DONEGAL ARE FAMED for their goalkeepers but in terms of championship football it’s been something of a closed shop.
Eleven years have now passed since Donegal gave a goalkeeper a debut in the championship. In Ballybofey on Sunday when Fermanagh roll into town, Rory Gallagher will hand to number one jersey to a first-timer – either Mark Anthony McGinley from St Michael’s or Peter Boyle from Aodh Ruadh.
Photo caption: Mark Anthony McGinley in action against Bernard Brogan from Dublin in the Allianz Football League Division 1 semi-final at Croke Park in April. Photo: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
McGinley kept goal for UCD in the League of Ireland and made his first inter-county appearance against Dublin in March in Division 1 on his 26th birthday, while Boyle – who featured in Jim McGuinnness’s first league match against Sligo in 2011 – wasn’t even in the panel for the Dr McKenna Cup but was first choice by the time the league started, saving a penalty against Down after his five-year sabbatical.
[adrotate group=”53″]So since 1956 – the year when the county won the Ulster Minor Football Championship – only 11 men have kept goal for Donegal in the championship. From that, only five men have hit double figures in terms of appearances.
Paul Durcan will stay in Dubai for the summer and his reserve in recent years Michael Boyle is just off full fitness following a cruciate injury suffered last year.
“We all know Paul is an exceptional goalkeeper, but we very much made peace in our mind since this time last year that he was very likely not going to be there,” Gallagher said.
[adrotate group=”37″]“He definitely has a will to play for Donegal again, he’s tied in with work and he actually couldn’t leave the country there until maybe June. They get some sort of visa, he was over and back as we all know but he’s an outstanding goalkeeper. We are very lucky to have him but at the same time we’ve been planning all season with not having him.
“Michael Boyle has got the all-clear. In another couple of weeks he’ll be fine. He’s doing kick-outs and hasn’t joined in for any of the contact stuff. It’ll be Peter or Mark Anthony in one guaranteed debutant against Fermanagh.”
Termon’s Michael Boyle debuted as a 17-year-old in 2005 against Armagh in a 0-12 to 0-12 draw in Clones and his only other year as first choice concluded in 2009 when Cork hammered John Joe Doherty’s team 1-27 to 2-10 in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
[adrotate group=”38″]Durcan, from Four Masters, made his debut in 2004 in a 1-15 to 1-9 win over Antrim and hasn’t missed a championship outing since 2010 – a run of 32 successive games. Durcan has 52 championship appearances in all.
Changing goalkeepers isn’t a frequent occurrence. Gary Walsh – who played for Aodh Ruadh and then Burren in Down – was Donegal’s 1992 All-Ireland winning netminder in 1992 and played every game bar one – 30 matches – from his first appearance in 1985 till stepping aside in 1996. Four Masters’ Michael Kelly was in goal for the 1987 season, where Donegal lost in their first outing 1-8 to 0-6 against Armagh.
Since then, Tony Blake from St Eunan’s and Naomh Colmcille in latter years played in 24 championship games from his debut in 1998 till the 2003 All-Ireland semi-final loss to Armagh.
Burt’s Paul Callaghan – Donegal’s reserve ‘keeper in 1992 – was first choice in 1997, playing twice, and started the 1998 season and played in the 1-11 to 0-11 win over Antrim only to suffer a groin injury and lose his place to Blake.
[adrotate group=”69″]Noel McCole enjoyed a run from the 3-9 to 1-12 Ulster final replay win of 1974 straight through to 1984, a run of 17 for the Rosses Rovers and Dungloe goalkeeper.
He took over for the final replay from Alan Kane, who kept goal in the 1-14 to 2-11 draw against Down, having been in goal uninterrupted since the 1972 Ulster semi-final replay against Cavan. That July, Ballyshannon’s Kane was in goal as Donegal defeated Tyrone 2-13 to 1-11 to win the Anglo-Celt Cup for the first time.
Kane’s debut was in 1970 but Daniel McGeehan from Glenties did play three times overall between 1971 and 1972.
Seamus Hoare from St Eunan’s was Donegal’s long-standing goalkeeper from 1955 against Monaghan up to 1969 against Antrim. He only missed one game in that spell – thus playing in 14 championship seasons. In 1961, Packie Boyle from Dungloe was between the sticks against Derry.
[adrotate group=”63″]Michael Boyle: First championship appearance v Armagh (2005), last championship appearance v Cork (2009). Championship appearances: 7.
Paul Durcan: First championship appearance v Antrim (2004), last championship appearance v Mayo (2015). Championship appearances: 52.
Tony Blake: First championship appearance v Cavan (1998), last championship appearance v Armagh (2003). Championship appearances: 24.
Paul Callaghan: First championship appearance v Antrim (1997), last championship appearance v Antrim (1998). Championship appearances: 3.
Gary Walsh: First championship appearance v Down (1985), last championship appearance v Down (1996). Championship appearances: 30.
Michael Kelly: First championship appearance v Armagh (1987), last championship appearance v Antrim (1987). Championship appearances: 1.
Noel McCole: First championship appearance v Down (1974), last championship appearance v Armagh (1984). Championship appearances: 17.
Alan Kane: First championship appearance v Antrim (1970), last championship appearance v Down (1974). Championship appearances: 8.
Daniel McGeehan: First championship appearance v Down (1971), last championship appearance v Cavan (1972). Championship appearances: 3.
Packie Boyle: First championship appearance v Derry (1961), last championship appearance v Derry (1961). Championship appearances: 1.
Seamus Hoare: First championship appearance v Down (1955), last championship appearance v Cavan (1969). Championship appearances: 25.
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