2016 Donegal county football team season

Donegal county football team 2016 football season

Donegal county football team2016 season

Stadium| MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
NFL D1| Semi-finalist
All-Ireland SFC| Quarter-finalist
Ulster SFC| Finalist

← 2015

2017 →

The following is a summary of Donegal county football team's 2016 season.[1][2]

## Personnel changes

[edit]

Brendan Kilcoyne replaced Gary McDaid on the management team.[3][4] Kilcoyne's appointment as a team selector was announced in November 2015.[5] Maxi Curran was also said to be involved in team preparations ahead of the 2016 Dr McKenna Cup, alongside Gallagher, Kilcoyne and Jack Cooney.[4]

Twelve players were added ahead of the season: Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Ciarán Thompson, Stephen McMenamin, Caolan McGonagle, Tony McClenaghan, Kieran Gillespie, Michael Carroll, Stephen McBrearty, Jack O'Brien (Naomh Muire), Danny Rodgers (An Clochán Liath; goalkeeper), Rory Carr (St Eunan's) and Caolan Ward. Ward was the eldest of those additions.[6] O'Brien played for Donegal in the 2016 National Football League semi-final against Dublin at Croke Park.[7]

Paul Durcan emigrated to Qatar at the end of the previous season.[8][9]

## Kit

[edit]

The 'KN Group' began appearing as title sponsor on the front of player shirts, while the 'MCR Group' became Tier 2 sponsors, thus featuring on the back of player shirts.[10]

## Competitions

[edit]

### Dr McKenna Cup

[edit]

Main article: 2016 Dr McKenna Cup

### National Football League Division 1

[edit]

Main article: 2016 National Football League (Ireland)

The fixtures were announced on 16 November 2015.[11]

#### Table

[edit]

Compete in Division 1 semi-finals
Automatic relegation to Division 2

Team  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | F  | A  | Diff  | Pts

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Dublin | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 8-91 | 4-75 | 28 | 14
Kerry | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 5-109 | 5-77 | 32 | 10
Roscommon | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 9-98 | 8-77 | 24 | 8
Donegal | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 8-84 | 6-78 | 12 | 6
Mayo | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5-88 | 7-91 | -9 | 6
Monaghan | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6-83 | 7-91 | -11 | 6
Cork | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9-89 | 9-105 | -16 | 6
Down | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2-60 | 6-108 | -60 | 0

1Donegal, Mayo, Monaghan and Cork are ranked by scoring difference.

#### Fixtures

[edit]

30/01/16
Round 1  | Down | 0-7 - 3-15 | Donegal | Páirc Esler, Newry
Referee: D Gough

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D O'Hare (0-4), A McConville (0-2), C McGovern (0-1)  | Report | M Murphy (0-8), P McBrearty (1-3), R McHugh (2-0), L McLoone (0-2), C Thompson (0-1), F McGlynn (0-1)

* * *

07/02/16
Round 2  | Donegal | 2-14 - 1-7 | Cork | Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon
Referee: J McQuillan

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O MacNiallais (1-4), P McBrearty (0-4), M O'Reilly (1-1), A Thompson (0-2), C Thompson (0-1), F McGlynn (0-1), M Murphy (0-1)  | Report | D Goulding (0-5), D Og Hodnett (1-0), B O'Driscoll (0-1)

* * *

28/02/16
Round 3  | Donegal | 1-14 - 1-12 | Mayo | MacCumhail Park, Ballybofey
Referee: B Cassidy

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M Murphy (0-5), P McBrearty (0-4), L McLoone (1-0), O MacNiallais (0-2), R McHugh (0-2), R Kavanagh (0-1)  | Report | E Regan (0-4), D O'Connor (1-0), R Hennelly (0-2), A O'Shea (0-1), B Harrison (0-1), C Loftus (0-1), L Keegan (0-1), S Nally (0-1), S O'Shea (0-1)

* * *

06/03/16
Round 4  | Kerry | 1-13 - 1-8 | Donegal | Austin Stack Park, Tralee
Attendance: 7,056
Referee: E Kinsella

