Niall McCusker
Encyclopedia
Niall McCusker is an Irish
Gaelic football
er who plays for Derry
, with whom he has won two National League
titles. He is the current Derry vice-captain.
McCusker plays his club football for Ballinderry Shamrocks. He was instrumental in helping Ballinderry win the 2002 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
. He has also won four Derry Championships and an Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
with the club.
He is seen as a tough, old-fashioned full-back, but is versatile and can play in almost any position. Adrian McGuckin said of McCusker "He has a great footballing brain, his positional sense is unreal and he never wastes a ball". Fellow Derry full back and captain
Kevin McCloy
says "I'd rather run into a train than run into Niall McCusker".
with Derry, defeating Meath
in the final. McCusker was named Derry vice-captain for 2005. He sat out the 2006 and 2007 campaign, but was recalled for the 2008 campaign. He was part of the Derry team that won the 2008 National League
where Derry beat Kerry
in the final. He was instrumental in the final where he marked Kieran Donaghy
and kept him scoreless, and in fact outscored him when he scored a great 50 metre point.
McCusker has been appointed Derry vice-captain for the 2009 season.
with victories over St. Gall's, Cavan Gaels
and Mayobridge. Ballinderry went on to represent Ulster
in the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
, which they won defeating Tir Chonaill Gaels
(London
) in the quarter-final, Rathnew (Wicklow
) in the semi-final and Nemo Rangers
(Cork) in the final. McCusker played a great game in that final, marking Nemo's main scoring threat Colin Corkery
.
Ballinderry defended the Derry Championship in 2002, but lost in the semi-final stage of the Ulster Club Championship to Errigal Ciarán
. McCusker was once again runner-up in the Derry Championship in 2003, losing to An Lúb in the final. He gained his third Derry Championship medal with the club in 2006. Ballinderry once again reached the Ulster Club final, but lost narrowly to Crossmaglen Rangers. For the 2007 season McCusker was captain
of Ballinderry. In 2008 McCusker and Ballinderry won the Ulster Senior Club Football League
and the Derry Championship again, and again were runners-up in the Ulster Senior Club Championship.
Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er who plays for 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...
, with whom he has won two National 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...
titles. He is the current Derry vice-captain.
McCusker plays his club football for Ballinderry Shamrocks. He was instrumental in helping Ballinderry win the 2002 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...
. He has also won four Derry Championships and an Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
The Ulster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition played between the top clubs in Ulster. The trophy awarded to the winners is the Seamus McFerran Cup...
with the club.
He is seen as a tough, old-fashioned full-back, but is versatile and can play in almost any position. Adrian McGuckin said of McCusker "He has a great footballing brain, his positional sense is unreal and he never wastes a ball". Fellow Derry full back and captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
Kevin McCloy
Kevin McCloy
Kevin McCloy is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Derry, with whom he has won a National League title. He also won an All Star for his performances in the 2007 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship....
says "I'd rather run into a train than run into Niall McCusker".
Inter-county
McCusker made his Derry Senior debut in 1998. In 2000 he won the National 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...
with Derry, defeating 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 the final. McCusker was named Derry vice-captain for 2005. He sat out the 2006 and 2007 campaign, but was recalled for the 2008 campaign. He was part of the Derry team that won the 2008 National League
National Football League (Ireland) 2008
The 2008 National Football League was the Gaelic football league contested by 33 GAA counties' football teams, 32 from Ireland and one from England.-Format:...
where Derry beat 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 final. He was instrumental in the final where he marked Kieran Donaghy
Kieran Donaghy
Kieran Donaghy is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Kerry. Donaghy has won three All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals, two Munster Championships and a National League title with the county. He has also been awarded two All Stars.He plays his club football for Austin Stacks in...
and kept him scoreless, and in fact outscored him when he scored a great 50 metre point.
McCusker has been appointed Derry vice-captain for the 2009 season.
Club
McCusker has been on the Ballinderry senior team since he was 17. In 1998 McCusker was part of the Ballinderry team that won the All-Ireland Kilmacud Crokes Sevens Championship. After losing two finals in a row to Bellaghy in 1999 and 2000, Ballinderry won the 2001 Derry Senior Championship defeating Bellaghy in the decider. The club went on to win the 2001 Ulster Club ChampionshipUlster Senior Club Football Championship
The Ulster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition played between the top clubs in Ulster. The trophy awarded to the winners is the Seamus McFerran Cup...
with victories over St. Gall's, Cavan Gaels
Cavan Gaels
Cavan Gaels is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from County Cavan in Ireland. They are affiliated to Cavan GAA.Cavan Gaels have appeared in nine of the last ten Cavan Senior Football Championship finals...
and Mayobridge. Ballinderry went on to represent Ulster
Ulster GAA
The Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
in the 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...
