2015 Donegal county football team season

Donegal county football team 2015 football season

Donegal county football team2015 season

Stadium| MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
All-Ireland SFC| Quarter-finalist
Ulster SFC| Finalist

← 2014

2016 →

The following is a summary of Donegal county football team's 2015 season.

The 2015 Donegal county football team season was the franchise's 111th season since the County Board's foundation in 1905. The team entered the season, having reached the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.[1]

## Personnel changes

[edit]

Rory Gallagher was in his first season as the team's manager. He was ratified on 31 October 2014.[2] In December 2014, Gary McDaid officially joined the backroom team as coach–selector.[3]

Thirteen players were added ahead of the 2015 Dr McKenna Cup, including goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley, Eoin McHugh, Ciaran McGinley, Conor Parke, Eunan Doherty (Naomh Conaill) Kevin McBrearty (Four Masters) and Ryan Malley (Ard an Rátha).[4]

Ahead of the season Rory Kavanagh announced his retirement.[5] Mark McHugh returned.[6]

Another veteran of the 2012 All-Ireland SFC winning campaign, Dermot Molloy, also departed, between the McKenna Cup's conclusion and League's beginning.[7][8][9]

Michael Boyle left for Boston before the 2015 Ulster SFC semi-final and Mark Anthony McGinley, who had earlier joined the panel, was promoted to his position.[10]

## Panel

[edit]

Team as per Donegal v Galway, 2015 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Qualifier, 1 August 2015

| No.  | Player  | Position  | Club

|
|
|

1  | Paul Durcan | Goalkeeper | The Four Masters
2  | Paddy McGrath | Right Corner Back | Ard an Rátha
3  | Neil McGee | Full back | Gaoth Dobhair
4  | Eamon McGee | Left Corner Back | Gaoth Dobhair
5  | Ryan McHugh | Right half back | Cill Chartha
6  | Anthony Thompson | Centre back | Naomh Conaill
7  | Frank McGlynn | Left half back | Glenfin
8  | Neil Gallagher | Midfield | Glenswilly
9  | Martin McElhinney | Midfield | St Michael's
10  | Christy Toye | Right half forward | Naomh Mícheál
11  | Odhrán Mac Niallais | Centre forward | Gaoth Dobhair
12  | Mark McHugh | Left half forward | Cill Chartha
13  | Patrick McBrearty | Right Corner Forward | Cill Chartha
14  | Michael Murphy (c)  | Full forward | Glenswilly
15  | Colm McFadden | Left Corner Forward | St Michael's
|  | No.  | Player  | Position  | Club

|
|
|

16  | Mark Anthony McGinley | Substitute | St Michael's
17  | Eamonn Doherty | Substitute | St Eunan's
18  | Declan Walsh | Substitute | Malin
19  | Martin O'Reilly | Substitute | Seán MacCumhaills
20  | David Walsh | Substitute | Naomh Bríd
21  | Hugh McFadden | Substitute | Na Cealla Beaga
22  | Leo McLoone | Substitute | Naomh Conaill
23  | Gary McFadden | Substitute | Glenswilly
24  | Eoghan Bán Gallagher | Substitute | Na Cealla Beaga
25  | Ciaran McGinley | Substitute | Cill Chartha
26  | Daniel McLaughlin | Substitute | St Michael's

## Competitions

[edit]

### Dr McKenna Cup

[edit]

Main article: 2015 Dr McKenna Cup

The draw was made in early November 2014, with Derry, Fermanagh and Queen's Donegal's opponents in Section B of the competition.[11]

Gallagher's first match in charge of the county was a 2015 Dr McKenna Cup away defeat to Derry.[12]

Queen's was the second game; Dr McKenna Cup Section B up until that point ran as follows: Fermanagh 1–13 0–9 Queen's on Sunday 4 January; Derry 1–16 0–8 Donegal on Sunday 4 January; Donegal 2–16 1–8 Queen's on Sunday 11 January; Fermanagh 1–9 1–7 Derry on Sunday 11 January; Derry vs Queen's at Owenbeg on Wednesday 14 January at 19:30 GMT; Donegal vs Fermanagh at MacCumhaill Park on Wednesday 14 January at 19:30 GMT.[13]

So Fermanagh was the third game.

