Eamon_McGee

Eamon McGee

Eamon McGee

Irish Gaelic footballer

Eamon McGee (born 26 April 1984)[3] is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Gaoth Dobhair and also, formerly, for the Donegal county team (between 2004 and 2016). He is the older brother of Neil McGee.[4]

Not to be confused with Eamonn Magee.
Quick Facts Personal information, Irish name ...

From Gweedore in County Donegal, he won one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title, three Ulster Senior Football Championship titles and one National Football League title with his county and an Ulster title with his club. For a small time until Patrick McBrearty, Neil McGee, Paddy McGrath, Leo McLoone, Frank McGlynn, Michael Murphy and Anthony Thompson surpassed it in 2018, McGee's haul of Ulster SFC titles was a joint county team record (alongside such past players as Anthony Molloy, Martin McHugh, Joyce McMullan and Donal Reid).

Playing career

Club

McGee made his championship debut for his club against Seán Mac Cumhaills on 8 July 2001.[5] By 2023 he had won three Donegal Senior Football Championship (SFC) titles with his club: in 2002, 2006 and 2018; and he had played for his club in 23 consecutive championship campaigns, including in 35 consecutive championship games between 2001 and 2009.[5] Ahead of the 2023 Donegal Senior Football Championship final, he had made 97 appearances in the club championship (92 in the Donegal SFC and 5 in the Ulster and All-Ireland Club SFC).[5]

The final of the 2002 Donegal SFC, featuring McGee and his club, was not played until 2003 due to a disagreement between two other clubs over Eddie Brennan. McGee has described the medal he received as "tainted".[6]

In 2006, his club returned to the Donegal SFC final. McGee played as his team won a 14th title, in one of the worst Donegal county finals ever.[7]

McGee was sent off in the final of the 2018 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship.[8]

Inter-county

McGee was first called up to the senior team by Brian McEniff for winter training in 2003.[9] His early years in a Donegal shirt were marked by lapses of discipline—at one point Shane Carr left the panel when McGee moved ahead of him on the substitutes bench despite his lack of dedication.[10]

During the 2004 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, he and Brian McLaughlin were suspended from the Donegal panel for a breach of discipline.[11] The BBC reported that the pair had arrived for a "training session in an unfit condition" on two consecutive nights, one month after failing to turn up for one session at all.[12]

In 2006, he and Kevin Cassidy were suspended from the Donegal football panel over a breach of discipline.[13][14] McGee later returned and played in the 2006 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final at Croke Park, scoring one point.[15]

McGee was a member of the Donegal team that won the National Football League in 2007, playing from the start to the end in the final against Mayo.[16]

He spent some time in London and trained with their county team before returning to Donegal in 2010.[17][18]

He and his brother played in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final against Mayo.[19] He had missed the start of the 2012 Ulster Senior Football Championship with a hamstring injury.[20]

He departed the inter-county scene in 2016.[21]

He thinks that the All Stars "mean very little" but admits his own total affects this thinking.[22] Himself and Paddy Andrews agree on this.[23]

Inter-provincial

McGee represented Ulster in the Inter-Provincial Series.[24]

Post-playing career

In November 2017, he became part of Gary McDaid's backroom team when McDaid became the first manager of the new Donegal under-20 football team.[25][26]

In March 2021, Donegal announced him as part of Gary Duffy's under-20 management team.[27] In November 2022, he was part of the management team announced for Duffy's successor, Leo McLoone.[28]

On the night of 25 November 2023, McGee was announced as a coach under the senior football management team of Gary Duffy at the Buncrana club.[29][30][31]

Personal life

McGee has a profound fear of flying, a condition which has affected his ability to cope with flights to games.[32]

McGee supports marriage equality and has campaigned to Repeal the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution.[33]

