Plunkett Donaghy

{{Infobox GAA player

| image=

| name= Plunkett Donaghy

| irish=

| occupation=Building Contractor

| sport= Gaelic football

| code= Football

| county= Tyrone

| province= Ulster

| clposition= Midfield

| club= Moy

| clyears=

| clapps(points)=

| clcounty=

| clprovince=

| clubs= Moy

| counties=Tyrone

| icposition= Midfield

| icyears= 1982–1994

| icapps(points)=

| icprovince=3

| icallireland=0

| allstars=1

| Irelandcaps= 2

| icupdate=19:05 20 October 2006 (BST)

| clupdate=

| birth_place=Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

}}

Plunkett Donaghy is a former Gaelic footballer who played for the Moy club and the Tyrone county team. With his county, Donaghy won three Ulster Senior Football Championship medals (in 1984, 1986 and 1989) and an All Star in 1986. He lives in The Moy, County Tyrone.

Background

Donaghy is one of nine children to Pat and Maisie Donaghy.{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Brolly |author-link=Joe Brolly |title=A tribute to Maisie Donaghy |work=Gaelic Life |page=48 |date=31 October 2008 |accessdate=14 November 2008 |url=http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/GL/free/292985270896384.php }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Donaghy's father Pat played for Moy and Tyrone and was on the county panel when Tyrone won their first-ever Ulster Senior Football Championships in 1956{{cite web |url=http://www.tyronetimes.co.uk/village/Folk-icon-Eileen-Donaghy-provided.4654989.jp |title=Folk icon Eileen Donaghy provided ballads for a generation |accessdate=14 November 2008 |work=Tyrone Times |date=4 November 2008 }} and 1957. His mother Maisie, originally from Brackaville, was a widely acclaimed Irish folk singer (under the stage name Eileen Donaghy) whose success brought her on tour around the world.

Donaghy is married with six children. His father-in-law is legendary football manager Dessie Ryan, a former footballer for Tyrone and New York who coached Queen's University Belfast to two victories in the Sigerson Cup{{cite web |url=http://quis.qub.ac.uk/gaelicfc/committee/management/1999/dessie.htm |title=Profile of Dessie Ryan}} and is considered one of the most influential men in GAA history.{{cite web |url=http://www.tribune.ie/article/2009/jan/04/125-most-influential-people-in-gaa-history-125-101 |title=125 Most Influential People in GAA History |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809014716/http://www.tribune.ie/article/2009/jan/04/125-most-influential-people-in-gaa-history-125-101 |archive-date=2009-08-09 }}

Plunkett's brother Colm also played for Tyrone. He is a second cousin to two-time All Star winning former Derry footballer Joe Brolly. His mother Maisie was a first cousin of Joe, the grandfather of Brolly, Ann, the mother of Maisie, and Bridget, the mother of Maisie. He is also cousin to Monaghan Defender/Forward Vincent Corey.

Career

Donaghy was part of the Tyrone team that went to their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final in 1986, against Kerry, and won an All Star Award for his contributions. He captained Tyrone to a further Ulster Championship success in 1989. He also played for Ireland against Australia.{{fact|date=September 2020}}

=Legacy=

His playing abilities, being part of the first (relatively) successful Tyrone team, put him among the greats of Tyrone football. Donaghy was known for his great ability to catch a ball, and he was instantly recognisable on the pitch due to his "shaggy" blond hair. Donaghy stands at 6 ft tall.[http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/gaa/extra/mhgbojqlqloj/]

References

[https://web.archive.org/web/20051107235101/http://www.ulsterherald.com/gaa3.htm Interview with Donaghy prior Tyrone's 2005 All-Ireland Final meeting with Kerry]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20060512024737/http://www.teamtalkmag.com/2003/county/senior-championship/all-ireland/jordan-interview.htm Article comparing Plunkett Donaghy to contemporary players]
[http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=71453 Hogan Stand article on Donaghy]

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Moy Tír Na nÓg Gaelic footballers

Category:Tyrone inter-county Gaelic footballers