Mattie McDonagh
Encyclopedia
Matthew 'Mattie' McDonagh (1936–2005) was an Irish
sportsperson. He played Gaelic football
with his local club Ballygar and was a member of the Galway
senior inter-county team from 1956 until 1968. McDonagh later served as manager
of the Galway team. He is regarded as one of the greatest Galway players of all-time.
, where he colleagues remembered him from his striking stature as a youngster. Before he was 18 he has tasted Connacht Colleges glory and also won a Roscommon minor hurling medal with Ballygar
.
Big Mattie burst on to the national scene in 1956 when forming the midfield partnership with Frank Evers (GAA)
which provided the possession lifeline for the side which powered their way to a 2-13 to 3-7 All-Ireland final
victory over Cork on the day that Seán Purcell
& Frank Stockwell
ran riot, Stockwell setting a scoring record of 2-05 from play.
After the initial flush of success some lean years followed and Mattie had to bear the disappointment of two county final defeats with Ballygar at the hands of Tuam Stars
and Dunmore McHales
, the later by the narrowest of margins but the best was yet to come.
McDonagh was one of the most influential players in the Galway teams of the 1960s. After Galway had tasted heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Dublin in the 1963 All-Ireland final where Gerry Davey scored the controversial winning goal, the county under the stewardship of John Dunne, was to embark on their greatest ever run of success, winning three All-Ireland titles, beating Kerry
in the first two and Meath
in 66 to complete the three in a row, where Mattie McDonagh will be forever remembered in firing home ’left footed’ the only goal of the match in a 1-10 to 0-7 victory.
McDonagh is the only Connacht player to have won four senior All-Ireland medals
He never shirked a challenge and took on the task of managing the Galway senior team in 1980 after a turbulent period when player power made the headlines in the county and a cool and respected head was needed to settle the ship.
Mattie, although fiercely competitive in every sport, was blessed with an easy temperament which helped him to assuage fears and tensions. One year later he led Galway to what turned out to be their last National League success when routing Roscommon
in the Croke Park final although their semi-final victory over Kerry in Ennis was the real highlight of that series.
The same year he and his charges had to endure the shock of a Connacht championship defeat when Willie Nally and Willie Joe Padden of Mayo
"caught all around them" but the following year Galway were desperately disappointed to lose out to Offaly
in the 1982 semi-final before going all the way to the final in the infamous decider of 1983 when Dublin edged Galway out.
In the years after he was always willing to help out with under-age teams and threw in his lot with John Tobin’s minor winning team of 1986 where his experience and cool ahead proved to be an invaluable asset to the management team.
Mattie McDonagh died at the age of 68 on April 10, 2005. Tributes poured in from GAA
colleagues and officials including GAA President Sean Kelly
who said that the Association was greatly saddened by his loss. He was laid to rest in his native Ballygar soil.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He 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...
with his local club Ballygar and was a member of the Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
senior inter-county team from 1956 until 1968. McDonagh later served as manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
of the Galway team. He is regarded as one of the greatest Galway players of all-time.
Biography
He sprung to sporting prominence as a teenager when he starred with Summerhill College, SligoSligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, where he colleagues remembered him from his striking stature as a youngster. Before he was 18 he has tasted Connacht Colleges glory and also won a Roscommon minor hurling medal with Ballygar
Ballygar
Ballygar is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It is 11.7 km from Roscommon town.- Ballygar - A timeline :The name Ballygar, historically Beallagarr, comes from...
.
Big Mattie burst on to the national scene in 1956 when forming the midfield partnership with Frank Evers (GAA)
Frank Evers (GAA)
Frank Evers was a Gaelic footballer who played for the Galway county team in the 1950s and early 1960s. He played his last game for Galway in 1962 He started at the Senior National level in 1952, when he was only 18 year old...
which provided the possession lifeline for the side which powered their way to a 2-13 to 3-7 All-Ireland final
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1956
-All-Ireland Final:...
victory over Cork on the day that Seán Purcell
Seán Purcell
Seán Purcell , nicknamed "The Master", was a famous Gaelic footballer for County Galway.Best known as a centre half forward, his versatility saw him used in virtually all outfield positions throughout an illustrious career. He was recognised by many football enthusiasts as one of the greatest...
