# 2019 Donegal county football team season

The following is a summary of Donegal county football team's 2019 season.
Two players started all 18 matches in 2019: these were Jamie Brennan and Hugh McFadden. Niall O'Donnell played each match too, though only as a substitute in the championship meeting with Fermanagh. Paul Brennan only missed one of the eighteen games, though he began just five of these. Jason McGee played in all matches except for the 2019 National Football League fixture with Cork, which he missed due to suspension.

## Personnel changes

Oisín Gallen became an "impact sub" during the championship; this was despite him not being part of the Donegal panel at the start of the 2019 season. He was called up over the course of the McKenna Cup as Donegal were short on numbers.
Aaron Doherty began training with the panel in April, shortly after Eoghan McGettigan joined.
Cian Mulligan opted to depart from the panel. Conor Morrison played six games in the 2019 season before deciding to depart in March. In March, Martin McElhinney informed the team manager of his decision to withdraw from the panel, following the team's victory against Armagh in the 2019 National Football League. McElhinney had been an unused substitute in that game and the game before, though he had played in three earlier games of that year's league. In April, Martin O'Reilly withdrew from the panel ahead of the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship after experiencing limited match time during the 2019 National Football League.
Also opting to depart for the 2019 season were Kilcar trio Mark McHugh, Ciaran McGinley and Stephen McBrearty. Following the death of a clubmate in a car accident in January 2019, Odhrán Mac Niallais opted out of the Donegal panel.
Michael Carroll returned to the panel after leaving the previous year.

## Competitions
### Dr McKenna Cup

The 2019 season started with a 0–21 to 0–11 defeat of Queen's in the 2019 Dr McKenna Cup at MacCumhail Park on 30 December 2018. Ciarán Thompson was man of the match and scored four of Donegal's points.
Donegal qualified for the semi-final.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PR | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Donegal | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 36 | 1.778 | 6 | Advance to semi-final |
| 2 | Cavan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 38 | 1.184 | 4 | |
| 3 | Down | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 41 | 1.268 | 2 | |
| 4 | Queen's University | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 68 | 0.324 | 0 | |

#### Fixtures

* 13 January 2019 (2019-01-13) 14:00 GMT (UTC±0) Semi-Final 1
* Report
| Donegal | 1-10 (13) – (14) 0-14 | Armagh |
| (HT: 1-05 – 0-09) |||
* Healy Park, Omagh Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)

### National Football League Division 2

Neil McGee equalled Colm McFadden's record of 173 appearances for Donegal when he came on as a second half substitute in the final round of the 2019 National Football League, a victory over Kildare. He then broke McFadden's record with his 174th appearance for his county against Meath as a substitute in the final at Croke Park, also won by Donegal.
Donegal qualified for the Division 2 final, and won the game.

#### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Meath | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 111 | 84 | +27 | 12 | Advance to Division 2 Final |
| 2 | Donegal | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 112 | 94 | +18 | 10 | Advance to Division 2 Final |
| 3 | Fermanagh | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 69 | 74 | −5 | 8 | |
| 4 | Kildare | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 87 | 93 | −6 | 7 | |
| 5 | Armagh | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 101 | 97 | +4 | 6 | |
| 6 | Clare | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 107 | 113 | −6 | 5 | |
| 7 | Cork | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 91 | 112 | −21 | 5 | Relegation to Division 3 |
| 8 | Tipperary | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 99 | 110 | −11 | 3 | Relegation to Division 3 |

#### Fixtures

* TG4
* 30 March 2019 (2019-03-30) 17:00 IST (UTC+1) Final
* Report
| Meath | 1-15 (18) – (20) 1-17 | Donegal |
* Croke Park, Dublin Referee: Derek O'Mahoney (Tipperary)

### Ulster Senior Football Championship

Donegal retained the Ulster title.

