Fergal McCusker
Encyclopedia
Fergal P. McCusker is a Gaelic football
er who played with Derry
in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He played club football with Watty Graham's GAC Glen
until retiring in 2007.
McCusker was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
winning side, as well as the 1993 and 1998 Ulster Championship
winning teams. He earned a reputation for his ability to play in either defence or attack.
was also in the 1993 Derry team that won the All-Ireland. He works as a bank official and also writes a column for the County Derry Post newspaper. In 2007 he lodged a motion at the Derry GAA convention to rename Derry's training complex Owenbeg, to the Eamonn Coleman Centre of Excellence in honour of legendary Derry GAA figure Eamonn Coleman
.
Although a founding member of the Gaelic Players Association
(GPA) even coining the organisation's name, McCusker has renounced his membership and in a December 2007 meeting in Newbridge, McCusker publicly spoke out against the direction the organisation had taken in over the recent players' grants issue. On one occasion, he almost came to blows with a Newbridge aficionado who voiced his disapproval of the GPA, McCusker wasn't available to comment at the time and the issue has since died down.
by then manager Tom Scullion when 17 years old. He made his Derry senior debut that year against Armagh
and scored a goal in that match to save Derry from relegation. He was part of Derry's 1993 Ulster Championship
and All-Ireland winning team, which beat Cork in the final. McCusker added a second Ulster Championship medal in 1998.
He won National Football League
medals with Derry in 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000??, and retired from inter-county football in 2000. McCusker and Derry finished runners-up to Offaly
in the 1998 National League decider.
In September 2008 McCusker was appointed part of a special selection committee set up by the Derry County Board, to interview the candidates for the vacant Derry Senior, Under 21 and Minor managers' positions in both football and hurling. Following the committee's recommendations, Damian Cassidy
was formally ratified as new Derry Senior football manager at the county board meeting on 7 October.
.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er who played with 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 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He played club football with Watty Graham's GAC Glen
Glen GAC
Watty Graham's GAC Glen is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The team draws players from Maghera and some surrounding townlands. They currently cater for Gaelic football, Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie.Glen are also committed to Scor,...
until retiring in 2007.
McCusker was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993
-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
winning side, as well as the 1993 and 1998 Ulster 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...
winning teams. He earned a reputation for his ability to play in either defence or attack.
Personal life
McCusker was born in Maghera and attended school at St Patricks College in the town. His brother DamienDamien McCusker
Damien McCusker is an Irish Gaelic footballer who played with Derry in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He still plays club football with Watty Graham's GAC Glen...
was also in the 1993 Derry team that won the All-Ireland. He works as a bank official and also writes a column for the County Derry Post newspaper. In 2007 he lodged a motion at the Derry GAA convention to rename Derry's training complex Owenbeg, to the Eamonn Coleman Centre of Excellence in honour of legendary Derry GAA figure Eamonn Coleman
Eamonn Coleman
Eamonn Coleman was an Irish Gaelic footballer and later manager.He had two separate stints as manager the Derry senior football team, and his chief success was guiding the county to the victory in the 1993 All-Ireland Championship - Derry's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title...
.
Although a founding member of the Gaelic Players Association
Gaelic Players Association
The Gaelic Players Association The GPA was formed in 1999 when former IMG employee Donal O'Neill and a number of high profile inter-county players including Tyrone's Fergal Logan and Peter Canavan, Derry's Fergal McCusker and Dublin's Dessie Farrell were instrumental in the birth of the organisation...
(GPA) even coining the organisation's name, McCusker has renounced his membership and in a December 2007 meeting in Newbridge, McCusker publicly spoke out against the direction the organisation had taken in over the recent players' grants issue. On one occasion, he almost came to blows with a Newbridge aficionado who voiced his disapproval of the GPA, McCusker wasn't available to comment at the time and the issue has since died down.
Inter-county career
Regarded as one of the best Derry minor players of all time, McCusker was called up to the Derry senior team during the 1988 National Football LeagueNational 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...
by then manager Tom Scullion when 17 years old. He made his Derry senior debut that year against 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...
and scored a goal in that match to save Derry from relegation. He was part of Derry's 1993 Ulster 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...
and All-Ireland winning team, which beat Cork in the final. McCusker added a second Ulster Championship medal in 1998.
He won National Football 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...
medals with Derry in 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000??, and retired from inter-county football in 2000. McCusker and Derry finished runners-up to Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
in the 1998 National League decider.
In September 2008 McCusker was appointed part of a special selection committee set up by the Derry County Board, to interview the candidates for the vacant Derry Senior, Under 21 and Minor managers' positions in both football and hurling. Following the committee's recommendations, Damian Cassidy
Damian Cassidy
Damian Cassidy is an Irish retired Gaelic footballer and a former manager.He played for Derry in the 1980s and 1990s and was part of the county's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side, starting at left half forward. He also won two Ulster Senior Championship medals, three National League...
was formally ratified as new Derry Senior football manager at the county board meeting on 7 October.
Club career
Among other club titles, McCusker won a Derry Minor Football Championship and Derry Senior League medal with Glen in 1987. He played club football up until 2007 when a serious leg break finished his career.Soccer
Fergal McCusker also had a brief stint playing soccer for Ballyclare Comrades F.C.Ballyclare Comrades F.C.
Ballyclare Comrades is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 2. The club was founded in 1919 by veterans of the 1914–18 War, most of them from "C" Company of the 12th Royal Irish Rifles - a battalion made up entirely of East Antrim men, who fought at the Somme...
.