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B Sheehan (0-8), D Walsh (0-3), P Crowley (1-0), BJ Keane (0-1), C Cooper (0-1)  | Report | M Murphy (1-4), P McBrearty (0-3), N Gallagher (0-1)

* * *

13/03/16
Round 5  | Donegal | 0-17 - 1-19 | Roscommon | O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny
Referee: P Hughes

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M Murphy (0-7), P McBrearty (0-6), C Toye (0-1), E McHugh (0-1), O MacNiallais (0-1), R McHugh (0-1)  | Report | C Murtagh (0-6), F Cregg (0-5), C Cregg (1-2), N Daly (0-3), C Daly (0-1), C Devaney (0-1), E Smith (0-1)

* * *

26/03/16
Round 6  | Dublin | 1-10 - 0-7 | Donegal | Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: C Lane
Man of the Match: Kevin McManamon

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C Costello (0-3), K McManamon (0-3), P McMahon (1-0), B Fenton (0-1), C Kilkenny (0-1), D Rock (0-1), P Andrews (0-1)  | Report | P McBrearty (0-3), E McGee (0-1), M Murphy (0-1), O MacNiallais (0-1), R Kavanagh (0-1)

* * *

03/04/16
Round 7  | Monaghan | 1-10 - 1-9 | Donegal | St Tiernach's Park, Clones
Referee: R Hickey

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C McManus (0-6), D McKenna (1-1), C Walshe (0-1), D Hughes (0-1), R McAnespie (0-1)  | Report | M Murphy (0-3), M McElhinney (1-0), P McBrearty (0-2), A Thompson (0-1), E McHugh (0-1), O MacNiallais (0-1), R McHugh (0-1)

* * *

10/04/16
4:00 pm
Semi-final  | Dublin | 1-20 - 0-13 | Donegal | Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: M Deegan
Man of the Match: Ciaran Kilkenny

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D Rock (0-5), B Brogan (1-2), C Kilkenny (0-3), P Mannion (0-2), P Andrews (0-2), P McMahon (0-1), J Cooper (0-1), J McCarthy (0-1), J Small (0-1), C Costello (0-1), E Lowndes (0-1)  | Report | P McBrearty (0-8), M Murphy (0-4), M McElhinney (0-1)

* * *

### Ulster Senior Football Championship

[edit]

Main article: 2016 Ulster Senior Football Championship

The draw for the 2016 Ulster Senior Football Championship took place on 15 October 2015.[12]

#### Bracket

[edit]

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

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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |  Derry | 0-12 | | |
| | | |  Tyrone | 3-14 |
| | | | | | |  Tyrone
(R) | 0-16
5-18 |
| | | | | |  Cavan
(R) | 3-07
2-17 |
| | | |  Cavan | 2-16 | | | |
| | | |  Armagh | 0-14 |
| | | | |  Tyrone | 0-13 |
| | | | | | |  Donegal | 0-11 |
| | | |  Monaghan | 2-22 | | | |
| | | |  Down | 0-09 |
| | | | | | |  Monaghan
(R) | 0-14
2-10 |
| | | | | |  Donegal
(R) | 1-11
0-17 |
| | | |  Donegal | 2-12 | |
|  Fermanagh | 1-12 | | |  Fermanagh | 0-11 |
|  Antrim | 0-9 | |

#### Fixtures

[edit]

12 June 2016

14:00

Quarter-Final

Donegal | 2-12 – 0-11|  Fermanagh

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O MacNiallais (2-1), P McBrearty (0-3), E McHugh, M O'Reilly (0-2 each), M McElhinney, C McFadden, F McGlynn, M Murphy (0-1 each) | Report | T Corrigan (0-7), E Donnelly, B Mulrone, R Jones, S Quigley (0-1 each)

MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey

Attendance: 15,908

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

25 June 2016

19:00

Semi-Final

Monaghan | 0-14 – 1-11|  Donegal

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C McManus (0-8), C McCarthy, K O’Connell (0-2 each), S Carey, O Duffy (0-1 each) | Report | P McBrearty (0-5), M Murphy (0-3), O MacNiallais (1-0), K Lacey, E McHugh, C Toye (0-1 each)