Honours

Donegal
Gaoth Dobhair
Colleges
Individual

References

  1. [1]
    "Countdown to Croker: Donegal name 'team' for All-Ireland final". 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  2. [2]
    "Eamon McGee follows Colm McFadden into Donegal retirement". RTÉ Sport. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  3. [3]
    Duggan, Keith (22 September 2012). "McGee on the road not taken". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  4. [4]
    Duggan, Keith (31 May 2008). "Lot riding for two sides tired of deceiving". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2008. 'I am looking forward to this more than any other game in the last few years', reveals Eamonn McGee, the imperturbable Gweedore man who now forms the central spine of the Donegal defence with his younger brother Neil.
  5. [5]
    Statistics for McGee's club championship games as far as the 2023 Donegal Senior Football Championship final compiled by Fr Seán Ó Gallchóir and published as follows: "McGee brothers approaching the ton". Donegal News. 19 October 2023. p. 62.
  6. [6]
    Craig, Frank (8 October 2020). "Decision won't have been taken lightly — [Eamon] McGee". Donegal News. p. 50. It's easy to forget now but McGee has experienced similar disappointment where a Donegal SFC final was left in limbo and, in the end, not finished in the same calendar year it began. The 2002 SFC in the county was held up due to a spat between the Ardara and St Eunan's clubs over a saga that will forever be recalled as the Eddie Brennan affair. The final, between the Letterkenny men and Gaoth Dobhair, was eventually settled in February of 2003 with McGee and the Magheragallon side coming out on top… 'I've three medals at home [2006 and 2018] but one of them, in my mind at least, that is a wee bit tainted'.
  7. [7]
    "Gweedore cash in as smash and grab raid sinks Eunan's". Irish Independent. 16 October 2006. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2006.
  8. [8]
    Boyle, Donnchadh (3 December 2018). "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. Retrieved 3 December 2018. …as Scotstown sought an equaliser, Eamon McGee was sent off…
  9. [9]
    Keys, Colm (5 November 2003). "Royals' seal of approval puts pressure on Boylan". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 November 2003.
  10. [10]
    Crowe, Dermot (25 February 2007). "Former wild child wants football's natural high". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 25 February 2007.
  11. [11]
    "Donegal morale 'good'". BBC Sport. 23 July 2004.
  12. [12]
    "Donegal duo axed from panel". BBC Sport. 16 July 2004.
  13. [13]
    "Donegal pair dropped from panel". BBC Sport. 20 April 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2006.
  14. [14]
    "McGee makes Donegal squad return". BBC Sport. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 10 May 2006.
  15. [15]
    "Donegal 0-09 1-09 Armagh". BBC Sport. 9 July 2006. Retrieved 9 July 2006.
  16. [16]
    "Donegal achieve historic win - First national league title comes to county after victory over Mayo". Donegal Times. 25 April 2007. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
  17. [17]
    "McGee eyes London lineout". Belfast Telegraph. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  18. [18]
    "Monaghan and McGee boost Donegal". BBC Sport. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  19. [19]
    "Live updates from the All-Ireland finals at Croke Park". RTÉ Sport. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  20. [20]
    McNulty, Chris (17 May 2012). "Rory to lead Donegal". Donegal News. Retrieved 17 May 2012. The Ulster champions… confirmed that the game comes too soon for Gaoth Dobhair's Eamon McGee who will miss out due to a hamstring injury.
  21. [21]
    Kiely, Ben (8 August 2016). "Eamon McGee's retirement announcement right up there with the greatest in GAA history". JOE.ie. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  22. [22]
    Having a total of zero all stars means I would say that though.
  23. [23]
    No metric for what we added.
  24. [24]
    "Murphy to spearhead Ulster challenge". Hogan Stand. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  25. [25]
    Campbell, Peter (24 November 2017). "Glenswilly's Gary McDaid set to lead Donegal U-20s in 2018". Donegal Democrat. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  26. [26]
    "Gary McDaid on starting out as Donegal's u20 Manager". Highland Radio. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  27. [27]
    "Donegal All-Ireland Eamonn McGee and Leo McLoone winners join U20 management team". RTÉ Sport. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  28. [28]
    Foley, Alan (15 November 2022). "Leo McLoone appointed as new manager of Donegal U-20s". Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. McLoone was part of the backroom team for the last two years under Gary Duffy, alongside Eamon McGee and Donegal GAA have confirmed the Naomh Conaill clubman will now take over the role, with McGee — who was also helped Donegal lift Sam Maguire 10 years ago — staying on.
  29. [29]
    "Eamon McGee to join Buncrana GAA management team". 26 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023. The announcement was made last night…
  30. [30]
    "Eamon McGee set to coach Buncrana senior footballers". Donegal News. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023. The Inishowen club released a statement this evening…
  31. [31]
    "Eamon McGee comes on board with Buncrana as senior football team coach". 26 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  32. [32]
    McNulty, Chris (15 March 2013). "McGee flying high with Donegal". Donegal News. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  33. [33]
    Fogarty, John (6 March 2015). "Donegal's Éamon McGee shrugs off criticism over marriage equality vote stance". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  34. [34]
    "Donegal dominate All-Star football nominations with 12 players selected". RTÉ Sport. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  35. [35]
    O'Toole, Fintan (8 October 2014). "11 for Kerry, 9 for Donegal, 9 for Dublin and 6 for Mayo in 2014 Allstar football nominees". The42.ie. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  36. [36]
    O'Neill, Michael (13 February 2013). "GAA Team of the Week: Player of the Week is Eamon McGee". Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
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