Paul Durcan (Gaelic footballer)

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| name = Paul Durcan

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| irish = Pól Ó Durcáin{{cite news|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2014/09/20/countdown-to-croker-donegal-name-team-for-all-ireland-final/|title=Countdown to Croker: Donegal name 'team' for All-Ireland final|date=20 September 2014|access-date=20 September 2014}}

| sport = Gaelic football

| clposition = Goalkeeper

| icposition = Goalkeeper

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|4|22|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Letterkenny, Ireland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| feet = 6

| inches = 5

| nickname = Papa

| occupation = Quantity surveyor

| clyears = 2000–2015
2015–2016
2019
2020–

| clubs = Four Masters
Ballyboden St Enda's
Ballyboden St Enda's
Drumcliffe–Rosses Point

| clapps(points) = 100 (0-0)

| code = Football

| county = Dublin

| clcounty = 1

| province = Leinster

| clprovince = 1

| clallireland = 1

| colyears = {{c.}} 2005

| colleges = Sligo IT

| colapps(points) =

| fitz =

| sig = 1

| icyears = 2004–2015
2019–

| counties = Donegal
Donegal

| icapps(points) =

| icprovince =

| icconnacht =

| iculster = 3

| icleinster =

| icmunster =

| icallireland = 1

| nfl = 1

| nhl =

| allstars = 2

| clupdate =

| icupdate =

}}

Paul Durcan (born 22 April 1984) is an Irish Gaelic footballer and coach who plays as goalkeeper for Drumcliffe–Rosses Point and, formerly, for the Donegal county team.

A member of the Donegal county team (senior) since 2004,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/6581961.stm|title=Donegal win National League title|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 April 2007|access-date=16 May 2011}} he has also played soccer for Finn Harps in the League of Ireland.{{cite news|url=http://www.oceanfm.ie/sp/article_manager/detail/finn_harps_to_take_on_allireland_champions |title=Finn Harps to take on All-Ireland champions|publisher=Ocean FM|date=15 November 2012|access-date=15 November 2012|quote=Donegal goalkeepers Paul Durcan and Michael Boyle both spent some time on the books at Finn Park, while forward Patrick McBrearty and defender Frank McGlynn have turned out for Harps underage teams in the past.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119063101/http://oceanfm.ie/sp/article_manager/detail/finn_harps_to_take_on_allireland_champions|archive-date=19 November 2012}}

Durcan has won two All Stars, one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, three Ulster Senior Football Championships (2011, 2012 and 2014) and one National Football League with his county.

Until transferring to Ballyboden St Enda's in 2015, Durcan played his club football with Four Masters, with whom he won a Donegal Senior Football Championship in 2003. With Ballyboden St Enda's Durcan won a Dublin Senior Football Championship and Leinster Senior Club Football Championship (both 2015) and then an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 2016. He lives in County Sligo, and made his championship debut for the Drumcliffe–Rosses Point club in 2020.

Early life

His father John Durcan is a retired garda, originally from Foxford, County Mayo. He watched his son rise through the ranks at Four Masters alongside Karl Lacey and Barry Dunnion, winning numerous underage titles along the way. He said, "He was always an outfield player, until Martin McHugh made a goalkeeper of him for the U16 Ted Webb Cup in 1999. Although he was nine years younger than his brother Adrian and six younger than Sean, they always had Paul in goals, smashing shots at him. They never let him out!"{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/donegal-sons-and-their-mayo-fathers-208350.html|title=Donegal sons – and their Mayo fathers|work=Irish Examiner|date=21 September 2012|access-date=21 September 2012}} Durcan's heroes include his fellow Donegal goalkeepers Gary Walsh, Packie Bonner and Shay Given.{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Bassett|url=http://coddle.ie/paul-durcan-reaps-the-rewards/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217193354/http://coddle.ie/paul-durcan-reaps-the-rewards/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 February 2013 |title=Paul Durcan Reaps the Rewards|work=Coddle|date=6 November 2012|access-date=6 November 2012 }} At the age of nine he watched Donegal win the 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, which he later described as the greatest game he had ever been to in any sport.{{cite news|url=http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2008121706-ten-questions-with-paul-durcan/1/|title=Ten Questions with Paul Durcan|date=20 August 2012|access-date=20 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914224003/http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2008121706-ten-questions-with-paul-durcan/1/|archive-date=14 September 2014}}