Breffni Park, Cavan

Attendance: 16,287

Referee: Ciaran Branagan (Down)

2 July 2016

19:00

Semi-Final
Replay

Monaghan | 2-10 – 0-17|  Donegal

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C McManus (1-4), S Carey (1-1), J McCarron (0-2), C Boyle, O Duffy, C Walshe (0-1 each) | Report | M Murphy (0-5), P McBrearty (0-4), M O’Reilly (0-3), R Kavanagh, M McElhinney, F McGlynn, M McHugh, A Thompson (0-1 each)

Breffni Park, Cavan

Attendance: 17,174

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

17 July 2016

14:00

Final

Tyrone | 0-13 – 0-11|  Donegal

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S Cavanagh (0-3), P Harte, N Morgan (0-2 each), R Brennan, C McCarron, D McCurry, C McGeary, C McShane, N Sludden (0-1 each) | Report | P McBrearty, R McHugh (0-3 each), O MacNiallais, M Murphy (0-2 each), C Toye (0-1)

St Tiernach's Park, Clones

Attendance: 33,433

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

### All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

[edit]

Main article: 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

30 July 2016
4.00 PM
Round 4B  | Cork | 1-15 – 0-21 |  Donegal | Croke Park
Attendance: 27,615
Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon)

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Paul Kerrigan 1-1, Colm O’Driscoll, Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Kevin O’Driscoll, Colm O’Neill (0-1f), Donncha O’Connor 0-2 each, Mark Collins, Tomás Clancy (Fermoy), Seán Powter, Aidan Walsh 0-1 each  | Report | Patrick McBrearty 0-11 (0-4f), Ryan McHugh 0-3, Eoin McHugh, Michael Murphy (0-1f) 0-2 each, Karl Lacey, Frank McGlynn, Odhrán MacNiallais 0-1 each.

* * *

6 August
6.00 PM  | Dublin | 1-15 – 1-10 |  Donegal | Croke Park, Dublin
Referee: C Branagan (Down)
Man of the Match: Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)

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D Rock (0-5f), P Mannion (1-1), D Connolly, K McManamon, P McMahon (0-2 each), P Andrews, C Kilkenny, J Cooper (0-1 each)  | Report [1] | M Murphy (0-6 5f, 1 45), R McHugh (1-0), P McBrearty (0-3, 2f), A Thompson (0-1)

* * *

## Management team

[edit]

* Selector: Brendan Kilcoyne[13]
* Coach: Jack Cooney[13]
* Strength and conditioning coach: Paul Fisher[14]
* Goalkeeping coach: James Gallagher[15]

## Awards

[edit]

### All Stars

[edit]

Ryan McHugh won an All Star, the county's 32nd.[16] Paddy McGrath and Patrick McBrearty were also nominated.[17][18]

Pos. | Player | Team | Appearances

|
|
|

GK |  David Clarke | Mayo | 1
RCB |  Brendan Harrison | Mayo | 1
FB |  Jonny Cooper | Dublin | 1
LCB |  Philly McMahon | Dublin | 2
RWB |  Lee KeeganFOTY | Mayo | 4
CB |  Colm Boyle | Mayo | 3
LWB |  Ryan McHugh | Donegal | 1
MD |  Brian Fenton | Dublin | 2
MD |  Mattie Donnelly | Tyrone | 2
RWF |  Peter Harte | Tyrone | 1
CF |  Diarmuid Connolly | Dublin | 2
LWF |  Ciarán Kilkenny | Dublin | 2
RCF |  Dean Rock | Dublin | 1
FF |  Michael Quinlivan | Tipperary | 1
LCF |  Paul Geaney | Kerry | 1

County breakdown

* Dublin = 6
* Mayo = 4
* Tyrone = 2
* Donegal = 1
* Kerry = 1
* Tipperary = 1

## Notes

[edit]

