Eoin Mulligan
Encyclopedia
Eoin "Mugsy" Mulligan is an Irish
Gaelic football
player. He helped Tyrone
win the 2003, 2005 and 2008 All-Ireland Finals
and plays in Cookstown
for the Fr. Rocks GAA Club
.
His playing style is one of a traditional forward, collecting the ball from the half forwards and midfield, to take scores from play, and is one of Tyrone's free kick takers, along with Stephen O'Neill
. He can play very well with the ball in hand, and his pace means that he is difficult to mark.
His instantly recognisable bleached-blonde hair, coupled with his talent on the pitch has marked him out as one of the bright young stars of Football.
in 1997 and 1998, (which includes two Ulster titles), scoring a goal in the 1998 final, and was part of the Tyrone Vocational School
s team that won the All-Ireland in 1998, although a broken arm prevented him playing in the final. As a pupil at Holy Trinity College, Cookstown, where he was a pupil of former Tyrone Footballing great Peter Canavan
, Mulligan won the Tyrone, Ulster and All-Ireland Championships also in 1998.
He made an immediate splash to his senior career against local rivals Armagh
by scoring a goal in the first thirty seconds. However, his contribution to the game was stifled after that and he was replaced at half time.
His best-remembered performance is probably against Dublin
in the drawn All-Ireland Quarter Final, when he scored what the RTÉ
commentator described as "one of the great goals we have seen at Croke Park
". When Tyrone were on the backfoot, Mulligan picked up a pass from Stephen O'Neill
on the 45m line. He turned his marker, and started heading goalward, dummying two more defenders out of the tackle, and shooting the ball past an oncoming Dublin player and the goalie to rocket the net. This performance almost single-handedly earned him the Ulster writers Player of the Month award.
In the replay, 'Mugsy' showed that he had returned to form by scoring 1-07, and was named the Man of the Match
in the 2005 All-Ireland Final, including deftly setting up Tyrone's winning goal with a huge catch, and perfectly-timed lay off to Peter Canavan
.
His disciplinary record became a talking point in 2007, having been sent off twice in the 2007 National League
, and allegedly dropped from the team by manager, Mickey Harte
, during the campaign for not showing up to training due to work commitments.
Whilst in Brisbane, Australia 2000 he played a key role for Shamrocks Gaelic Football Club in winning the 2000 Queensland Gaelic Football Championship.
, and played under 15 soccer in Canada.
As a student, he was under the tutelage of Tyrone great, Peter Canavan
, who often managed him in the school football team. As Mulligan rose up the ranks, the two players played together on the Tyrone team in the late nineties.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
player. He helped Tyrone
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
win the 2003, 2005 and 2008 All-Ireland Finals
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...
and plays in Cookstown
Cookstown
Cookstown may refer to either of the following:*Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland*Cookstown, Ontario, Canada*Cookstown, New Jersey, United States...
for the Fr. Rocks GAA Club
Cookstown Fr. Rock's
Cookstown Father Rocks is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the town of Cookstown in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. In recent years Owen Mulligan and Raymond Mulgrew have both won All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals with the Tyrone senior team...
.
His playing style is one of a traditional forward, collecting the ball from the half forwards and midfield, to take scores from play, and is one of Tyrone's free kick takers, along with Stephen O'Neill
Stephen O'Neill
Stephen O'Neill is a Gaelic footballer from Strabane, Northern Ireland, who plays for the Tyrone Senior football team. He won three All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals, two Under 21 medals, and a Minor medal...
. He can play very well with the ball in hand, and his pace means that he is difficult to mark.
His instantly recognisable bleached-blonde hair, coupled with his talent on the pitch has marked him out as one of the bright young stars of Football.
Underage achievements
At underage level, Mulligan's success is prolific. He achieved notable success with Cookstown Father Rock's from Under 12 upwards, collecting county leagues and championships. As an Under-18, he reached the All-Ireland finalAll-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
in 1997 and 1998, (which includes two Ulster titles), scoring a goal in the 1998 final, and was part of the Tyrone Vocational School
Vocational school
A vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
s team that won the All-Ireland in 1998, although a broken arm prevented him playing in the final. As a pupil at Holy Trinity College, Cookstown, where he was a pupil of former Tyrone Footballing great Peter Canavan
Peter Canavan
Peter Canavan is manager of Fermanagh and an Irish former Gaelic football player for Tyrone, and is one of the most decorated players in the game's history, winning two All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals, six GAA All Stars Awards , four provincial titles, and two National Leagues and...
, Mulligan won the Tyrone, Ulster and All-Ireland Championships also in 1998.
Senior career
Eoin is a member of the current generation of Tyrone players that have enjoyed unprecedented success on the All-Ireland stage. He was part of the Tyrone team that won the All-Irelands in 2003, 2005 and 2008.He made an immediate splash to his senior career against local rivals Armagh
Armagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...
by scoring a goal in the first thirty seconds. However, his contribution to the game was stifled after that and he was replaced at half time.
His best-remembered performance is probably against Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
in the drawn All-Ireland Quarter Final, when he scored what the RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
commentator described as "one of the great goals we have seen at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
". When Tyrone were on the backfoot, Mulligan picked up a pass from Stephen O'Neill
Stephen O'Neill
Stephen O'Neill is a Gaelic footballer from Strabane, Northern Ireland, who plays for the Tyrone Senior football team. He won three All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals, two Under 21 medals, and a Minor medal...
on the 45m line. He turned his marker, and started heading goalward, dummying two more defenders out of the tackle, and shooting the ball past an oncoming Dublin player and the goalie to rocket the net. This performance almost single-handedly earned him the Ulster writers Player of the Month award.
In the replay, 'Mugsy' showed that he had returned to form by scoring 1-07, and was named the Man of the Match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
in the 2005 All-Ireland Final, including deftly setting up Tyrone's winning goal with a huge catch, and perfectly-timed lay off to Peter Canavan
Peter Canavan
Peter Canavan is manager of Fermanagh and an Irish former Gaelic football player for Tyrone, and is one of the most decorated players in the game's history, winning two All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals, six GAA All Stars Awards , four provincial titles, and two National Leagues and...
.
His disciplinary record became a talking point in 2007, having been sent off twice in the 2007 National League
National Football League (Ireland) 2007
The 2007 National Football League was the Gaelic football league, contested by 32 GAA counties football teams, 31 from Ireland and London from England....
, and allegedly dropped from the team by manager, Mickey Harte
Mickey Harte
Michael "Mickey" Harte is the current manager of Tyrone Gaelic football team. He has led the team to three All-Ireland titles, three Ulster titles, one National League, and four Dr...
, during the campaign for not showing up to training due to work commitments.
Whilst in Brisbane, Australia 2000 he played a key role for Shamrocks Gaelic Football Club in winning the 2000 Queensland Gaelic Football Championship.
Outside football
Mulligan also represented Tyrone in the 1996 Milk CupMilk Cup
The Milk Cup is an international youth football tournament held annually in Northern Ireland. The cup matches are mainly played in the North Coast area of Northern Ireland, with matches taking place in the towns of Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock, Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballymena and...
, and played under 15 soccer in Canada.
As a student, he was under the tutelage of Tyrone great, Peter Canavan
Peter Canavan
Peter Canavan is manager of Fermanagh and an Irish former Gaelic football player for Tyrone, and is one of the most decorated players in the game's history, winning two All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals, six GAA All Stars Awards , four provincial titles, and two National Leagues and...
, who often managed him in the school football team. As Mulligan rose up the ranks, the two players played together on the Tyrone team in the late nineties.