Playing career

=Club=

Durcan originally played his club football for Four Masters, sometimes playing outfield for the club. His club achievements include winning the 2003 Donegal Senior Football Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/donegal-sfc-final-masters-marvels-25926050.html|title=DONEGAL SFC FINAL : Masters marvels|work=Irish Independent|date=13 October 2003|access-date=13 October 2003}}

In 2015, he transferred to Ballyboden St Enda's, the paperwork going through on 10 April. That team also featured his cousin, Robbie McDaid.{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/Donegal/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=235238|title=Durcan's club transfer rubber stamped|work=Hogan Stand|date=11 April 2015|access-date=11 April 2015}} It was McDaid who put Durcan in touch with the Firhouse Road club. Durcan later explained: "I decided to play with Ballyboden to cut a bit of time coming and going from Donegal. I was up there all weekend for club and county but when I switched clubs I had more time around the weekends. I had been living on the northside but I had the connection with Ballyboden through Robbie. Then (manager) Andy McEntee rang me himself. Robbie, I suppose, may have said something to him. I met Andy, I got on well with him and he brought me around the club."{{cite news|first=John|last=Fogarty|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/football/paul-durcan-checks-in-for-ballyboden-st-endas-369894.html|title=Paul Durcan checks in for Ballyboden St Enda's|work=Irish Examiner|date=5 December 2015|access-date=5 December 2015}} Durcan dislodged fellow goalkeepers Darragh Gogan and Conor Dooley to win Dublin and Leinster titles in 2015 and an All-Ireland Club Championship in 2016.{{cite news|first=Donnchadh|last=Boyle|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/ballyboden-boost-as-paul-durcan-to-fly-back-from-qatar-for-all-ireland-semi-final-34419287.html|title=Ballyboden boost as Paul Durcan to fly back from Qatar for All-Ireland semi-final|work=Irish Independent|date=3 February 2016|access-date=3 February 2016}}{{cite news|first=Seán|last=Moran|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/ballyboden-save-their-best-until-the-final-hurdle-1.2577297|title=Ballyboden save their best until the final hurdle|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=17 March 2016|access-date=17 March 2016}}{{cite news|first=Brendan|last=O'Brien|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/christmas-comes-early-for-battling-ballyboden-st-endas-370094.html|title=Christmas comes early for battling Ballyboden St Enda's|work=Irish Examiner|date=7 December 2015|access-date=7 December 2015}}{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Keane|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2015/1101/738862-ballyboden-st-endas-v-st-vincents/|title=Andrew Kerin brace fires Ballyboden to glory|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=1 November 2015|access-date=1 November 2015}}

He joined Drumcliffe–Rosses Point and made his championship debut against Tubbercurry at Connolly Park in Collooney on 1 August 2020, playing in the club's first Sligo Senior Football Championship final the following month (lost to Tourlestrane).{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.donegalsporthub.com/durcans-drumcliffe-rosses-point-fall-just-short-in-sligo-sfc-final-as-tourlestrane-win-five-in-row/|title=Durcan's Drumcliffe–Rosses Point fall just short in Sligo SFC final as Tourlestrane win five-in-row|date=20 September 2020|access-date=20 September 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/article/index/312933|title=County final round-up|work=Hogan Stand|date=20 September 2020|access-date=20 September 2020}}Mention of Sligo SFC debut: {{cite news|first=Cathal|last=Mullaney|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/sport/gaa/late-smith-free-under-pressure-levels-it-up-39407778.html|title=Late Smith free under pressure levels it up|work=The Sligo Champion|date=1 August 2020|access-date=1 August 2020}}

=College=

Durcan notably saved two penalties for Sligo IT during the 2005 Sigerson Cup, the first in the semi-final and the second in the final.