A team captained by Jason McGee, and including Mark Curran, Enda McCormick, Odhrán McFadden-Ferry, Eoghan McGettigan, Peadar Mogan, Gavin Mulreany and Niall O'Donnell, advanced to the 2016 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship semi-final on 21 August.[19][20][21][22][23] O'Donnell was also joint-captain of the minor team with McGee.[24]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ferry, Ryan (16 August 2016). "A–Z of Donegal's 2016 season". Donegal News. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
2. ^ Duggan, Keith (27 February 2016). "Donegal: where big names and youth collide". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
3. ^ "Brendan Kilcoyne joins Donegal Senior Backroom Team". Highland Radio. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
4. ^ a b Walsh, Harry (13 November 2015). "Kilcoyne relishing new Donegal management role". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. "Gallagher, Kilcoyne, Maxi Curran and Jack Cooney will run the rule over a large number of players when the Donegal senior squad resumes training early next month ahead of the opening McKenna Cup game."
5. ^ McNulty, Chris (11 November 2015). "Rory Gallagher to finalise Donegal panel this weekend as Kilcoyne recruited as selector". Retrieved 11 November 2015.
6. ^ Maguire, Gerry (24 November 2015). "Rory Gallagher puts his faith in youth with minor promotions". The Irish News. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
7. ^ "FL1 semi-final: dazzling Dubs demolish disappointing Donegal". Hogan Stand. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
8. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (11 August 2015). "Donegal's Allstar goalkeeper set for move to Qatar putting inter county future in doubt". The42.ie. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
9. ^ Keys, Colm (11 August 2015). "Durcan's Donegal future in doubt as he plans move abroad". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
10. ^ Bonner, Declan (9 January 2016). "Good start to McKenna Cup". Donegal News. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
11. ^ "Football League fixtures: Down face Donegal on opening weekend". BBC Sport. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
12. ^ "2016 Ulster Championship Draw". 15 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
13. ^ a b 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. Brendan Kilcoyne continues as a selector."
14. ^ 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."
15. ^ McNulty, Chris (27 February 2016). "James Gallagher joins Glenswilly squad for 2016". Retrieved 27 February 2016. "Gallagher — a Trench Cup winner in 2005 with Letterkenny Institute of Technology — is currently the goalkeeping coach with the Donegal senior football team and was assistant manager to Ollie Horgan at Finn Harps last season."
16. ^ Walsh, Harry (5 November 2016). "McHugh was in library when heard he had won an All Star". Donegal News. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
17. ^ Heneghan, Conor (1 October 2016). "Here are the GAA/GPA Football All-Star nominations for 2016". JOE.ie. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
18. ^ "Three Donegal players get All Star nominations". Donegal News. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
19. ^ McNulty, Chris (30 July 2016). "Superb second half sees Donegal minors reach All-Ireland semi-final". Retrieved 30 July 2016.
20. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (30 July 2016). "Donegal second-half comeback sees off 14-man Cork in All-Ireland quarter-final". The42.ie. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
21. ^ Foley, Alan (21 August 2016). "Donegal minors lose to Galway in All-Ireland semi-final". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
22. ^ Gallagher, Ciarán (21 August 2016). "Galway account for Donegal to make minor decider". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
23. ^ "On This Day — August 21, 2016: Donegal minors have All-Ireland dreams ended by Galway at Croke Park". The Irish News. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
24. ^ Cannon, Chris (27 May 2018). "Niall O'Donnell joins Donegal U-20s panel". Retrieved 27 May 2018.

* 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
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979

* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

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

* v
* t
* e

2016 GAA season

« 2015

2017 »

Football|

| Championship|

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

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

|

League (NFL)|

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

Preseason competitions|

* Dr McKenna Cup
* FBD League
* McGrath Cup
* O'Byrne Cup

Other competitions|

* Interprovincial Championships
* Sigerson

County team seasons|

* Donegal
* Down
* Galway
* Mayo
* Tipperary

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 Cup
* Kehoe Cup
* Munster Senior Hurling League

Other competitions|

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

County team seasons|

* Tipperary

Football All Stars • Hurling All Stars
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