### National Football League Division 1

[edit]

Main article: 2015 National Football League (Ireland)

Donegal advanced to the Division 1 semi-finals.

2015 Division 1 table
Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | D | Pts | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2 | Dublin | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7–93 | 2–78 | 30 | 9 | Advanced to NFL semi-finals
3 | Monaghan | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4-86 | 7–84 | -7 | 8
4 | Donegal | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6–75 | 5–70 | 8 | 7
5 | Mayo | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8–79 | 7–79 | 3 | 7
6 | Kerry | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6–88 | 9-90 | -11 | 7

1Donegal, Mayo and Kerry are ranked by points difference.

31 January 2015

Round 1

Donegal| 1-15 - 0-12| Derry

|
|

| Report |

MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey

Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo)

7 February 2015

Round 2

Donegal| 2-10 - 0-11| Dublin

|
|

| Report |

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

1 March 2015

Round 3

Donegal| 0-12 - 1-08| Cork

|
|

| Report |

Ballyshannon

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

8 March 2015

Round 4

Donegal| 1-04 - 0-09| Monaghan

|
|

| Report |

O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny

Referee: P. Hughes (Armagh)

15 March 2015

Round 5

Kerry| 2-13 - 2-11| Donegal

|
|

| Report |

Tralee

Attendance: 6,250

Referee: R. Hickey (Clare)

29 March 2015

Round 6

Donegal| 1-13 - 0-06| Tyrone

|
|

| Report |

MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

5 April 2015

Round 7

Mayo| 0-12 - 1-09| Donegal

|
|

| Report |

Attendance: 12,304

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

12 April 2015

Semi-final

Cork| 4-11 - 0-19| Donegal

|
|

| Report |

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: M. Duffy (Sligo)

### Ulster Senior Football Championship

[edit]

Main article: 2015 Ulster Senior Football Championship

Donegal advanced to their fifth consecutive Ulster final.

| Preliminary round | | | Quarter-finals | | | Semi-finals | | | Final |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |  Cavan | 0-15 | | |
| | | |  Monaghan | 0-16 |
| | | | | | |  Monaghan | 1-20 |
| | | | | |  Fermanagh | 0-13 |
| | | |  Fermanagh | 1-13 | | | |
| | | |  Antrim | 0-08 |
| | | | |  Monaghan | 0-11 |
| | | | | | |  Donegal | 0-10 |
| | | |  Derry | 0-12 | | | |
| | | |  Down | 0-11 |
| | | | | | |  Derry | 0-10 |
| | | | | |  Donegal | 1-09 |
| | | |  Armagh | 0-08 | |
|  Donegal | 1-13 | | |  Donegal | 2-11 |
|  Tyrone | 1-10 | |

17 May 2015

16:00

Preliminary round

Donegal| 1-13 - 1-10| Tyrone

|
|

M McElhinney (1-2); M Murphy (0-3, 2 frees, 1 45); C Toye, C McFadden, P McBrearty (0-2 each); F McGlynn, K Lacey (0-1 each). | Report | S Cavanagh (0-4, 3 frees); D McCurry (1-0); C McAliskey (0-3); Justin McMahon, M Donnelly, R McNamee (0-1 each).

MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey

Attendance: 17,435

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

14 June 2015

14:00

Quarter-final

Armagh| 0-08 - 2-11| Donegal

|
|

T Kernan 0-3 (1f), J Morgan, C McKeever, E Rafferty (f), A Findon, C Rafferty all 0-1 each. | Report | M Murphy 0-5 (5fs), P McBrearty 1-1, M O'Reilly 1-0, O MacNiallais 0-2, N Gallagher, M McElhinney, N Gallagher 0-1 each.

