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2020 Donegal county football team season

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Donegal county football team
2020 season
ManagerDeclan Bonner
StadiumMacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
NFL D15th
All-Ireland SFCDid not compete
Ulster SFCFinalist
Dr McKenna CupSemi-finalist (walkover)
← 2019
2021 →

The following is a summary of Donegal county football team's 2020 season. The season was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The season resumed in mid-October of the same year.[2]

Eight players completed the league and championship season while awaiting the outcome of the 2020 Donegal Senior Football Championship final (postponed following a case of COVID-19 at the Kilcar club); these were Patrick McBrearty, Ryan McHugh, Eoin McHugh and Andrew McClean, as well as the following from their opponents Naomh Conaill: Ciarán Thompson, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, Eoghan McGettigan and Ethan O'Donnell.[3]

Squad

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1 S. Patton
2 E. B. Gallagher
3 N. McGee
4 E. McHugh
5 R. McHugh
6 P. Brennan
7 P. Mogan
8 H. McFadden
9 C. McGonagle
23 B. McCole
11 N. O'Donnell
12 M. Langan
13 P. McBrearty
14 M. Murphy (c.)
15 J. Brennan
Subs
20 A. McClean for P. Brennan
21 D. Ó Baoill for E. McHugh
10 C. Thompson for McBrearty
19 J. McGee for O'Donnell
Subs not used
16 M. Lynch
17 J. Mac Ceallabhuí
18 E. McGettigan
22 C. Ward
24 E. Doherty
25 C. O'Donnell
26 P. McGrath
Other panel members
? S. McMenamin
? M. Carroll
? C. Diver
? K. Gillespie
? A. Doherty
Manager
D. Bonner
Selectors
P. McGonigle
G. Boyle
S. Rochford

Above is the starting lineup vs Cavan on 22 November 2020

Others
Conor Morrison
Ethan O'Donnell[4]

Personnel changes

[edit]

Players added to the panel included Ethan O'Donnell, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, Andrew McClean, Conor O'Donnell, Ciaran Diver, Enda McCormick, Aaron Deeney (St Eunan's) and Brian O'Donnell.[5][6]

Cian Mulligan joined the panel again after departing the previous season.[6] Conor Morrison, who played six games in the 2019 season before deciding to depart in March, returned.

Michael Carroll was recalled after his midfield performances in the 2019 Donegal SFC.[6] Tony McClenaghan also returned, following his injury.[6]

Frank McGlynn retired ahead of the 2020 season.[7][8]

Odhrán Mac Niallais did not return, having previously opted out of the 2019 season.[9]

Competitions

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Dr McKenna Cup

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Main article: 2020 Dr McKenna Cup

Jason McGee had hip surgery in Coventry, England, on 28 November 2019, causing him to miss the opening part of the season.[10]

Eamonn Doherty, Hugh McFadden and Odhrán McFadden-Ferry were all struck down by "January flu" as the season opened.[11]

National Football League Division 1

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Main article: 2020 National Football League (Ireland)

Donegal competed in Division 1 for the 2020 National League season. The GAA published the fixture schedule on 26 November 2019.[12][13][14] On 12 March 2020, the GAA suspended the National League in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Games resumed in October 2020.[2] The footballers travelled the round-trip of 900 kilometres to Tralee in their own cars to play Kerry in the first game, a feat described in the Irish Independent as the "most eye-catching example of GAA expeditions in the Covid era".[15]

Table

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Kerry (C) 7 5 1 1 133 112 +21 11 National Football League champions
2 Dublin 7 4 2 1 126 112 +14 10 Runners–up
3 Galway 7 4 0 3 128 127 +1 8[a]
4 Tyrone 7 4 0 3 109 126 −17 8[a]
5 Donegal 7 3 1 3 117 109 +8 7
6 Monaghan 7 2 2 3 113 114 −1 6
7 Mayo (R) 7 2 1 4 122 123 −1 5 Relegation to 2021 NFL Division 2
8 Meath (R) 7 0 1 6 103 128 −25 1
Updated to match(es) played on 24 October 2020. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: 1) League points 2) Where only two teams are involved, the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the competition 3) Scoring Difference 4) Highest Total Score For 5) A Play-Off.
(C) League champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head result: Galway 2-25 – 0-12 Tyrone.