=Inter-county=

Durcan was called up to the Donegal senior football team on the back of club success with The Four Masters. He made his inter-county debut in a 2004 league game against Monaghan in Ballyshannon.

At this time, Tony Blake was Donegal's established first choice goalkeeper. Durcan deputised for Blake and then saw off the challenge of Sean Sweeney to take over when Blake was forced to retire due to a persistent knee injury in May that year. Gary Walsh coached Durcan and Sweeney at this time, having been called in by Donegal manager Brian McEniff.{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/injury-ends-blake-career-25915000.html|title=Injury ends Blake career|work=Irish Independent|date=19 May 2004}}

Durcan played against Armagh in the 2004 Ulster final at Croke Park.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2004/0711/183489-armagh/|title=Awesome Armagh destroy Donegal|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=11 July 2004|access-date=11 July 2004|quote=Even after 13 minutes if looked ominous for Donegal when they trailed by four points. They managed to stay in touch until the 28th minute when goalkeeper Paul Durcan's indecision allowed Diarmuid Marsden to fist into the net.}} He played in the 2006 Ulster final against the same opponents at the same venue.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/5153174.stm|title=Donegal 0–09 1–09 Armagh|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 July 2006|access-date=9 July 2006}} He was part of the Donegal team that won the 2007 National Football League.{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaltimes.com/2007/04_2/sport.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412230842/http://www.donegaltimes.com/2007/04_2/sport.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 April 2015|title=Donegal achieve historic win — First national league title comes to county after victory over Mayo|work=Donegal Times|date=25 April 2007|access-date=25 April 2007}}

Michael Boyle would later rival Durcan, occasionally taking his place on the first team. That was just what happened in a 2009 All-Ireland SFC qualifier — after Durcan fouled Clare player Gary Brennan and conceded a penalty, Boyle was sprung from the bench at half-time.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2009/0711/251834-donegal_clare/|title=Donegal 0–13 Clare 1–07|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=11 July 2009|access-date=11 July 2009|quote=a foul by Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan on the advancing Gary Brennan, who was following up on a ball in from Tubridy, resulted in a penalty award. Durcan paid the price for his error of judgement when he was replaced by Michael Boyle at half-time.}} Boyle retained his starting place for the games against Galway at Markievicz Park and Cork at Croke Park.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2009/0725/252458-galway_donegal/|title=Donegal 0–14 Galway 0–13|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=25 July 2009|access-date=25 July 2009}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2009/0802/252778-cork_donegal/|title=Cork 1–27 Donegal 2–10|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=2 August 2009|access-date=2 August 2009}}

He played more league and championship matches under Jim McGuinness's management than any other player.{{cite news|first=Declan|last=Whooley|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/five-unsung-football-heroes-30626439.html|title=Five unsung football heroes|work=Irish Independent|date=30 September 2014|access-date=30 September 2014}}

On 30 June 2012, in the Ulster semi-final against Tyrone, Durcan received much credit after putting Donegal into the final with his outstretched foot. Donegal were three points ahead and it was practically the last action of the game. Durcan went low to his left and deflected Martin Penrose's shot out off the post for a 45'. The save was compared to that of Gordon Banks against Pelé at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/durcan-puts-donegal-into-final-1-4009151|title=Durcan puts Donegal into final|work=Donegal Democrat|date=30 June 2012|access-date=30 June 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/06/30/durcan-keeps-donegals-ulster-dreams-in-safe-hands/|title=Durcan keeps Donegal's Ulster dreams in safe hands|date=30 June 2012|access-date=30 June 2012}} Tyrone manager Mickey Harte said Durcan's last-gasp goal-saving intervention had denied Tyrone a replay.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/18659826|title=Mickey Harte says Paul Durcan save denied Tyrone replay|publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 June 2012|access-date=30 June 2012}} Durcan would later describe it as the most important save of his career. It enabled Donegal to retain their Ulster title they had won in 2011 (a first back-to-back success in team history), and the team went unbeaten through the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, defeating Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final to claim the Sam Maguire Cup. Durcan won an All Star and attended the Football Tour of New York.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2012/11/replacement-all-star-for-thompson/|title=Replacement All-Star for Thompson|work=Donegal News|date=13 November 2012|access-date=13 November 2012}}

