Ciarán McDonald
Encyclopedia
Ciarán McDonald is a former Irish Gaelic football
player for Mayo
and plays his club football for Crossmolina.
, having lost to Kerry
in 1997, 2004 and 2006 in the All-Ireland
Final. Ciaran made his intercounty début in the Under-16 Ted Webb Cup in 1990 at the age of 15. He won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
title with Crossmolina with a 0-16 to 1-12 win over Cork's Nemo Rangers
in 2001.
He is known for his playmaking role and his exemplary passing. He is considered one of the best exponents of the difficult skill of kicking the ball with the outside of the boot.
His first Championship for the Mayo Seniors was 1994. He came on and scored as a substitute in the Connacht Final. However that game ended Mayo's involvement that year in what was an historic season for Leitrim.
He missed the eventful 1996 season, where Mayo lost the All-Ireland Final in a replay with Meath, deciding to spend the summer abroad. He returned in 1997 when Mayo again lost in the final game, in which McDonald scored a second half penalty. In 1998 Mayo were knocked out early in the Championship by arch-rivals Galway but McDonald scored two goals in that game and famously hit the crossbar very late in the game when looking for a 3rd goal which would have turned the game in Mayo's favour. Galway went on to win the Championship that year.
He is still a panel member for his home team Crossmolina.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
player for Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
and plays his club football for Crossmolina.
Playing career
McDonald has been among the most consistent forwards in Gaelic football for the last ten years. He is yet to lift the All-Ireland title with MayoMayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
, having lost to Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
in 1997, 2004 and 2006 in the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
Final. Ciaran made his intercounty début in the Under-16 Ted Webb Cup in 1990 at the age of 15. He won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
title with Crossmolina with a 0-16 to 1-12 win over Cork's Nemo Rangers
Nemo Rangers GAA
Nemo Rangers Hurling and Football Club is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club on the southside of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1922 and is primarily concerned with the game of Gaelic football, though interest in hurling has escalated in recent years.-History:Nemo Rangers...
in 2001.
He is known for his playmaking role and his exemplary passing. He is considered one of the best exponents of the difficult skill of kicking the ball with the outside of the boot.
His first Championship for the Mayo Seniors was 1994. He came on and scored as a substitute in the Connacht Final. However that game ended Mayo's involvement that year in what was an historic season for Leitrim.
He missed the eventful 1996 season, where Mayo lost the All-Ireland Final in a replay with Meath, deciding to spend the summer abroad. He returned in 1997 when Mayo again lost in the final game, in which McDonald scored a second half penalty. In 1998 Mayo were knocked out early in the Championship by arch-rivals Galway but McDonald scored two goals in that game and famously hit the crossbar very late in the game when looking for a 3rd goal which would have turned the game in Mayo's favour. Galway went on to win the Championship that year.
He is still a panel member for his home team Crossmolina.