Declan Bonner

Declan Bonner (born 11 August 1965) is an Irish Gaelic footballer and manager. He currently manages the Donegal county team and plays as goalkeeper for Na Rossa.

Declan Bonner
Personal information
Sport Gaelic football
Position Right Corner Forward
Born (1965-08-11) 11 August 1965[1]
An Clochán Liath, Ireland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Occupation Wine merchant[2]
Club(s)
Years Club
1979–
1988
 Na Rossa
Donegal Boston
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
1983–1995
 Donegal 110 (12–193)[3]
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 2
All-Irelands 1
All Stars 0
Personal information
Born (1965-08-11) 11 August 1965[1]
An Clochán Liath, Ireland
Club management
Years Club
1988–19??
?–?
c. 2006
?		 Na Rossa
An Clochán Liath
Gaoth Dobhair
Na Rossa
Inter-county management
Years County
1997–2000
2017–		 Donegal
Donegal
Inter-county titles
County League Province All-Ireland
Donegal 2

Bonner has had two spells as manager of the county team. The first, from 1997 until 2000, saw him denied an Ulster Senior Football Championship by a last-minute Joe Brolly goal in the 1998 final. After leading the county minor team to the 2014 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final, Bonner was given a second chance at the senior job when the next vacancy arose in 2017. Donegal had been left in a state of decline by his predecessor following the successful Jim McGuinness era. Bonner improved the team and led them to two Ulster Senior Football Championships, in 2018 and 2019, becoming only the second manager in team history (after McGuinness) to retain the title.

Bonner maintains prominent media roles in his native county, such as with Highland Radio.[4] He contributes a weekly column called "[Making] No Bones About It[!]", which features on the inside back cover of the Donegal News.[5][6]

Early life

Bonner is from the Gaeltacht village of Lettermacaward in West Donegal.[1] His father Dan Bonner was born on 20 September, the same date on which his son would win the 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.[1] Dan died in August 2013.[7]

Playing career

Club

Bonner plays for his local club Na Rossa. He is considered their "most famous son".[8] He made his senior debut for his club at the age of 14 in 1979.[9][10] At the age of 16 he was part of the team that won the 1982 Donegal Junior Football Championship.[1] A week after leading Donegal to his first Ulster SFC as manager in 2018, Bonner kept a clean sheet while playing in goal in a league match for his club.[11] He played his fortieth season in 2019, participating in the Donegal Junior Football Championship as an emergency goalkeeper.[9][10] His brothers Sean, Michael, Donal and Aidan also played for the club.[1] Sean also played in the full-back line when Donegal won the 1982 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship.[12]

He won the under-12, under-14 (twice) and under-16 (twice) titles with Rosses Rovers.[1] He is also a Donegal Boston past player.[13]

As of 2020, he was chairman of his club.[14]

Inter-county

Bonner made his National Football League debut for Donegal at the age of 18 in late-1983.[1][12] Donegal had earlier won the 1983 Ulster Senior Football Championship, with Bonner still a minor and playing no part.[12] He made his senior championship debut against Armagh in 1987.[1]

However, Bonner went from playing every championship match to falling out with manager Tom Conaghan.[1][15] This was after Bonner played for Boston in 1988 and, having returned late, Conaghan did not include him in the county panel for the remainder of the year or for the following year either.[1][16] Bonner thus missed the 1989 Ulster SFC final.[16] He began playing for League of Ireland soccer club Finn Harps in 1989, playing there at left-back until 1991.[17] Conaghan's time as manager came to an end and Brian McEniff returned to the role in September 1989.[1][15] McEniff restored Bonner to the team in time for the 1990 Ulster SFC.[15] Bonner played against Armagh in the 1990 Ulster final, won by Donegal, and scored 0–2 (including one free).[15] He once played for Finn Harps against Cobh Ramblers on a Sunday at noon, then for Donegal against Longford in the National Football League on the same day in 1991.[18]

Bonner scored 0–19 in the 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.[1] That year Donegal qualified for in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final for the first time in their history. Bonner scored 0–4 of Donegal's total in the county's victory over Dublin in that game, and it was also he who scored the final point of the match.[1][19][20] Upon doing so he clenched his fist, certain in the knowledge of victory.[1] It is regarded as one of the most iconic moments in team history.[1] He fell to the floor and was there when the referee blew the final whistle.[1] But, within five years of raising aloft the Sam Maguire Cup, Bonner was forced to retire from the (inter-county) game due to injury.[19]

He was seriously injured in the 1992–93 National Football League semi-final in which Donegal defeated Clare at Croke Park and spent several weeks in hospital. With Dublin playing Kerry in the other semi-final, the Dublin fans on Hill 16 took the opportunity to call Bonner unpleasant names as he was stretchered off.[21]

Management career
"You can talk about management structures and methods until you're blue in the face, but what you need above everything else is a squad of players willing to buy into what you're doing. Anytime I go to take on a job, if I don't get that then I don't hang a round. You have to demand that. There's no point in me giving it 120 per cent and some man landing to only put in 90 per cent. It doesn't work. When I go in, it's all or nothing".