#### Bracket

| Preliminary round 12 May 2019 | Preliminary round 12 May 2019 | Preliminary round 12 May 2019 | Quarter-finals 18, 19, 25, 26 May 2019 | Quarter-finals 18, 19, 25, 26 May 2019 | Quarter-finals 18, 19, 25, 26 May 2019 | Semi-finals 2 & 8 June 2019 | Semi-finals 2 & 8 June 2019 | Semi-finals 2 & 8 June 2019 | Final 23 June 2019 | Final 23 June 2019 | Final 23 June 2019 |
| | | | Cavan | Cavan | 1-13 | | | | | | |
| | | | Monaghan | Monaghan | 0-12 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Cavan (R) | Cavan (R) | 0-17 0-23 | | | |
| | | | | | | Armagh (R) | Armagh (R) | 1-14 0-17 | | | |
| | | | Down | Down | 3-13 | | | | | | |
| | | | Armagh | Armagh | 2-17 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Cavan | Cavan | 2-16 |
| | | | | | | | | | Donegal | Donegal | 1-24 |
| | | | Fermanagh | Fermanagh | 0-09 | | | | | | |
| | | | Donegal | Donegal | 0-15 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Donegal | Donegal | 1-16 | | | |
| | | | | | | Tyrone | Tyrone | 0-15 | | | |
| | | | Antrim | Antrim | 2-09 | | | | | | |
| Tyrone | Tyrone | 1-19 | Tyrone | Tyrone | 2-23 | | | | | | |
| Derry | Derry | 1-13 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Fixtures

* BBC NI
* 26 May 2019 (2019-05-26) 14:00 IST (UTC+1) Quarter-Final C
* Report
| Fermanagh | 0-09 (09) – (15) 0-15 | Donegal |
| (HT: 0-4 – 0-5) |||
| Pts: Ultan Kelm 2, Conall Jones 2 (2f), Ciaran Corrigan 2, Ryan Jones 1, Seán Quigley 1, Barry Mulrone 1 | | Pts: Patrick McBrearty 5 (2f), Jamie Brennan 4, Michael Murphy 2, Michael Langan 1, Jason McGee 1, Leo McLoone 1, Ciarán Thompson 1 |
* Brewster Park, Enniskillen Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
* RTÉ BBC NI Deferred
* 8 June 2019 (2019-06-08) 17:00 IST (UTC+1) Semi-Final 2
* Report
| Donegal | 1-16 (19) – (15) 0-15 | Tyrone |
| (HT: 1-9 – 0-5) |||
| Gls: Jamie Brennan 1 Pts: Michael Murphy 5 (2f, 1 '45'), Jamie Brennan 3, Patrick McBrearty 3 (1f), Ryan McHugh 1, Michael Langan 1, Eoin McHugh 1, Hugh McFadden 1, Stephen McMenamin 1 | | Pts: Cathal McShane 4 (3f), Darren McCurry 3 (1f), Richard Donnelly 2, Kieran McGeary 2, Niall Morgan 2 (1f, 1 '45'), Michael Cassidy 1, Mattie Donnelly 1 |
* Breffni Park, Cavan Referee: David Gough (Meath)
* RTÉ BBC NI
* 23 June 2019 (2019-06-23) 14:00 IST (UTC+1) Final
* Report
| Cavan | 2-16 (22) – (27) 1-24 | Donegal |
| (HT: 0-5 – 0-13) |||
| Gls: Conor Madden 1, Stephen Murray 1 Pts: Gearoid McKiernan 6 (2f), Dara McVeety 3, Conor Moynagh 1, Conor Brady 1, Oisin Pierson 1, Conor Madden 1, Cian Mackey 1, Caoimhin O'Reilly 1, Jack Brady 1 | | Gls: Jamie Brennan 1 Pts: Patrick McBrearty 5 (1f), Jamie Brennan 4, Michael Murphy 4 (2f), Jason McGee 2, Ciarán Thompson 2, Ryan McHugh 1, Eoghan Bán Gallagher 1, Hugh McFadden 1, Niall O'Donnell 1, Michael Langan 1, Daire Ó Baoill 1, Oisín Gallen 1 |
* St Tiernach's Park, Clones Referee: Conor Lane (Cork) Attendance: 28,780

