Eamonn Doherty

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| name = Eamonn Doherty

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| irish = Éamonn Ó Dochartaigh

| sport = Gaelic football

| clposition = Back

| icposition = Back

| birth_date = 1990/1

| birth_place = Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| feet = 6

| inches = 0

| nickname =

| occupation = Secondary school teacher

| code = Football

| clyears = 2007–

| clubs = St Eunan's

| clapps(points) =

| county = Donegal

| clcounty = 6

| province =

| clprovince =

| clallireland =

| colyears =

| colleges =

| colapps(points) =

| fitz =

| sig =

| icyears = 2013–

| counties = Donegal

| icapps(points) =

| icprovince =

| icconnacht =

| iculster = 2

| icleinster =

| icmunster =

| icallireland =

| nfl =

| nhl =

| allstars =

| clupdate =

| icupdate =

}}

Eamonn Doherty (born 1990/1) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for St Eunan's and the Donegal county team.

He is a secondary school teacher in Buncrana.

Playing career

=Club=

Eamonn Doherty started his club's winning senior county finals in 2007, 2009 and 2012 and came on as a substitute in 2008.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/final-glory-at-last-for-eunans-as-glenswilly-fail-on-their-big-day-26322092.html|title=Final glory at last for Eunan's as Glenswilly fail on their big day|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=1 October 2007|accessdate=1 October 2007}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/kavanagh-haran-set-up-eunans-26482285.html|title=Kavanagh, Haran set up Eunan's|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=6 October 2008|accessdate=6 October 2008}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/all-too-easy-for-eunans-26571592.html|title=All too easy for Eunan's|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=5 October 2009|accessdate=5 October 2009}}{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/eunans-accept-glenties-gift-in-freak-finish-to-donegal-final-3282154.html|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130108012354/http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/eunans-accept-glenties-gift-in-freak-finish-to-donegal-final-3282154.html|url-status=dead|archivedate=8 January 2013|title=Eunan's accept Glenties gift in freak finish to Donegal final|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=5 November 2012|accessdate=5 November 2012}} This was all by the age of 24 and national media referred to him as "one of the most decorated players in the north-west".{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/football/eamonn-dohertys-return-home-earns-him-greater-role-for-donegal-336293.html|title=Eamonn Doherty's return home earns him greater role for Donegal|work=Irish Examiner|date=11 June 2015|accessdate=11 June 2015}} He made a second-half substitute appearance in the final as his club won the 2021 Donegal Senior Football Championship.{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/1107/1258392-st-eunans-overpower-naomh-conaill-in-donegal-sfc-final/|title=St Eunan's overpower Naomh Conaill in Donegal SFC final|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=7 November 2021|accessdate=7 November 2021}}

=Inter-county=

Doherty played for Donegal throughout the 2010 Ulster Under-21 Football Championship campaign, a competition which Donegal won.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2020/04/07/the-diary-the-dream-and-donegal-footballs-first-steps-to-the-other-place/|title=The diary, the dream and Donegal's first steps to 'the other place'|date=7 April 2020|accessdate=7 April 2020}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/126826|title=Ulster U21FC: Murphy leads Donegal to title|work=Hogan Stand|date=8 April 2010|accessdate=8 April 2010}} He then played in the final of the 2010 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship, which Donegal (managed by Jim McGuinness) narrowly lost to Dublin (managed by Jim Gavin).{{cite news|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-michael-murphy-859156-Apr2013/|title=Remember the last time that Jim Gavin managed against Jim McGuinness?: The opposing managers in tomorrow's Division 1 league tie in Ballybofey have come face to face before|publisher=The42.ie|date=6 April 2013|accessdate=6 April 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.steunansgaa.com/contentPage/78477/a_l_l_i_r_e_l_a_n_d_f_i_n_a_l_p_l_a_y_e_r_s|title=All-Ireland Final Players|publisher=St Eunan's GAA|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412222131/http://www.steunansgaa.com/contentPage/78477/a_l_l_i_r_e_l_a_n_d_f_i_n_a_l_p_l_a_y_e_r_s|archivedate=2015-04-12}} Himself, Antoin McFadden, James Carroll and Declan Walsh transferred to Boston for the summer in 2011.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2013/09/sfc-doherty-keeps-eamon-high-for-st-eunans/|title=SFC: Doherty keeps 'Eamon' high for St Eunan's|work=Donegal News|date=13 September 2013|accessdate=13 September 2013|archive-date=31 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031192639/http://donegalnews.com/2013/09/sfc-doherty-keeps-eamon-high-for-st-eunans/|url-status=dead}}

