Michael Donnellan (GAA player)
Encyclopedia
Michael Donnellan is a former inter-county Gaelic footballer for Galway
. He is the son of former politician and footballer, John Donnellan
and grandson of politician and footballer Michael Donnellan. All them have captained the Galway football team in their careers. Michael was one of the most exciting players in the GAA during his playing career.
team of the early nineties. He played a crucial role in their Hogan Cup
winning season of 1994, alongside future Galway team-mate Padraic Joyce
. They reached the Connacht final the following year but lost out to their biggest rivals, St.Patricks.
In 1998, Donnellan won his first All-Ireland medal, as part of the Galway
side that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
in 1998. During the first half of the final against Kildare
, Donnellan picked up the ball inside the heart of his own defence and proceeded to go on an amazing run, soloing the length of the field while exchanging a one-two with Kevin Walsh in the midfield. As he approached the Kildare goal, he laid the ball off to Derek Savage who passed to Sean Óg De Paor. De Paor slotted the ball over the bar. The score re-invigorated the Galway team, who were losing at the time. Donnellan's overall performance inspired Galway to their first football title in 32 years and completed a unique hat-trick of senior All-Ireland medals for his family, as he followed in the footsteps of his father John (1966) and his grandfather Mick (1925). The final score was 1-14 to 1-10. That solo run was later voted No.1 in the Top 20 GAA Moments
, in 2003. He was named All Stars Footballer of the Year & Texaco Footballer of the Year
that year.
After reaching another final in 2000, losing out to Kerry after a replay, Donnellan & Galway returned to win the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
. After losing to Roscommon
in the Connacht semi-final, Galway entered the newly introduced back-door qualifiers and defeated Wicklow
, Armagh
and Cork to reach the quarter-finals. They gained revenge over Roscommon with 0-14 to 1-05 victory to reach the semi-finals, where they defeated Derry
by 3 points. In the final
, they outclassed a Meath
team by 0-17 to 0-08. Once again, Donnellan was named All Stars Footballer of the Year for his efforts.
Donnellan went on to win an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
with his adopted club Salthill-Knocknacarra
in 2005. He gave a man of the match performance in the final where Salthill narrowly edged out Antrim
club St. Galls.
After being hampered by injury in recent years, Donnellan pulled the curtain down on a career at the end of the 2006 season, a career during which he won nearly ever honour in the game.
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,...
. He is the son of former politician and footballer, John Donnellan
John Donnellan
John F. Donnellan is a former Irish politician and sportsperson. He served as a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Dáil Éireann for twenty-five years. He played Gaelic football with his local club Dunmore McHales and with the Galway senior inter-county team in the 1960s.-Early & private life:John...
and grandson of politician and footballer Michael Donnellan. All them have captained the Galway football team in their careers. Michael was one of the most exciting players in the GAA during his playing career.
Playing career
Donnellan first came to prominence as a member of the talented St. Jarlath's CollegeSt. Jarlath's College
St. Jarlath's College is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. It is an amalgamation of the former St. Jarlath's College and St...
team of the early nineties. He played a crucial role in their Hogan Cup
Hogan Cup
The Hogan Cup 1946-48 & 1957-) is the cup presented to the winners of the colleges All-Ireland "A" senior football championship, the top level Gaelic football championship for secondary schools in Ireland. The competition itself is regularly referred to by reference to the trophy's name.St...
winning season of 1994, alongside future Galway team-mate Padraic Joyce
Pádraic Joyce
Pádraic Joyce |Galway]], Ireland) is a current inter-county Gaelic football player for Galway. He plays his club football with Killererin. He is regarded in GAA circles as one of the best forwards in the game over the past decade. His key abilities include excellent accuracy both from frees and...
. They reached the Connacht final the following year but lost out to their biggest rivals, St.Patricks.
In 1998, Donnellan won his first All-Ireland medal, as part 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,...
side that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1998
The 1998 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 112th edition of the GAA's premier gaelic football competition. It was played from May to September, 1998. Galway's victory marked the first time in 32 years the Sam Maguire Cup returned to the county and the province of Connacht...
in 1998. During the first half of the final against Kildare
Kildare GAA
For more information see Kildare Senior Club Football Championship or Kildare Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Kildare GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kildare...
, Donnellan picked up the ball inside the heart of his own defence and proceeded to go on an amazing run, soloing the length of the field while exchanging a one-two with Kevin Walsh in the midfield. As he approached the Kildare goal, he laid the ball off to Derek Savage who passed to Sean Óg De Paor. De Paor slotted the ball over the bar. The score re-invigorated the Galway team, who were losing at the time. Donnellan's overall performance inspired Galway to their first football title in 32 years and completed a unique hat-trick of senior All-Ireland medals for his family, as he followed in the footsteps of his father John (1966) and his grandfather Mick (1925). The final score was 1-14 to 1-10. That solo run was later voted No.1 in the Top 20 GAA Moments
Top 20 GAA Moments
Top 20 GAA Moments was a poll of the best moments of Gaelic football and hurling in the television era. In early 2005, the Irish public chose its favourite from 20 memorable moments from the last 40 years, as selected by ten RTÉ sports personalities and featured on the "Sunday Sport" programme...
, in 2003. He was named All Stars Footballer of the Year & Texaco Footballer of the Year
Texaco Footballer of the Year
The Texaco Footballer of the Year is a Gaelic football award, created in 1958, that honours the achievements of a footballer of outstanding excellence...
that year.
After reaching another final in 2000, losing out to Kerry after a replay, Donnellan & Galway returned to win the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2001
-Munster Senior Football Championship:---------------------Ulster Senior Football Championship:-------------------------------------Leinster Senior Football Championship:----------------------------------------...
. After losing to 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 Connacht semi-final, Galway entered the newly introduced back-door qualifiers and defeated Wicklow
Wicklow GAA
The Wicklow County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wicklow GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wicklow...
, 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 Cork to reach the quarter-finals. They gained revenge over Roscommon with 0-14 to 1-05 victory to reach the semi-finals, where they defeated 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...
by 3 points. In the final
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2001
-Munster Senior Football Championship:---------------------Ulster Senior Football Championship:-------------------------------------Leinster Senior Football Championship:----------------------------------------...
, they outclassed a 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 :...
team by 0-17 to 0-08. Once again, Donnellan was named All Stars Footballer of the Year for his efforts.
Donnellan went on to win an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
with his adopted club Salthill-Knocknacarra
Salthill-Knocknacarra
Salthill-Knocknacarra is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Salthill and Knocknacarra areas in Galway City, Ireland. The club is a member of the Galway GAA...
in 2005. He gave a man of the match performance in the final where Salthill narrowly edged out Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
club St. Galls.
After being hampered by injury in recent years, Donnellan pulled the curtain down on a career at the end of the 2006 season, a career during which he won nearly ever honour in the game.