Athletic Grounds, Armagh

Attendance: 18,186

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

27 June 2015

19:00

Semi-final

Derry| 0-10 - 1-09| Donegal

|
|

M Lynch 0-02, 1f, E Bradley 0-02, 2f, C O’Boyle 0-02, C McKaigue 0-01, C McFaul 0-01; N Holly 0-01, B Heron 0-01. | Report | M O’Reilly 1-00 P McBrearty, 0-02, 1f, M Murphy 0-02, C McFadden 0-02, M McElhinney 0-01; C Toye 0-01, O MacNiallais 0-01.

St Tiernach's Park, Clones

Attendance: 19,237

Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)

19 July 2015

14:00

Final

Monaghan| 0-11 - 0-10| Donegal

|
|

C McManus 0-6 (4f), K O'Connell, O Duffy, K Duffy, D Mone, O Lennon 0-1 each. | Report | P McBrearty 0-6 (4f), M Murphy 0-2 (2f), K Lacey, F McGlynn 0-1 each

St Tiernach's Park, Clones

Attendance: 31,997

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

### All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

[edit]

Main article: 2015 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

1 August

6:00 PM

Round 4B

Donegal| 3-12 – 0-11| Galway

|
|

P McBrearty 1-1, C McFadden 0-4 (1f), R McHugh 1-0, C Toye 1-0, O MacNiallais 0-3, M Murphy 0-3 (2f), L McLoone 0-1 | Report | G Sice 0-5 (5f), D Cummins 0-1, T Flynn 0-1, A Varley 0-1, P Conroy 0-1, S Walsh 0-1, D Comer 0-1 (1f)

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois)

8 August

6:00 PM

Quarter-final

Mayo| 2-13 - 0-11| Donegal

|
|

Lee Keegan 1-2, Aidan O'Shea 1-0, Jason Doherty 0-3, Cillian O'Connor 0-3 (0-2f), Kevin McLoughlin 0-2, Keith Higgins 0-1, A Freeman 0-1, A Moran 0-1. | Report | Michael Murphy 0-8 (0-5f), Christy Toye 0-1, Leo McLoone 0-1, Anthony Thompson 0-1.

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: David Gough (Meath)

## Kit

[edit]

## Management team

[edit]

* Manager: Rory Gallagher
* Selectors: Gary McDaid,[3] Jack Cooney[14]
* Strength and conditioning coach: Paul Fisher[15]

## Awards

[edit]

### Footballer of the Year

[edit]

Frank McGlynn[16][17]

### GAA.ie Football Team of the Week

[edit]

Included:

* 4 August: Ryan McHugh, Odhrán Mac Niallais, Colm McFadden[18]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "As it happened: Donegal shock Dublin". RTÉ Sport. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
2. ^ "Rory Gallagher confirmed as new Donegal manager". Irish Independent. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
3. ^ a b Walsh, Harry (23 December 2014). "Gary McDaid joins Donegal backroom team". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
4. ^ Walsh, Harry (21 December 2014). "Thirteen new faces on Gallagher's first Donegal panel". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 8 August 2015.
5. ^ "Rory Kavanagh ends inter-county involvement". RTÉ Sport. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
6. ^ "Mark McHugh rejoins the Donegal football squad". Irish Independent. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
7. ^ "Dermot Molloy steps away from Donegal panel". Highland Radio. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
8. ^ "Forward Dermot Molloy quits Donegal panel". BBC Sport. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
9. ^ "Dermot Molloy quits the Donegal panel". RTÉ Sport. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
10. ^ Keys, Colm (11 August 2015). "Durcan's Donegal future in doubt as he plans move abroad". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 August 2015. "But Boyle opted to travel to Boston for the summer prior to the Ulster semi-final against Derry and Mark McGinley stepped up to become the reserve goalkeeper."
11. ^ "McKenna Cup 2015: Donegal and Derry pitted in same group". Hogan Stand. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
12. ^ McNulty, Chris (4 January 2015). "Report: Rory Gallagher's experimental Donegal well beaten by Derry". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 7 January 2015.
13. ^ "McKenna Cup: Wins for Donegal and Fermanagh". BBC Sport. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
14. ^ Keys, Colm (4 January 2017). "Only six new inter-county gaelic football managers in 2017". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 January 2017. "Rory Gallagher extended his term for a further three years with the option of serving a fourth and has a new coach in former Tyrone All-Ireland U-21 winner Richard Thornton, who comes highly regarded. He replaces former Westmeath footballer Jack Cooney after two years with Gallagher."
15. ^ Watters, Andy (15 December 2020). "A level playing field? Donegal coach Paul Fisher laments lack of resources in quest to close gap on Dublin". The Irish News. Retrieved 15 December 2020. "But Paul Fisher, the man who has overseen that programme for the last six years has reluctantly decided that it is time to move on. With a gym to run, a family to support and a Masters to complete, the Letterkenny native has stepped down after playing a vital role in the successes of managers Jim McGuinness, Rory Gallagher and Declan Bonner."
16. ^ Foley, Alan (1 December 2015). "The Donegal GAA name players of the year and various award winners for 2015". Retrieved 1 December 2015.
17. ^ "2015 Donegal GAA Award Winners Announced". Highland Radio. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
18. ^ "GAA.ie Football Team of the Week — Week 12". 4 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