McGuinness gave Doherty his senior league debut came against Dublin in Ballybofey in the final game of the 2013 National Football League, having only called him up days earlier.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2013/0407/380158-donegal-dublin/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225212/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2013/0407/380158-donegal-dublin/|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 March 2016|title=Donegal 1-10 Dublin 0-13|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=7 April 2013|accessdate=7 April 2013}}{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/donegal-the-only-team-to-embrace-the-drop-29182748.html|title=Donegal – the only team to embrace the drop|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=9 April 2013|accessdate=9 April 2013}} He made an immediate impact, colliding with the referee, leaving him flattened in a heap and taking him out of the game.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/the-accidental-clash-which-saw-ref-padraig-hughes-stretchered-off-in-ballybofey-862881-Apr2013/|title=The accidental clash which injured GAA ref Padraig Hughes|publisher=The42.ie|date=9 April 2013|accessdate=9 April 2013}}

Doherty started Rory Gallagher's first match in charge of the county, a 2015 Dr McKenna Cup away defeat to Derry.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2015/01/report-rory-gallaghers-experimental-donegal-well-beaten-by-derry/|title=Report: Rory Gallagher's experimental Donegal well beaten by Derry|work=Donegal News|date=4 January 2015|accessdate=4 January 2015|archive-date=7 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107122334/https://donegalnews.com/2015/01/report-rory-gallaghers-experimental-donegal-well-beaten-by-derry/|url-status=dead}} Having flattened the referee in a heap and taken him out of the game, Doherty did not play in the National Football League again until 2015, his second appearance also coming against Dublin.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2015/02/eamonn-doherty-hopes-his-patience-pays-off/|title=Eamonn Doherty hopes his patience pays off|work=Donegal News|date=11 February 2015|accessdate=11 February 2015}} That year, he featured in six of Donegal's eight National Football League Division One fixtures and started at Croke Park against Galway in the Championship when Karl Lacey did not recover from an injury in time.{{cite news|url=http://www.highlandradio.com/2015/06/11/eamon-doherty-hoping-to-play-a-role-for-donegal-in-armagh/|title=Eamon Doherty hoping to play a role for Donegal in Armagh|publisher=Highland Radio|date=11 June 2015|accessdate=11 June 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-galway-live-2248173-Aug2015/|title=As it happened: Donegal v Galway, All-Ireland Senior football Round 4B Qualifier|publisher=The42.ie|date=1 August 2015|accessdate=1 August 2015}}

Doherty started the opening fixture of the 2016 National Football League away to Down.{{cite news|first=Orla|last=Bannon|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/disastrous-return-to-division-one-for-down-as-donegal-run-riot-in-newry-34409831.html|title=Disastrous return to Division One for Down as Donegal run riot in Newry|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=30 January 2016|accessdate=30 January 2016}} He then started the second fixture against Cork, a ten-point win in Ballyshannon.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/cork-donegal-football-2590154-Feb2016/|title=Cork crash to 10-point defeat as impressive Donegal go top of Division 1: Goals from Odhrán MacNiallais and Martin O'Reilly spurred Donegal to victory|publisher=The42.ie|date=7 February 2016|accessdate=7 February 2016}} He also started the third, fourth and fifth fixtures against Mayo, Kerry and Roscommon.{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0228/771370-donegal-v-mayo/|title=Donegal march on beating Mayo|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=28 February 2016|accessdate=28 February 2016}}{{cite news|first=Tony|last=Leen|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/football/dogged-kerry-win-arm-wrestle-385967.html|title=Dogged Kerry win arm wrestle|work=Irish Examiner|date=7 March 2016|accessdate=7 March 2016}}{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0313/774557-donegal-v-roscommon/|title=Rossies signal greater intent after win over Donegal|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=13 March 2016|accessdate=13 March 2016}} He made a late substitute appearance in the seventh fixture, away to Monaghan in Castleblayney.{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Shalvey|url=https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/allianz-last-gasp-monaghan-avoid-relegation/|title=Allianz FL D1: Last gasp Monaghan avoid relegation|date=3 April 2016|accessdate=3 April 2016}}

Doherty made a late substitute appearance in the 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier defeat of Cork at Croke Park.{{cite news|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-cork-mcbrearty-2903513-Jul2016/|title=McBrearty inspires Donegal to battling win over Cork and sets up clash with Dublin|publisher=The42.ie|date=30 July 2016|accessdate=30 July 2016}}