In 2013, Durcan made his 100th appearance for Donegal in the county's third 2013 National Football League game against Tyrone at Healy Park.{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/donegal/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=186699|title=Durcan to join century club|work=Hogan Stand|date=1 March 2013|access-date=1 March 2013}} In the following game he contributed to Donegal's defeat of the mighty Kerry by saving a penalty.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/21736256|title=National League: Donegal 1–12 0–5 Kerry|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 March 2013|access-date=10 March 2013}} In the Championship he helped his team to a third consecutive Ulster final.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2013/0623/458343-donegal-down/|title=Donegal 0–12 Down 0–09|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=23 June 2013|access-date=23 June 2013}}

2014 brought a third Ulster senior title and another extended run of games in the Championship. Somewhat unusually, he scored an own goal in the 2014 All-Ireland quarter-final defeat of Armagh at Croke Park.{{cite news|first=Gary|last=Reilly|url=https://www.balls.ie/gaa/gif-goal-paul-durcan-gave-donegal-almighty-scare-armagh-132065|title=GIF: Own Goal From Paul Durcan Gave Donegal An Almighty Scare Against Armagh|publisher=Balls.ie|date=9 August 2014|access-date=19 August 2014}}

He was involved in a traffic collision during the 2015 National Football League campaign, though his injuries were not severe.{{cite news|first=Eamon|last=Donoghue|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/all-star-keeper-paul-durcan-completes-ballyboden-transfer-1.2172971|title=All Star 'keeper Paul Durcan completes Ballyboden transfer: The Four Masters' native is now living and working full-time in Dublin|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=11 April 2015|access-date=11 April 2015}}

After his team exited the 2015 championship, Durcan announced he would be moving to Qatar.{{cite news|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole|url=https://www.the42.ie/paul-durcan-donegal-2264812-Aug2015/|title=Donegal's Allstar goalkeeper set for move to Qatar putting inter county future in doubt|publisher=The42.ie|date=11 August 2015|access-date=11 August 2015}}{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/durcans-donegal-future-in-doubt-as-he-plans-move-abroad-31441844.html|title=Durcan's Donegal future in doubt as he plans move abroad|work=Irish Independent|date=11 August 2015|access-date=11 August 2015}}

In 2019, Durcan returned home from Qatar sporting a long grey beard and rejoined the Donegal panel to contest for a place against Shaun Patton and Michael Lynch.{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/2019/05/durcan-battling-for-goalkeeper-spot/|title=Durcan battling for goalkeeper spot|work=Donegal News|date=23 May 2019|access-date=23 May 2019}} He was reported to be living in Sligo since returning from Qatar.{{cite news|title=Patton embracing battle to be number one|work=Show Your Colours: 2019 Ulster Championship Preview|publisher=North West of Ireland Printing and Publishing Company|pages=24–25}}