& Frank Stockwell
Frank Stockwell
Frank Stockwell was an Irish sportsman who played Gaelic football with his local club Tuam Stars and was a member of the Galway, Louth and London inter-county teams at various periods from 1949 until 1960. Stockwell is regarded as Galway’s greatest-ever full forward.Stockwell began his...
ran riot, Stockwell setting a scoring record of 2-05 from play.
After the initial flush of success some lean years followed and Mattie had to bear the disappointment of two county final defeats with Ballygar at the hands of Tuam Stars
Tuam Stars
Tuam Stars is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Tuam area in County Galway, Ireland. The club is a member of the Galway GAA. Underage teams up to U-16's play in the Galway league and championships while Minor, Junior, and Senior compete in their respective competitions in the North...
and Dunmore McHales
Dunmore McHales
Dunmore MacHales is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dunmore, County Galway, Ireland. The club is a member of Galway GAA. Teams at underage level and Senior play in the Galway League and Championships....
, the later by the narrowest of margins but the best was yet to come.
McDonagh was one of the most influential players in the Galway teams of the 1960s. After Galway had tasted heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Dublin in the 1963 All-Ireland final where Gerry Davey scored the controversial winning goal, the county under the stewardship of John Dunne, was to embark on their greatest ever run of success, winning three All-Ireland titles, beating Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
in the first two and 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 66 to complete the three in a row, where Mattie McDonagh will be forever remembered in firing home ’left footed’ the only goal of the match in a 1-10 to 0-7 victory.
McDonagh is the only Connacht player to have won four senior All-Ireland medals
He never shirked a challenge and took on the task of managing the Galway senior team in 1980 after a turbulent period when player power made the headlines in the county and a cool and respected head was needed to settle the ship.
Mattie, although fiercely competitive in every sport, was blessed with an easy temperament which helped him to assuage fears and tensions. One year later he led Galway to what turned out to be their last National League success when routing Roscommon
Roscommon GAA
For more details of Roscommon GAA see Roscommon Senior Club Football Championship or Roscommon Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Roscommon County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Roscommon GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games...
in the Croke Park final although their semi-final victory over Kerry in Ennis was the real highlight of that series.
The same year he and his charges had to endure the shock of a Connacht championship defeat when Willie Nally and Willie Joe Padden of Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
"caught all around them" but the following year Galway were desperately disappointed to lose out 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 1982 semi-final before going all the way to the final in the infamous decider of 1983 when Dublin edged Galway out.
In the years after he was always willing to help out with under-age teams and threw in his lot with John Tobin’s minor winning team of 1986 where his experience and cool ahead proved to be an invaluable asset to the management team.
Mattie McDonagh died at the age of 68 on April 10, 2005. Tributes poured in from GAA
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...
colleagues and officials including GAA President Sean Kelly
Sean Kelly
Sean Kelly may refer to:* Sean Kelly , Professor of philosophy at Harvard University* Sean Kelly , Irish professional road bicycle racer...
who said that the Association was greatly saddened by his loss. He was laid to rest in his native Ballygar soil.
Ballygar
- Galway Senior Football Championship:
- Winner (0):
- Runner-up (2): 1957, 1958, 1961
Galway
- All-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
:- Winner (4): 1956, 1964, 1965, 1966
- Runner-up (2): 1959, 1963
- Connacht Senior Football ChampionshipConnacht Senior Football ChampionshipThe Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition for the senior county teams of Connacht GAA. A series of games are played during the summer months and the final is played in July....
:- Winner (10): 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968
- Runner-up (2): 1961, 1962
- 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...
:- Winner (2): 1956-57, 1964–65
- Runner-up (1): 1966-67
Connacht
- Railway Cup:
- Winner (1): 1958