– Bonner discussing his managerial philosophy in 2014[1]

"Declan has a great way with him. He's a very good people person… A big part of a situation is doing things for people you like; things you wouldn't do for someone you didn't like. It's not about respect as such, it's just a genuine fondness for the guy".

– John Gildea credited Bonner for persisting with him in 1998 during a difficult time in his career[22]

Bonner has been mentored in management by McEniff.[1] Like McEniff, his management style is based around personal connection with his players.[12]

Early club management

Bonner became player-manager with Na Rossa at the age of 23, his first managerial appointment.[16] This was during his fall out with Donegal manager Tom Conaghan during which time Bonner was exiled from the county team.[16] To pass his period of exile he led Na Rossa to the 1989 Donegal Intermediate Football Championship, while also playing for them.[1][16] Bonner's brothers Sean, Michael and Donal were also part of that Na Rossa team, while his brother Aidan — a minor — was a substitute.[16] McEniff took over as Donegal manager again at the end of 1989.[16] McEniff recalled Bonner to the county team.[16] Bonner would not manage Na Rossa again for some time.[16]

Inter-county

Bonner managed the Donegal county football team at senior level between 1997 and 2000.[23][24] He began on his 32nd birthday, within four weeks of retirement.[1][19][25] He was informed of the decision to appoint him at 9.29 pm on 11 August 1997, after Anthony Molloy, past manager Conaghan and Pauric McShea all withdrew.[1] Charlie Mulgrew and Matt Gallagher were part of Bonner's management team.[26] Bonner led Donegal to the 1997–98 National Football League semi-final against eventual title winners Offaly and the 1998 Ulster SFC final against Derry — a last-minute Joe Brolly goal, accompanied by a few kisses to the crowd, put paid to that one.[1][19]

Return to club management

Bonner managed Gaoth Dobhair to the 2006 Donegal Senior Football Championship title.[27] He coached Carl McHugh, the professional association footballer, at Na Rossa.[28] He also managed An Clochán Liath.[29] He managed his club Na Rossa to the 2008 Donegal Intermediate Football Championship final but they lost to Séan MacCumhaills by three points (he was not playing for them at the time).[30]

Bonner sought a joint managerial position with the senior footballers alongside Charlie Mulgrew in 2008 but both ultimately lost out to John Joe Doherty.[31][32]

Return to inter-county management
"If you keep putting excuses in the way then you won't have success. All I was listening to was excuses. People were coming up saying 'the colleges in Donegal aren't good enough', 'Derry and Tyrone are so far ahead of us', 'we just don't have the resources'. In the past, Donegal minor teams were beaten before they went out. When we came in and started to win at under-16 level the players saw and realised that they weren't far away".

– Bonner, speaking in 2014 while county minor manager[1]

In 2011, Bonner went to assist Paddy Hegarty with a South Donegal development squad.[1] This, he later explained, was the start of his "accidental" return to inter-county management.[1]

Bonner won the (Ulster under-16) Buncrana Cup in 2012.[29] He then won the (Ulster under-17) Jim McGuigan Cup.[1] In mid-2013, Bonner was appointed manager of the Donegal minor team.[29] He managed the county team to the 2014 Ulster Minor Football Championship; then to a first ever All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final, against Kerry.[33] He was not afforded a meeting with his predecessor as county minor manager, a decision he criticised in 2017 when he wrote in the Donegal News that such a meeting should be mandatory.[34]

When Jim McGuinness departed as county manager after the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, Bonner was linked with the managerial vacancy.[35]

In 2015, Bonner was appointed manager of the Donegal under-21 team.[36] He managed the county team to an Ulster Under-21 Football Championship in 2017, defeating Derry in the final.[6] However, he was critical of the Ulster Council for not allowing them sufficient time to prepare for the All-Ireland semi-final, which they lost to Dublin.[6] While managing the Donegal under-21 team, Bonner was linked with the vacant Cavan senior post in October 2016.[37]