Doherty made a substitute appearance in the opening fixture of the 2017 National Football League against Kerry.{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.the42.ie/kerry-donegal-division-1-3224023-Feb2017/|title=Geaney at the double as Kerry achieve first opening round league win under Fitzmaurice|publisher=The42.ie|date=5 February 2017|accessdate=5 February 2017}} He also made substitute appearances in the second, third and fourth fixtures against Roscommon, Dublin and Cavan.{{cite news|first=Declan|last=Rooney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0212/852085-donegal-prevail-late-on-against-roscommon/|title=Donegal prevail late on against Roscommon|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=12 February 2017|accessdate=12 February 2017}}{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-dublin-report-3260275-Feb2017/|title=Murphy's injury-time free rescues a draw for Donegal as Dublin extend unbeaten run to 32 games|publisher=The42.ie|date=26 February 2017|accessdate=26 February 2017}}{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Fitzpatrick|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0304/857258-donegal-strike-early-to-see-off-cavan/|title=Donegal strike early to see off Cavan|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=4 March 2017|accessdate=4 March 2017}} He started the fifth, sixth and seventh fixtures against Tyrone, Monaghan and Mayo.{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Kelly|url=https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/allianz-donegal-too-good-for-tyrone/|title=Allianz FL D1: Donegal too good for Tyrone|date=18 March 2017|accessdate=18 March 2017}}{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/late-escape-for-monaghan-as-donegal-pay-penalty-446248.html|title=Late escape for Monaghan as Donegal pay penalty|work=Irish Examiner|date=27 March 2017|accessdate=27 March 2017}}{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Gannon|url=https://www.the42.ie/mayo-donegal-report-3320260-Apr2017/|title=Aidan O'Shea's late introduction proves decisive as Mayo see off Donegal to avoid relegation|publisher=The42.ie|date=2 April 2017|accessdate=2 April 2017}}

Doherty made a substitute appearance in the 2017 Ulster Senior Football Championship semi-final against Tyrone.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/tyrone-destroy-donegal-to-claim-place-in-ulster-final-794093.html|title=The pendulum has swung decisively in Tyrone's favour in the battle of Ulster's giants following a runaway win at Clones|work=Irish Examiner|date=18 June 2017|accessdate=18 June 2017}}

Doherty scored a point against Tyrone in the 2018 National Football League.{{cite news|first=Declan|last=Bogue|url=https://www.the42.ie/tyrone-v-donegal-report-3897125-Mar2018/|title=Two-goal Tyrone move closer to safety with big win over Donegal in Omagh|publisher=The42.ie|date=10 March 2018|accessdate=10 March 2018}}

Though restricted to substitute appearances for much of the competition, Doherty lifted the Anglo-Celt Cup as Donegal secured the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship.{{cite news|first=Francis|last=Mooney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0624/972816-ruthless-donegal-end-fermanaghs-ulster-title-dream/|title=Energetic Donegal end Fermanagh's Ulster title dream|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=24 June 2018|accessdate=24 June 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161155/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0624/972816-ruthless-donegal-end-fermanaghs-ulster-title-dream/|archivedate=25 June 2018}} He made his two substitute appearances in the preliminary round against Cavan and the semi-final against Down.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/ulster-sfc-donegal-too-good-for-cavan/|title=Ulster SFC: Donegal too good for Cavan|date=13 May 2018|accessdate=13 May 2018}}{{cite news|first=Francis|last=Mooney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0527/966359-mcbrearty-excels-to-fire-donegal-past-derry/|title=McBrearty excels to fire Donegal past Derry|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=27 May 2018|accessdate=27 May 2018}}{{cite news|first=Francis|last=Mooney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0610/969538-14-man-donegal-cruise-past-down-into-ulster-decider/|title=14-man Donegal cruise past Down into Ulster decider|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=10 June 2018|accessdate=10 June 2018}} He started against Dublin in the 2018 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, scoring a point at Croke Park as his county gave the reigning All-Ireland champions their toughest test since the previous year's All-Ireland final.{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Sweeney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0714/978710-dublin-do-enough-to-see-off-donegal/|title=Dublin do enough to see off Donegal in Super 8s|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=14 July 2018|accessdate=14 July 2018|quote=This too was their toughest workout since they beat Mayo to claim Sam Maguire last September.}}

