Geoffrey McGonagle
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey McGonagle is an Irish
dual GAA player
who played Gaelic football
and hurling
for Derry
in the 1990s and 2000s.
McGonagle plays club football for St. Canice's Dungiven
and club hurling for Kevin Lynch's
. He has had a highly successful career with both clubs.
McGonagle is a fan favourite for Derry, Dungiven and Kevin Lynch's followers. He is a cult hero in Derry Gaelic Athletic Association
circles. He is famed for his highly-skilled play in both sports, larger-than-average weight and loud personality. Former team-mate Joe Brolly
said "first and foremost he was a great entertainer and character."
In football he played as a forward. For a big player he has extraordinary co-ordination and hand speed and deceptive pace. He is also famed for his ability to dummy players and goal-getting skills. Brolly said "there were many times when you could only marvel at his wizardry". Brolly says when McGonagle "was on his game, there wasn't a footballer in the country who could have laced his boots" and described him as a scoring machine.
He also played in the forward line in hurling. He was a prolific scorer, with a keen eye for goal.
. He went to primary school at St. Canice's in Dungiven and secondary school at St. Pat's College in Maghera.
with Dungiven in 1990. He started playing for Dungiven Seniors while aged just 15. He was part of the Dungiven side that won the 1991 Derry Senior Football Championship - beating Newbridge
in the final. Dungiven reached the final again in 1996, but were defeated by Bellaghy.
McGonagle won another Derry Championship medal in 1997, this time Dungiven beat Castledawson
in the final. They also went on to win the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
that year, with victory over Errigal Ciarán
in the decider.
In 2008 in the twilight of his career McGonagle played as a goalkeeper for Dungiven.
with the county - beating Down
in the final.
He made his Senior debut in 1994 against Down
in the National League
. In 1995 he won the National League with Derry, and another the following year.
McGonagle helped Derry win the 1998 Ulster Senior Football Championship
. In the final against Donegal, he set up fellow-Dungiven man Joe Brolly
for the decisive goal late in the game. Derry beat Meath
in the 2000 National League final, giving McGonagle another League medal.
in 1990.
final in 2003, 2006 and 2007, but were beaten each time.
s with the Derry Minor team. He also won one/two? Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
s with the county in 2000?? and 2001. McGonagle produced a "brilliant performance" in the 2001 decider against Antrim
scoring 1-08.
He retired from inter-county hurling in June 2005 after exiting the Ulster Championship. He later returned.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
dual GAA player
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
who played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
for Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
in the 1990s and 2000s.
McGonagle plays club football for St. Canice's Dungiven
Dungiven GAC
St. Canice's GAC Dungiven is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They currently cater for Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football. The hurling club in the town is Kevin Lynch's....
and club hurling for Kevin Lynch's
Kevin Lynch's Hurling Club
Kevin Lynch's Hurling Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They currently cater for hurling. The Gaelic football and Ladies' Gaelic football team in the town is St...
. He has had a highly successful career with both clubs.
McGonagle is a fan favourite for Derry, Dungiven and Kevin Lynch's followers. He is a cult hero in Derry Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
circles. He is famed for his highly-skilled play in both sports, larger-than-average weight and loud personality. Former team-mate Joe Brolly
Joe Brolly
Joe Brolly is an Irish barrister, TV pundit, and ex Gaelic footballer who played for Derry in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was part of Derry's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning side in 1993 and also won two Ulster Senior Football Championships and four National League...
said "first and foremost he was a great entertainer and character."
In football he played as a forward. For a big player he has extraordinary co-ordination and hand speed and deceptive pace. He is also famed for his ability to dummy players and goal-getting skills. Brolly said "there were many times when you could only marvel at his wizardry". Brolly says when McGonagle "was on his game, there wasn't a footballer in the country who could have laced his boots" and described him as a scoring machine.
He also played in the forward line in hurling. He was a prolific scorer, with a keen eye for goal.
Personal life
McGonagle is from DungivenDungiven
Dungiven is a small town and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is on the main A6 Belfast to Derry road. It lies where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the Benbradagh. Nearby is the Glenshane Pass, where the road rises to over...
