Jimmy McDonnell

{{short description|Irish Gaelic footballer and manager}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2021}}

{{infobox Gaelic games player

|image =

|name = Jimmy McDonnell

|irish = Séamus Mac Domhnaill

|nickname =

|occupation =

|height =

|sport = Gaelic football

|code = Football

|county = Louth

|province = Leinster

|club = Darver Volunteers
St Joseph's

|clyears =

|clposition =

|clapps(points) =

|clcounty = 0

|clprovince =

|clallireland =

|colleges =

|fitz =

|colyears =

|counties = Louth

|icyears = 1948–1960

|icposition = Full-forward

|icapps(points) =

|icprovince = 4

|icallireland = 1

|nfl = 0

|allstars =

|birth_place = Darver, County Louth, Ireland

|death_place = Knockbridge, County Louth, Ireland

| birth_date = 1927

| death_date = {{death date and given age|2017|9|29|90|df=y}}

}}

James McDonnell (1927 – 30 September 2017) was an Irish Gaelic football manager, selector and player. His league and championship career with the Louth senior team spanned three decades from 1948 until 1960.{{cite web|url=http://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/sport/274094/joe-carroll-pays-tribute-to-the-late-great-jimmy-mcdonnell.html|title=Joe Carroll pays tribute to the late, great Jimmy McDonnell|publisher=Dundalk Democrat|accessdate=7 October 2017|date=3 October 2017|first=Joe|last=Carroll}}{{cite web|url=http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=276397|title=Louth legend Jimmy McDonnell passes away|publisher=Hogan Stand|accessdate=7 October 2017|date=1 October 2017|first=|last=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/localnotes/jimmy-mcdonnell-was-one-of-louths-57-heroes-36187647.html|title=Jimmy McDonnell was one of Louth's '57 heroes|publisher=The Argus|accessdate=7 October 2017|date=7 October 2017|first=|last=}}

Born in Darver, County Louth, McDonnell first played competitive Gaelic football with the Darver Volunteers club. He won a junior league medal in 1952 before winning a county junior championship medal in 1956. From 1961 onward McDonnell played with the newly-formed St Joseph's club.{{cite web|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/276484|title=Jimmy McDonnell - "One of the greatest Gaels this parish and county has ever known"|work=Hogan Stand|date=2 October 2017}}

McDonnell made his debut with the Louth senior team during the 1948 championship. Over the next ten seasons he enjoyed much success, culminating with the winning of an All-Ireland medal in 1957. He also won four Leinster medals. McDonnell retired from inter-county Gaelic football in 1958 but returned for one final season in 1960.

In retirement from playing McDonnell became involved in team management and coaching. At inter-county level he was a selector with the Louth senior team during the 1960s. McDonnell later managed St. Joseph's to a county intermediate championship title in 1990.