Anto Finnegan
{{Short description|Antrim Gaelic footballer (c. 1973–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox Gaelic Athletic Association player
| code= Football
| sport = Gaelic football
| image =
| name = Anto Finnegan
| irish =
| feet =
| inches =
| nickname = Anto
| county = Antrim
| province = Ulster
| club =
| clposition =
| clubs = St Paul's
| clyears =
| clapps(points) =
| clcounty = 3
| clprovince=
| clallireland =
| colleges =
| colyears =
| sig =
| counties = Antrim
| icposition = Centre-back
| icyears = 1994–2005
| icapps(points) =
| icprovince = 0
| icallireland = 0
| allstars = 0
| nfl = 0
| clupdate =
| icupdate = 12:11, 19 September 2021
| birth_date= 1973
| birth_place=Belfast, Northern Ireland
| death_date = 18 September 2021 (aged 48)
| death_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland
}}
Anthony Finnegan ({{c.}} 1973{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/former-antrim-footballer-anto-finnegan-dies-aged-48-1.4678080|title=Former Antrim footballer Anto Finnegan dies aged 48|newspaper=Irish Times|date=2021-09-18|accessdate=2021-09-19}} – 18 September 2021) was a Gaelic footballer who played for the St Paul's club and also at senior level for the Antrim county team. Finnegan usually lined out as a defender.
Playing career
Finnegan first came to Gaelic football prominence at juvenile and underage levels with the St Paul's club in Belfast. He eventually progressed onto the club's senior team and won three County Championship titles. Finnegan lined out with the Antrim senior football team for over a decade, the highlights of which were an All-Ireland B Championship win over Fermanagh in 1999 when he was captain and an Ulster Championship win over Down the following year.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/brian-fenton-and-philly-mcmahon-lead-tributes-after-death-of-inspiring-mnd-campaigner-anto-finnegan-48-40865544.html|title=Brian Fenton and Philly McMahon lead tributes after death of inspiring MND campaigner Anto Finnegan (48)|publisher=Irish Independent|date=19 September 2021|access-date=19 September 2021|first=Colm|last=Keys}}
Personal life and death
Finnegan was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in August 2012 and raised awareness around the disease through campaigning and charity work.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/gaelic-games/25027330|title=Antrim GAA hero Anto Finnegan has motor neurone disease|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 November 2013|access-date=19 September 2021|first=|last=}} He died on 18 September 2021, aged 48.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/0918/1247621-former-antrim-player-and-campaigner-anto-finnegan-dies/|title=Former Antrim captain and campaigner Anto Finnegan has died, aged 48|publisher=RTÉ News|date=18 September 2021|access-date=19 September 2021|first=|last=}}{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/tributes-paid-after-death-of-inspirational-antrim-footballer-anto-finnegan-40865004.html|title=Tributes paid after death of 'inspirational' Antrim footballer Anto Finnegan|publisher=Belfast Telegraph|date=18 September 2021|access-date=19 September 2021|first=Eimear|last=McGovern}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Anto Finnegan navigation boxes
|list1=
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box
| after=
| title=Antrim Senior Football Team Captain
| years=1999-2000
| before=
}}
{{s-end}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Finnegan, Anto}}
Category:Antrim inter-county Gaelic footballers
Category:Deaths from motor neuron disease in the United Kingdom