### All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
#### Quarter-finals Group 1 table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Kerry | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 54 | +18 | 5 | Advance to semi-finals |
| 2 | Mayo | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 55 | 52 | +3 | 4 | Advance to semi-finals |
| 3 | Donegal | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 61 | 56 | +5 | 3 | |
| 4 | Meath | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 46 | 72 | −26 | 0 | |

#### Fixtures
## Management team

    Confirmed in November 2017, with replacements noted:
* Manager: Declan Bonner
* Assistant manager: Paul McGonigle, not listed among November 2017 appointments
* Head coach: John McElholm
* Coach: Gary Boyle
* Selector: Stephen Rochford, replacing Karl Lacey after 2018 season but Lacey actually carried on until the end of 2020
* Goalkeeping coach: Andrew McGovern
* Strength and conditioning coach: Paul Fisher
* Nutritionist: Ronan Doherty
* Team physician: Kevin Moran
* Physio: Cathal Ellis
* Psychology and performance manager: Anthony McGrath, previously involved with the minor team
* Video analysis: Chris Byrne
* Logistics: Packie McDyre
* Kitman: Barry McBride

## Awards
### Footballer of the Year

Michael Murphy

### GAA.ie Football Team of the Week

* 28 January: Jason McGee
* 25 March: Shaun Patton, Ryan McHugh, Jason McGee
* 1 April: Jason McGee, Michael Murphy, Oisín Gallen; Murphy nominated for Footballer of the Week
* 10 June: Stephen McMenamin, Michael Murphy, Jamie Brennan; Murphy nominated for, and selected as, Footballer of the Week
* 24 June: Hugh McFadden, Jamie Brennan; Brennan nominated for, and selected as, Footballer of the Week
* 15 July: Ryan McHugh, Michael Murphy, Patrick McBrearty; McBrearty nominated for Footballer of the Week
* 22 July: Ryan McHugh, Michael Murphy; Murphy nominated for, and selected as, Footballer of the Week
* 6 August: Daire Ó Baoill, Michael Murphy

### The Irish News Ulster All Stars

Shaun Patton, Stephen McMenamin, Paddy McGrath, Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Michael Murphy, Jamie Brennan and Patrick McBrearty were all included, and Murphy was named Player of the Year.

### The Sunday Game Team of the Year

The Sunday Game selected Michael Murphy on its Team of the Year.

### All Stars

Michael Murphy won an All Star. Shaun Patton, Stephen McMenamin, Ryan McHugh, Jamie Brennan and Patrick McBrearty were also nominated.
| Pos. | Player | Team | Appearances |
| GK | Stephen Cluxton$^{FOTY}$ | Dublin | 6 |
| RCB | Michael Fitzsimons | Dublin | 2 |
| FB | Ronan McNamee | Tyrone | 1 |
| LCB | Tom O'Sullivan | Kerry | 1 |
| RWB | Patrick Durcan | Mayo | 1 |
| CB | Brian Howard | Dublin | 2 |
| LWB | Jack McCaffrey | Dublin | 4 |
| MD | Brian Fenton | Dublin | 4 |
| MD | David Moran | Kerry | 2 |
| RWF | Paul Mannion | Dublin | 3 |
| CF | Seán O'Shea | Kerry | 1 |
| LWF | Michael Murphy | Donegal | 3 |
| RCF | David Clifford | Kerry | 2 |
| FF | Cathal McShane | Tyrone | 1 |
| LCF | Con O'Callaghan | Dublin | 2 |

#### County breakdown

* Dublin = 7
* Kerry = 4
* Tyrone = 2
* Mayo = 1
* Donegal = 1