Doherty started against Clare in the opening fixture of the 2019 National Football League in Ennis.{{cite news|first=Derrick|last=Lynch|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-clare-league-report-4462420-Jan2019/|title=Missing a host of regulars, Donegal come away from Clare with victory|publisher=The42.ie|date=27 January 2019|accessdate=27 January 2019}} He also featured in the second fixture against Meath, the fourth fixture against Fermanagh and the sixth fixture against Cork, all from the start.{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0202/1027139-donegal-1-13-meath-0-14/|title=Fortuitous goal sees Donegal come back to beat Meath|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=2 February 2019|accessdate=2 February 2019}}{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0224/1032501-fermanagh-rally-against-13-man-donegal-to-stay-unbeaten/|title=Fermanagh rally against 13-man Donegal to stay unbeaten in Division 2|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=24 February 2019|accessdate=24 February 2019}}{{cite news|first=Denis|last=Hurley|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0316/1036817-cork-1-12-donegal-1-19-allianz-football-league/|title=Cork on brink of drop to Division 3 as Donegal power home|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=16 March 2019|accessdate=16 March 2019}} Donegal qualified for the National Football League Division 2 final and Doherty made a substitute appearance in the game as Donegal defeated Meath to win the title.{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=O'Brien|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-meath-division-2-final-report-4568833-Mar2019/|title=Murphy masterclass helps Donegal to Division 2 glory after comeback win over Meath|publisher=The42.ie|date=30 March 2019|accessdate=30 March 2019}}

He made a late substitute appearance in the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final victory over Fermanagh, though he did not feature in the semi-final victory over Tyrone or in the final against Cavan, which Donegal won.{{cite news|first=Francis|last=Mooney|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/donegal-overcome-fermanagh-in-ulster-arm-wrestle-926804.html|title=Donegal overcome Fermanagh in Ulster arm-wrestle|work=Irish Examiner|date=26 May 2019|accessdate=26 May 2019}}{{cite news|first=Francis|last=Mooney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0608/1054200-donegal-power-past-tyrone-to-make-ulster-decider/|title=Donegal power past Tyrone to make Ulster decider|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=8 June 2019|accessdate=8 June 2019}}{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Sweeney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0623/1057017-donegal-power-past-cavan-to-claim-ulster-title/|title=Donegal power past Cavan to claim Ulster title|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=23 June 2019|accessdate=23 June 2019}} Then, with Neil McGee injured, Doherty came in from the start in Donegal's 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final meeting with Kerry at Croke Park.{{cite news|first=Emma|last=Duffy|url=https://www.the42.ie/kerry-donegal-report-super-8s-croke-park-4733366-Jul2019/|title=Kerry and Donegal share the spoils after grandstand finish in thrilling Super 8s battle: A scintillating game of football in Croke Park|publisher=The42.ie|date=21 July 2019|accessdate=21 July 2019|quote=Both sides made three late changes before throw-in with some injury concerns coming to the fore. Big names David Moran and Neil McGee were among those absent for both sides… For Donegal, Eamonn Doherty came in for McGee while Caolan Ward and Eoin Murphy[sic - McHugh?] started in place of Daire Ó Baoill and Paul Brennan.}}

Personal life

Doherty is from Letterkenny.{{cite news|first=Ronan|last=Scott|title=Doherty's mood has changed to optimism|work=Donegal News|date=4 June 2020|page=54|quote=The Letterkenny man has listened… 'I am lucky in that I live in Letterkenny, that there is a forest walk not far from me and I can get out for a run'.}} Also [https://gaeliclife.com/counties/donegal/donegal-county-football/dohertys-mood-changes-to-optimism/ published] in Gaelic Life. He took up a position as a secondary school teacher in Buncrana, having completed his degree at Dublin City University (DCU) in 2013. In his first year as a qualified teacher one of his students was Darach O'Connor, who started the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.

Doherty's brother Niall, an accountant, has served as treasurer of the St Eunan's club.{{cite news|title=St Eunan's GAA Club presentation|work=Donegal News|date=5 March 2020|page=71|quote=Former treasurer, Niall Doherty, was named club person of the year. Announcing the local accountant as the recipient of the award, former chairman, Cathal Greene, thanked Niall for his huge efforts in his role as treasurer.}} The photograph at the bottom of the page is then captioned: "Eamonn Doherty receives Club Person of the Year Award on behalf of his brother Niall from Club Chairman John Haran", with Eamonn Doherty on the left and John Haran on the right.

As of June 2020, Doherty was living in Letterkenny.