. He went to primary school at St. Canice's in Dungiven and secondary school at St. Pat's College in Maghera.
Club
McGonagle won the Ulster Minor Club Football ChampionshipUlster Minor Club Football Championship
The Ulster Minor Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between the hundreds of minor football clubs in Ulster. There are nine county championships between the nine counties of Ulster. The nine winners go on to play each other in the Ulster Club Championship in a...
with Dungiven in 1990. He started playing for Dungiven Seniors while aged just 15. He was part of the Dungiven side that won the 1991 Derry Senior Football Championship - beating Newbridge
Newbridge GAC
Seán O'Leary's GAC Newbridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Newbridge, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football and Camogie. They have won the Derry Senior Football Championship on ten occasions...
in the final. Dungiven reached the final again in 1996, but were defeated by Bellaghy.
McGonagle won another Derry Championship medal in 1997, this time Dungiven beat Castledawson
Castledawson GAC
St. Malachy's GAC Castledawson is a Gaelic Athletic Club from Castledawson, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for both Gaelic football and Camogie....
in the final. They also went on to win the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
The Ulster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition played between the top clubs in Ulster. The trophy awarded to the winners is the Seamus McFerran Cup...
that year, with victory over Errigal Ciarán
Errigal Ciarán GAC
Errigal Ciarán GAC is a Gaelic Athletic Association Gaelic football club founded in 1990, in the town of Ballygawley, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland....
in the decider.
In 2008 in the twilight of his career McGonagle played as a goalkeeper for Dungiven.
Inter-county
McGonagle was part of the Derry Minor team from a young age and won the 1990 Ulster Minor Football ChampionshipUlster Minor Football Championship
The Ulster Minor Football Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The trophy for the winning side is The Liam Murray Cup. The competition began in 1930, with...
with the county - beating Down
Down GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
in the final.
He made his Senior debut in 1994 against Down
Down GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
in the National League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
. In 1995 he won the National League with Derry, and another the following year.
McGonagle helped Derry win the 1998 Ulster Senior Football Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
. In the final against Donegal, he set up fellow-Dungiven man Joe Brolly
Joe Brolly
Joe Brolly is an Irish barrister, TV pundit, and ex Gaelic footballer who played for Derry in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was part of Derry's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning side in 1993 and also won two Ulster Senior Football Championships and four National League...
for the decisive goal late in the game. Derry beat Meath
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
in the 2000 National League final, giving McGonagle another League medal.
School
McGonagle had a successful school career winning seven Ulster Collees titles in football and hurling, inlcluding the Hogan CupHogan Cup
The Hogan Cup 1946-48 & 1957-) is the cup presented to the winners of the colleges All-Ireland "A" senior football championship, the top level Gaelic football championship for secondary schools in Ireland. The competition itself is regularly referred to by reference to the trophy's name.St...
in 1990.
Club
McGonagle has won the Derry Senior Hurling Championship with Kevin Lynch's on at least 6 occasions. The club also reached the Ulster Senior Club Hurling ChampionshipUlster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual tournament played between the senior hurling clubs in Ulster. There are nine county championships between the nine counties of Ulster. The nine winners go on to play each other in the Ulster Club Championship in a knock-out format...
final in 2003, 2006 and 2007, but were beaten each time.
Inter-county
McGonagle won one/two? Ulster Minor Hurling ChampionshipUlster Minor Hurling Championship
The Ulster Minor Hurling Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of hurling played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The competition began in 1930, with Down winning during the inaugural year. The most successful...
s with the Derry Minor team. He also won one/two? Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
The Ulster Senior Hurling Championship is the premier intercounty "knockout" competition in the game of hurling played in the province of Ulster. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months. The Ulster Hurling Final is played in July...
s with the county in 2000?? and 2001. McGonagle produced a "brilliant performance" in the 2001 decider against Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
scoring 1-08.
He retired from inter-county hurling in June 2005 after exiting the Ulster Championship. He later returned.