Gary O'Donnell (Gaelic footballer)

Last updated

Gary O'Donnell
Personal information
Irish name Garraí Ó Domhnaill
Sport Gaelic Football
Position Centre Back
Born (1988-01-06) 6 January 1988 (age 37)
Galway, Ireland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Club(s)
YearsClub
2004–2008
2009–
St. Colman's, Gort
Tuam Stars
Inter-county(ies)
YearsCounty
2008–2021
Galway
Inter-county titles
Connacht titles 3
NFL 1

Gary O'Donnell (born 6 January 1988) is an Irish sportsperson, who plays inter-county Gaelic football for Galway. He is a first cousin of double All-Ireland-winning former Galway footballer and two-time All Star Jarlath Fallon. O'Donnell's parents are both from County Mayo and he has uncles who have played football for that county at a number of levels. [1]

O'Donnell, who first played football with St Colman's, Gort, also played hurling in his youth and was on the same under-age teams as later Galway senior inter-county players Aidan Harte and Greg Lally. Gort's football team disbanded in 2009 and O'Donnell moved to Tuam Stars, as it was the club his cousins, the Fallons, played for. [1]

Having been an unused substitute in Galway's 2008 Connacht final victory over Mayo, [2] O'Donnell made his inter-county debut with in 2009. In 2016, O'Donnell was named Galway captain by Kevin Walsh, having previously captained the side on occasions when Paul Conroy wasn't available. [3] On 17 July 2016, Galway won the Connacht Championship, and O'Donnell became the first Galway player since Pádraic Joyce in 2008 to receive the J. J. Nestor Cup. [4] [5]

In October 2021, he announced his retirement from inter-county football. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Hurling links and Mayo family roots but focus is on leading the Galway footballers". The42 . 18 June 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  2. "Gary O'Donnell and Galway all out to stop Mayo's drive-for-five". Irish Examiner . 9 June 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  3. "Conroy injury blow for Galway Football". Connacht Tribune . 20 May 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  4. "Wait for a Connacht title 'far too long', says O'Donnell". Hoganstand.com. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  5. "Galway finally going places, says former captain Ray Silke". RTÉ Sport . 19 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  6. "Former Galway captain Gary O'Donnell retires from inter-county game". Irish Independent. 26 October 2021.
Preceded by Galway Senior Football Captain
2016–2017
Succeeded by