Nope sher he misses more than he gets. When i shoot i kill.
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cc @anon67715551
Personality from the Past
John Donnellan (Dunmore MacHales)
John Donnellan was born in Dunmore, County Galway in 1937. He was born into a family that had strong interests in both Gaelic games and Irish politics. His father, Mick Donnellan, had won an All-Ireland medal with Galway in 1925, later becoming a TD for the Clann na Talmhan political party. John Donnellan would go on to follow in his father’s footsteps in both of these pursuits.
Donnellan played his club football with the Dunmore McHales club. He enjoyed much success with the club, beginning in 1961 when he won a senior county championship for the first time. In 1962 Donnellan won a county league medal before claiming a second county championship title in 1963. In 1966, Donnellan’s club completed the double of county league and county championship victories. He completed a great run of success by capturing back-to-back county championships in 1968 and 1969.
Donnellan’s career as an inter-county footballer began in the late 1950’s. He won an All-Ireland title with the Galway junior team in 1958 and he quickly joined the senior side, making his debut that same year against Roscommon in the league.
Two years later in 1960, Donnellan won his first Connacht title, however, Galway were later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final. Three years later in 1963, he captured a second provincial title; however on that occasion Dublin defeated the men from the west in the All-Ireland final.
In 1964, Donnellan was appointed captain of the Galway team. That year he won a third Connacht title before leading his team out in the All-Ireland final against Kerry. Galway were victorious on that day by five points and Donnellan captured his first All-Ireland medal, alongside his brother Pat. His moment of triumph was short-lived as, shortly after hoisting the Sam Maguire Cup, he learned that his father Mick had died in the Hogan Stand shortly before the start of the second-half.
In 1965, Donnellan added a fourth provincial medal to his collection. In the subsequent All-Ireland final against Kerry he was sent off but Galway were still victorious, giving Donnellan a second consecutive All-Ireland medal. The following year he won a fifth Connacht Championship title before qualifying for a fourth consecutive All-Ireland final appearance. Galway had a six-point win over Meath thus giving Donnellan a third consecutive All-Ireland medal and establishing that Galway team as one of the greatest of all time. In 1967, he won a Railway Cup medal with Connacht before winning a sixth and final provincial medal in 1968. Donnellan retired from inter-county football shortly after.
Donnellan also holds the distinction of being one of the few GAA players to win an All-Ireland while he was a sitting TD.
Following the sudden death of Donnellan’s father in September 1964, John was elected to Dáil Éireann at the resulting by-election in December, as a Fine Gael TD for the Galway East constituency. He was returned to the Dáil in every one of the eight General Elections he contested between 1965 & 1987, albeit with changes of constituency. From 1982 to 1987, Donnellan served as a Minister of State, first at the Departments of Transport and Posts and Telegraphs, and then at the Department of Health. He retired from politics at the 1989 general election.
While John Donnellan has three All-Ireland medals to show for his four visits to Croke Park in 1963, '64, '65 and '66, unfortunately, he has no reason to remember the finals with any great fondness.
Having lost the ‘63 final to Dublin, the All-Ireland final of ‘64, should have been the greatest day in Donnellan’s sporting life but it ended up as the most tragic. As the Galway captain excelled in direct opposition to Kerry legend Mick O’Connell, his father Mick died suddenly on the Hogan Stand. Galway beat Kerry by five points so it was decided not to tell John or his brother Pat the bad news until after they got back to the dressing-room.
In ‘65, the captaincy had moved on to Enda Colleran but John Donnellan was still in an unassailable position as first choice right half-back. Kerry were again the opposition in the final and while Galway repeated their 1964 success, the game took an unfortunate turn for Donnellan who, together with Kerry attacker Derry O’Shea, was sent off.
In ‘66, Galway clinched the three-in-a-row but his role was confined to an appearance as a sub after he lost his place to Coilin McDonagh. He had been injured for much of the year but looked back to his very best when playing for Dunmore against Fr Griffin’s in the county final, just two weeks before the All-Ireland final against Meath.
John’s sons, Michael & John, both followed in his footsteps & played for Galway. Michael was one of the main stars as the Tribesmen won the 1998 & 2001 All-Ireland SFC titles.
Donnellan’s roll of honour with Galway
- 3 All-Ireland SFC medals
(1964, ‘65, ‘66) - 6 Connacht SFC medals
(1960, ‘63, ‘64, ‘65, ‘66, ‘68) - 1 All-Ireland JFC medal
(1958) - 1 Railway Cup medal
(1967)
Donnellan won 5 Galway SFC medals with Dunmore during his career (1961, ‘63, ‘66, ‘68, ‘69), two County leagues (1962, ‘66) & three Connacht Club SFC medals (1963, ‘68, ‘69).
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A decent enough wing-back but not as an accomplished footballer as his brother Patéén, much like his sons, in that Michael was 10 times the player John (Soft) was. Soft John never really fulfilled his potential, I’d say he lacked the application.
Martin Newell was the best wing-back Galway had in generations until dePaor arrived along with Declan Meehan.
John didn’t overtax himself with Dáil duties either.
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Some things never change
John was a great league footballer
Martin Newell is the loveliest man you’d ever meet, and a borderline genius.
Pateen knows how to work the system.
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Most West of Ireland lads would be nodding their heads at this profound observation.
Now where’s that emergency hardship form (worth €500) disappeared to…
I suspect you know exactly what I’m referring to.
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Fitzy has hung up the boots
Wonder did the pandemic have anything to do with it? Possibility of no football this year and he hardly felt like hanging on for another year at his age. Might have just decided to call it a day now.
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Some criminal misses from Waterford in the last 15
Scenes
Fuck I’m on the wrong thread
Ciao Fitzy 
He got a good run of it in fairness and has the medals to back it up.
A splendid clubman even in the last few years. An example to young lads.
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I felt he was excellent in the final this year. Kept his head and was and always a good attacking threat when others had list their heads. His athleticism belied his age.
Despite his age and the number of young lads they have coming through he will still be a big loss to Corofin which says a fair bit about him.
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He’s taken over the corofin ladies this year, he was involved with the Tuam ladies the past few years
Best of luck to Fitz. A really good operator and an example to anyone in the county.
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Also a very sound man.
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