Training regime

Though based in Dublin as a Quantity Surveyor with Errigal Contracts, Durcan tries to get back to Donegal several times a week for training. On several occasions he has made use of a passing helicopter to fly home.{{cite news|url=http://www.gaeliclife.com/2011/06/30/1505/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124055550/http://www.gaeliclife.com/2011/06/30/1505/|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2013|title=Paul Durcan|work=Gaelic Life|date=30 June 2011|access-date=30 June 2011}}{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2014/09/clubbing-together-enables-jim-mcguinness-to-prepare-donegals-finer-details-again/|title=Clubbing together enables Jim McGuinness to prepare Donegal's finer details again|work=Donegal News|date=12 September 2014|access-date=12 September 2014|quote=Last week, Paul Durcan, Paddy McGrath and Martin O'Reilly were spared the road trip to and from the capital thanks to the provision of a helicopter to transport them to Ballybofey.}} The journey by road is an eight-hour round trip and during the successful Jim McGuinness era he would make this trip once every week then train at other times in Dublin with strength and conditioning coach Eugene Eivers.{{cite news|first=Pat|last=Nolan|url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/gaelic-football/gaelic-football-news/eight-hour-trip-training-its-2060874|title=An eight hour trip to training: it's true 'glove' for Donegal's Paul Durcan|date=18 July 2013|access-date=18 July 2013}}

His influence has been likened to that of Peter Schmeichel.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://donegalnews.com/2013/03/papa-set-for-100th-appearance/|title='Papa' set for 100th appearance|newspaper=Donegal News|date=1 March 2013|access-date=1 March 2013}} His restarts and shot stopping have been compared to those of Stephen Cluxton.{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Duggan|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/paul-durcan-plays-key-role-in-donegal-success-1.1929666|title=Paul Durcan plays key role in Donegal success: Keeper's restarts and shot stopping have drawn comparison with role revolutionary Stephen Cluxton|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=16 September 2014|access-date=16 September 2014}}

He regards Cluxton as the benchmark for goalkeepers and also admires Gianluigi Buffon.{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/article/index/196955|title=Durcan: Cluxton the benchmark|work=Hogan Stand|date=19 July 2013|access-date=19 July 2013}}

Coaching

In December 2020, it was announced that Durcan would serve as goalkeeping coach under newly appointed Sligo senior manager Tony McEntee.{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/314778|title=Durcan to coach Sligo's goalkeepers|work=Hogan Stand|date=14 December 2020}}

Personal life

Durcan is a former employee of construction recruitment firm, 3D Personnel.{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/2021/05/what-happened-after-two-donegal-lads-left-secure-jobs/|title=What happened after two Donegal lads left secure jobs?|work=Donegal News|date=21 May 2021|accessdate=21 May 2021|quote=Former Donegal manager Rory Gallagher, now the Derry boss, works between their Belfast and Dublin offices while 2012 All-Ireland winners Paul Durcan and Patrick McBrearty are also former employees.}}

Honours

;Donegal

;Four Masters

Donegal Senior Football Championship: 2003

;Ballyboden St Enda's

;College

Sigerson Cup: 2005,{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} 2006{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

;Individual

All Star: 2012,{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} 2014{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
Nominated in 2011,{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2011/1004/285620-allstarnominations/|title=All-Star football nominees are named|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=4 October 2011|access-date=4 October 2011}} 2015{{cite news|first=Conor|last=Heneghan|url=https://www.joe.ie/sport/the-nominations-for-the-2015-gaagpa-gaelic-football-all-stars-have-been-announced-513853|title=The nominations for the 2015 GAA/GPA Gaelic Football All-Stars have been announced|publisher=JOE.ie|year=2015}}
Irish News Ulster All Star: 2012{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
The Sunday Game Team of the Year: 2012,{{cite news|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/09/23/donegal-team-clean-up-on-sunday-game-team-of-t|title=Donegal team clean up on Sunday Game Team of the Year|date=23 September 2012|access-date=23 September 2012}} 2014{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20130527064213/http://www.donegalgaa.ie/playerProfile/2768/paul_durcan Official profile]
{{Twitter}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120616062349/http://www.gaainfo.com/players/football/donegal/Paul%20Durcan.php Paul Durcan] at gaainfo.com

{{succession box

| title = Donegal Number One Goalkeeper

| before = Tony Blake

| after = Michael Boyle

| years = 2004

}}

{{succession box

| title = Donegal Number One Goalkeeper

| before = Michael Boyle

| after = Michael Boyle

| years = 2006–2008

}}