and took the team to the All-Ireland quarter-final in 2015 after having gained promotion to Division Two of the National Football League for 2016.[18] [19]

He managed the Louth senior football team in 2018 but resigned after ten months into a two-year term following a shock Championship defeat to Leitrim.[20]

He managed his native club St Bronagh's, Rostrevor, for three years having taken over for the 2019 season, the club's centenary year. He remains in charge of the club's minor team.[4]

McGrath was appointed manager of Antrim GAA club Aghagallon in March 2023.[21]

Honours

Player
ManagerIreland

Ulster

Down

Club

School

Notes and References

  1. Declan Bogue, 'Pete McGrath: why I still savour my All-Ireland glory with Down in 94'. Belfast Telegraph, 18 May 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2024
  2. Neil Loughran, 'The reluctant hero of Gaelic football, Peter Withnell'. Irish Examiner, 15 July 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2024
  3. News: The Mentors. March 2009. RTÉ Television. Celebrity Bainisteoir. 6 December 2011.
  4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0j3m6qz (06:45–07:26) 'The GAA Social Pete McGrath. His life. Down legend'
  5. https://www.facebook.com/p/Queens-GAA-Past-Members-Union-100057469450425/ ’50 YEARS AGO: Queen’s win their first Freshers title’
  6. https://archive.today/20121223063845/http://quis.qub.ac.uk/gaelicfc/halloffame/ulster.htm 'Hall of Fame'
  7. News: Dream team for Down?. 10 June 2002. BBC Sport. 18 January 2011.
  8. News: McGrath expresses interest in Down return. 30 July 2009. RTÉ Sport. 18 January 2011.
  9. News: Pete McGrath confirmed as Ireland Rules boss. 30 March 2004. BreakingNews.ie. 18 January 2011.
  10. News: Cork 1-13 2-9 Down . 4 May 2009. BBC Sport. 6 December 2011.
  11. News: McGrath resigns as Down U21 boss . 28 October 2009. BBC Sport. 18 January 2011.
  12. News: McGrath gets Cooley job. 12 December 2003. Argus.ie. 6 December 2011.
  13. News: All Ireland Football Championship: This is Down's biggest test yet, says Pete McGrath. 26 August 2010. Belfast Telegraph. 6 December 2011.
  14. News: Down Senior Football Championship: Bryansford breeze to replay success. 30 September 2010. Belfast Telegraph. 6 December 2011.
  15. News: A football education. 17 September 2010. Irish Examiner. 6 December 2011.
  16. Web site: Down boss McGrath bids to repeat success of '87 . 28 December 2010. Belfast Telegraph. 18 January 2011.
  17. News: Pete McGrath appointed Down minor manager . 22 October 2010. BBC Sport. 18 January 2011.
  18. Declan Bogue, 'Age remains no barrier for Louth manager Pete McGrath'. Irish Examiner, 27 January 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018
  19. https://ulster.gaa.ie/2015/04/armagh-too-strong-for-fermanagh-in-league-decider/ 'Armagh too strong for Fermanagh in League Decider'
  20. News: Pete McGrath steps down as Louth football manager . 5 July 2018 . . 8 August 2018.
  21. Neil Loughran, '"If you don't bend, you'll break": Pete McGrath on remaining relevant as Aghagallon prepare for Cargin showdown'

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