Fixtures

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25 January 2020 (2020-01-25) 1 Donegal 0-19 (19) – (19) 2-13 Mayo Ballybofey  
19:15 GMT (UTC+0) Venue: MacCumhaill Park
Report Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)


2 February 2020 (2020-02-02) 2 Meath 0-07 (07) – (17) 3-08 Donegal Navan  
15:30 GMT (UTC+0) Venue: Páirc Tailteann
Report Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)


9 February 2020 (2020-02-09) 3 Donegal 2-07 (13) – (14) 2-08 Galway Letterkenny  
15:00 GMT (UTC+0) Venue: O'Donnell Park
Report Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)


22 February 2020 (2020-02-22) 4 Dublin 1-15 (18) – (17) 1-14 Donegal Drumcondra, Dublin  
19:00 GMT (UTC+0) Venue: Croke Park
Report Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)


1 March 2020 (2020-03-01) 5 Donegal 2-12 (18) – (08) 0-08 Monaghan Ballyshannon  
14:00 GMT (UTC+0) Venue: Fr Tierney Park
Report Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)


18 October 2020 (2020-10-18) 6 Donegal 2-17 (23) – (19) 2-13 Tyrone Ballybofey  
16:00 IST (UTC+1) Venue: MacCumhaill Park
Report Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)
TV: TG4


24 October 2020 (2020-10-24) 7 Kerry 2-18 (24) – (10) 0-10 Donegal Tralee  
14:00 IST (UTC+1) Venue: Austin Stack Park
Report Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
TV: eir Sport


Ulster Senior Football Championship

[edit]
Main article: 2020 Ulster Senior Football Championship

The draw for the 2020 Ulster SFC took place on RTÉ Radio 1 on the morning of 9 October 2019.[16][17][18]

Paddy McGrath sustained an injury during training ahead of the 2020 Ulster SFC semi-final, which ruled him out.[19]

Ciarán Thompson and Oisín Gallen sustained injuries during training ahead of the 2020 Ulster SFC final; Thompson could only make a substitute appearance in the game and Gallen could not play at all.[20]

Bracket

[edit]
Preliminary round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
Donegal 1–13
Tyrone 1–11
Donegal 1–22
Armagh 0–13
Derry 0–15
Armagh 0–17
Donegal 0–12
Cavan 1–13
Fermanagh 0–11
Down 1–15
Down 1–13
Cavan 1–14
Antrim 0–9
Monaghan 1–17 Cavan 0–13
Cavan 2–15

Fixtures

[edit]
1 November 2020 (2020-11-01)
13:30 GMT (UTC+0)
Quarter-final
Donegal 1-13 (16) – (14) 1-11 Tyrone
(HT: 1-5 – 0-6)
Gls: M Langan 1.
Pts: C Thompson 7 (5fs), M Langan 2, J Brennan 2, O Gallen 1, P Brennan 1.		 Gls: D Canavan 1.
Pts: D McCurry 3 (1f), M Bradley 2, M Donnelly 1, C McKenna 1 (f), P Harte 1, F Burns 1, N Morgan 1 (45), D Canavan 1.
14 November 2020 (2020-11-14)
13:15 GMT (UTC+0)
Semi-final
Donegal 1-22 (25) – (13) 0-13 Armagh
(HT: 1-12 – 0-3)
Gls: P Mogan 1.
Pts: M Langan 3, P Mogan 2, R McHugh 2, J Brennan 2, C McGonigle 2 (1m), C Thompson 2 (1f), N O’Donnell 2 (1m), M Murphy 2 (2f), EB Gallagher 1, H McFadden 1 (m), P McBrearty 1, O Gallen 1, A McClean 1
Pts: R O’Neill 7 (6f, 1x’45′), J Clarke 2, C Turbitt 2 (1m), O O’Neil 1, N Grimley 1 (1m).
22 November 2020 (2020-11-22)
16:00 GMT (UTC+0)
Donegal 0-12 (12) – (16) 1-13 Cavan
(HT: 0-9 - 0-7)