* v
* t
* e

Donegal county football team

* Honours
* All Stars
* Managers
* Players
* Captains
* Records and statistics

Stadiums|

* MacCumhaill Park
* O'Donnell Park

Key historical figures|

* Columba McDyer
* Seamus Hoare
* Brian McEniff
* Seamus Bonner
* Donal Reid
* Anthony Molloy
* Martin McHugh
* Matt Gallagher
* Martin Gavigan
* Declan Bonner
* Manus Boyle
* Barry McGowan
* Jim McGuinness
* Brian Roper
* Kevin Cassidy
* Colm McFadden
* Neil Gallagher
* Karl Lacey
* Frank McGlynn
* Neil McGee
* Michael Murphy

Rivalries|

* Cork
* Dublin
* Mayo
* Tyrone

Competitions|

* All-Ireland SFC
* Ulster SFC
* National League
* Dr McKenna Cup

All-Ireland SFCs|

* 1992
* 2012

Culture|

* Donegal Creameries
* Football Special

Media|

* Confessions of a Gaelic Footballer
* "Jimmy's Winning Matches"
* Jimmy's Winnin' Matches
* "Las Vegas (In the Hills of Donegal)"
* Until Victory Always: A Memoir

Related|

* Match for Michaela
* "The System"

* v
* t
* e

Seasons

* 1970
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* 1979

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* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

* 2010
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* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

2015 GAA season

« 2014

2016 »

Football|

| Championship|

* Ulster SFC
* final
* Leinster SFC
* final
* Munster SFC
* final
* Connacht SFC
* final

* All-Ireland qualifiers
* Minor Football Championship
* All-Ireland series
* final

|

League (NFL)|

* Division 1
* Division 2
* Division 3
* Division 4

Preseason competitions|

* McKenna
* O'Byrne
* McGrath

Other competitions|

* International Rules Series
* Interprovincial Championships
* Sigerson

County team seasons|

* Donegal
* Down

Hurling|

| Championship|

* Leinster SHC
* final
* Munster SHC
* final

* All-Ireland qualifiers
* All-Ireland series
* final

* Christy Ring Cup
* final
* Nicky Rackard Cup
* final
* Lory Meagher Cup

|

League (NHL)|

* Division 1A
* Division 1B
* Division 2A
* Division 2B
* Division 3A
* Division 3B

Preseason competitions|

* Walsh
* Kehoe
* Waterford Crystal

Other competitions|

* Fitzgibbon
* Shinty/Hurling International Series
* Interprovincial Championships
* Ulster SHC

County team seasons|

* Tipperary

Football All Stars • Hurling All Stars
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