, which they won defeating Tir Chonaill Gaels
Tir Chonaill Gaels
The Tir Chonaill Gaels GFC are a Gaelic Football club based in Greenford, London.The club was formed in London in 1962,making it one of the oldest clubs outside of Ireland. The club is one of the most successful in the London Gaelic Scene , with many players representingLondon at Inter-County...
(London
London GAA
The London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or London GAA is one of the county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in London...
) in the quarter-final, Rathnew (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...
) in the semi-final and Nemo Rangers
Nemo Rangers GAA
Nemo Rangers Hurling and Football Club is a Cork-based Gaelic Athletic Association club on the southside of Cork city, Ireland. The club was founded in 1922 and is primarily concerned with the game of Gaelic football, though interest in hurling has escalated in recent years.-History:Nemo Rangers...
(Cork) in the final. McCusker played a great game in that final, marking Nemo's main scoring threat Colin Corkery
Colin Corkery
Colin Corkery is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Nemo Rangers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1993 until 2004.-Club:...
.
Ballinderry defended the Derry Championship in 2002, but lost in the semi-final stage of the Ulster Club Championship to Errigal Ciarán
Errigal Ciarán GAC
Errigal Ciarán GAC is a Gaelic Athletic Association Gaelic football club founded in 1990, in the town of Ballygawley, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland....
. McCusker was once again runner-up in the Derry Championship in 2003, losing to An Lúb in the final. He gained his third Derry Championship medal with the club in 2006. Ballinderry once again reached the Ulster Club final, but lost narrowly to Crossmaglen Rangers. For the 2007 season McCusker was captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of Ballinderry. In 2008 McCusker and Ballinderry won the Ulster Senior Club Football League
Ulster Senior Club Football League
The Ulster Senior Club Football League is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between a number of clubs in Ulster. It starts with a group stage, with the group winners advancing to the knockout stage...
and the Derry Championship again, and again were runners-up in the Ulster Senior Club Championship.
Inter-county
- 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): 2000, 2008National Football League (Ireland) 2008The 2008 National Football League was the Gaelic football league contested by 33 GAA counties' football teams, 32 from Ireland and one from England.-Format:...
- Winner (2): 2000, 2008
- Dr. McKenna Cup:
- Runner up: 2005, 2008, more?
Club
- All-Ireland Senior Club Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Club Football ChampionshipThe 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...
:- Winner (1): 2002
- All-Ireland Kilmacud Crokes Sevens Championship:
- Winner (1): 1998
- Runner up:? 1999?
- Ulster Senior Club Football ChampionshipUlster Senior Club Football ChampionshipThe Ulster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition played between the top clubs in Ulster. The trophy awarded to the winners is the Seamus McFerran Cup...
:- Winner (1): 2001
- Runner up: 2006Ulster Senior Club Football Championship 2006The Ulster Senior Club Football Championship 2006 was the 2006 installment of the annual Ulster Senior Club Football Championship ran by the Ulster GAA. St. Gall's of Antrim were the defending champions, but they were knocked out of their own county championship by Cargin, who went on to win Antrim...
, 2008Ulster Senior Club Football Championship 2008*Source: Hogan Stand website.-Preliminary round:-Quarter-finals:-Semi-finals:-Final:-Replay:-See also:*Ulster Senior Club Football Championship*Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship-External links:*...
- Ulster Senior Club Football LeagueUlster Senior Club Football LeagueThe Ulster Senior Club Football League is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between a number of clubs in Ulster. It starts with a group stage, with the group winners advancing to the knockout stage...
:- Winner (1): 2008
- Derry Senior Football Championship:
- Winner (4): 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008Derry Senior Football Championship 2008-Match day 2:-Match day 3:-Section 2:-Match day 1:-Match day 2:-Match day 3:-Section 3:-Match day 1:-Match day 2:-Match day 3:-Section 4:-Match day 1:-Quarter-finals:-Semi-finals:-Final:...
- Runner up: 1999, 2000, 2003
- Winner (4): 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008
- Derry Senior Football League:
- Winner (4?/5?/6?): 1996?, 1997?, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- Numerous underage competitions
Individual
- Ballinderry Senior football captain: 2007
Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.