Pts: P McBrearty 4 (2f), N O’Donnell 2, C McGonigle 2, R McHugh 1, P Mogan 1, M Langan 1, M Murphy 1.		 Gls: C Madden 1.
Pts: C Madden 2, J Smith 2, O Kiernan 2, G McKiernan 2 (2f), J McLoughlin 1, G Smith 1, C Brady 1, T Galligan 1, M Reilly 1.

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

[edit]
Main article: 2020 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games, the GAA announced that there would be no back-door route into the All-Ireland Championship. Therefore, because Donegal did not win the Ulster Championship, they did not qualify for the 2020 All-Ireland Championship.

Management team

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Confirmed in November 2017, with replacements noted:[21]

Awards

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GAA.ie Football Team of the Week

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All Stars

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Three nominations, for Peadar Mogan, Michael Langan and Ciarán Thompson[40][41]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c The game was played behind closed doors due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.

References

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  1. ^ a b "GAA, FAI & IRFU suspend all games, Euro 2020 under review". RTÉ Sport. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b Ryan, Eoin (25 September 2020). "Leinster bides time as GAA confirms 2020 inter-county fixtures". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ^ Craig, Frank (24 September 2020). "Situation was avoidable says Kilcar chairman". Donegal News. p. 64. Naomh Conaill men Ciarán Thompson, Jeaic Mac Ceallbhuí, Eoghan McGettigan and Ethan O'Donnell are all in Declan Bonner's squad along with Patrick McBrearty, Ryan McHugh, Eoin McHugh and Andrew McClean from Kilcar.
  4. ^ Ferry, Ryan (12 August 2021). "Ethan eager to play final". Donegal News. p. 67. O'Donnell heads into the county final after a breakthrough season with the Donegal seniors. He was involved with the Donegal panel in 2017 and 2020, but found his game time limited. However, he came on in the first league match against Tyrone this year, and ended up featuring in five of the seven games that the county side played… 'Peadar Mogan got injured before the Dublin match and I got my wee break then'... O'Donnell started against Dublin in the league semi-final, and he was thrown in from the off against Derry in the Ulster quarter-final. Further details in the print edition.
  5. ^ McLaughlin, Gerry (4 January 2020). "McGee urges new players to take their chance". The Irish News. Retrieved 4 January 2020. Aaron Deeney, Conor O'Donnell, Brian O'Donnell, Andrew McClean, Ciaran Diver, Jeaic MacCeallbhui, Enda McCormick and Ethan O'Donnell are some of the new boys who will be hoping for some game-time.
  6. ^ a b c d Ferry, Ryan (28 November 2019). "Bonner boosted by young guns return". Donegal News. p. 80.
  7. ^ O'Brien, Kevin (5 November 2019). "All-Ireland winner and All-Star defender calls time on Donegal career". The42.ie. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Donegal's McGlynn retires from inter-county football". RTÉ Sport. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  9. ^ "No Donegal return for Odhrán Mac Niallais in 2020, manager confirms". 30 December 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Surgery to rule McGee out to Championship". Highland Radio. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  11. ^ Bogue, Declan (11 January 2020). "Donegal deserve our sympathy as senseless GAA policy hits home". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 11 January 2020. This week the January flu has swept across the county and has dosed up Hugh McFadden, Odhran McFadden-Ferry and Eamonn Doherty…
  12. ^ "GAA Master Fixture schedule for 2020 published". Gaelic Athletic Association. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Football League and All-Ireland Club SFC dates confirmed as GAA release fixture schedule". BBC Sport. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  14. ^ Ryan, Eoin (26 November 2019). "Dubs and Kerry to renew battle in Allianz Football League opener". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  15. ^ Roche, Frank (27 October 2020). "'You're in a car without somebody to talk to' — Inter-county players on the lonely road just to stay safe". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Donegal and Tyrone to clash in 2020 Ulster SFC Quarter-Finals". Gaelic Athletic Association. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Donegal to take on Tyrone in 2020 Ulster SFC quarter-finals". The Irish Times. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Ulster SFC: Fierce rivals Donegal and Tyrone clash in quarter-finals". BBC Sport. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  19. ^ Ferry, Ryan (12 November 2020). "Huge prize at stake for Donegal". Donegal News. p. 64. Bonner says Donegal are in good shape for the match [Ulster semi-final], although they do have one injury concern. Paddy McGrath picked up a knock last weekend in training… 'Paddy has picked up a knock. He has a soft tissue injury from the weekend. It's nothing too serious, but the turnaround time for this weekend is too quick'.
  20. ^ Bonner, Declan (26 November 2020). "Painful defeat in Ulster final". Donegal News. p. 63. Oisin Gallen and Ciaran Thompson picked up injuries at training last Tuesday night. Oisin wasn't able to play, while Ciaran was only able to come on as a sub…
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h "Bonner completes backroom team with new goalkeeping coach". 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  22. ^ a b c McLaughlin, Gerry (22 May 2019). "Paul McGonigle says Donegal are keeping their focus ahead of Fermanagh clash". The Irish News. Retrieved 22 May 2019. Donegal manager Declan Bonner together with assistant manager Paul McGonigle, coach Gary Boyle and selector Stephen Rochford before the McKenna Cup match against Queens at Ballybofey on Sunday December 30 2018.
  23. ^ "Stephen Rochford joins Donegal backroom team after Karl Lacey's departure". BBC. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018. Rochford replaces Karl Lacey, who recently stepped away from the Donegal set up citing family reasons.
  24. ^ "Karl Lacey leaves Declan Bonner's Donegal management team for family and work reasons". BBC. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ a b Craig, Frank (21 November 2020). "Morrison determined to make swift return". Donegal News. Retrieved 21 November 2020. 'But the Donegal medical team were on the ball right away. I'd two missed calls from Cathal Ellis before I even got my phone in my hand… Dr Kevin Moran organised the MRI for the Wednesday… Morrison anticipated bad news and was braced for the confirmation of Donegal physio Cathal Ellis' earlier prognosis.
  27. ^ McNulty, Chris (1 August 2014). "It's all in the mind for Anthony McGrath". Donegal News. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  28. ^ "GAA.ie Football Team of the Week". 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  29. ^ "GAA.ie Footballer of the Week nominations". 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  30. ^ "GAA.ie Football Team of the Week". 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  31. ^ "GAA.ie Football Team of the Week". 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  32. ^ "GAA.ie Footballer of the Week nominations". 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  33. ^ "Aidan O'Shea voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week". 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  34. ^ "Aidan O'Shea voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week". MidWest Radio. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  35. ^ "Michael Langan named GAA.ie Player of the Week". Highland Radio. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  36. ^ "GAA.ie Football Team of the Week". 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  37. ^ "GAA.ie Footballer of the Week nominations". 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  38. ^ "Mattie Ruane voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week". 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  39. ^ "Mayo's Mattie Ruane voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week". MidWest Radio. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  40. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (15 January 2021). "13 for Dublin and 12 from Mayo as 10 counties feature in 2020 All-Star football nominations: Cavan, Tipperary, Donegal, Galway, Cork, Limerick, Armagh and Kerry also have nominees". The42.ie. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  41. ^ "Three Donegal players in shake up for All Stars". Donegal News. 15 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021.
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