On 22 September 2017, Bonner was reappointed manager of the senior team on a three-year term, succeeding Rory Gallagher.[38] Shortly before the appointment, Bonner wrote in the Donegal News: "We were a top tier team, but we have dropped down over the last year or two, and I can't see that changing unless we start to have a serious look at our structures from Under 15 right up to seniors, and the way we conduct our business".[39] Bonner's appointment was not universally welcomed.[26][40] However, it brought about a marked improvement in the team's fortunes and Bonner led his county to the 2018 and 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship titles.[9] While managing Donegal, he returned to line out for his club at JFC level, notably making saves while playing as goalkeeper when his team's regular goalkeeper transferred to New York.[8][9][10]

Personal life

Bonner married Catherine in 1990.[1] He took her to Austria for the honeymoon.[1]

Honours

Player
Donegal
Na Rossa

Manager
Donegal
Na Rossa
Gaoth Dobhair

References
  1. McNulty, Chris (22 September 2017). "Declan Bonner: It'll be 'all or nothing' for Donegal's 'half mad' new manager". Retrieved 22 September 2017. On the day of his 32nd birthday, on August 11, 1997, a flu-ridden Declan Bonner sat nervously in Jackson's Hotel, Ballybofey… McEniff… remains a close mentor of the Lettermacaward man.
  2. Haughey, John (4 June 2020). "Declan Bonner convinced championship will happen and with some spectators". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 June 2020. Bonner works for a wine company whose sales are largely to hotels and restaurants so has been keeping an keen eye on the debate on whether the current social distancing requirements of two metres will be reduced to the World Health Organization's guideline of one metre.
  3. McNulty, Chris (14 August 2018). "Numbers stack up as Michael Murphy tops Donegal's all-time charts". Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  4. "The Highland Radio commentary for the All-Ireland Football Final". Balls.ie. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  5. Bonner, Declan. "No Bones About It". Donegal News.
  6. "Disappointed Bonner hits out at Ulster Council". Donegal News. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017. Writing in his weekly column in the Donegal News, 'No Bones About it', Bonner blasted the provincial body for starting their competition too late, and that meant his team had less than five days to prepare for an All-Ireland semi-final with Dublin.
  7. McNulty, Chris (18 July 2014). "Management is in the blood for Declan Bonner". Donegal News. Retrieved 18 July 2014. Dan Bonner passed away last August. The graveyard Mass in Doochary was last Sunday. It was with a heavy heart that Declan missed it. He was at the Connacht football final casting an eye over potential opponents, Mayo and Roscommon. Dan Bonner would've understood.
  8. McNulty, Chris (28 September 2019). "Declan Bonner to the fore as Na Rossa reach Junior semi-finals". Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  9. McNulty, Chris (21 September 2019). "Declan Bonner plays as Na Rossa reach Junior quarter-finals". Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  10. "Donegal boss Bonner on life as a 54-year-old goalkeeper". RTÉ Sport. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  11. Bogue, Declan (14 July 2018). "Declan Bonner's lifelong season in Donegal: The tireless manager is immersed in Gaelic football, from Na Rossa to Croke Park". The Times. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  12. McNulty, Chris (20 July 2018). "Declan Bonner yearning for repeat of the long-term rewards from the golden age". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  13. "Donegal Boston come of age". Hogan Stand. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  14. Haughey, John (13 October 2020). "Declan Bonner: Donegal boss prepared for unprecedented GAA autumn as season restarts". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 October 2020. I'm chairman of my own club…
  15. McNulty, Chris (18 July 2015). "Donegal's 1990 Ulster winners will be honoured tomorrow — here is their story". Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  16. Bonner, Declan (23 April 2020). "You need that glimmer of hope". Donegal News. p. 55.
  17. Neville, Conor (29 May 2014). "Our Inter-County GAA Players Who Have Played League Of Ireland XI". Balls.ie. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  18. "I once togged out for Finn Harps and Donegal on the one day - that wouldn't be possible nowadays". Donegal News. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  19. Harrington, Pat (31 August 2014). "Inside Back: Where are they now? and Have Your Say". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  20. Foley, Alan (8 January 2009). "The heroes of '92 - Where are they now?". Donegal Democrat. Archived from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  21. McNulty, Chris (11 July 2018). "Declan Bonner looks to silence Hill 16 again as Donegal face stiffest test yet". Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  22. McNulty, Chris (21 November 2020). "John Gildea — Why Declan Bonner has perfect management to succeed with Donegal". Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  23. Keys, Colm (1 October 2008). "Bonner in the running for return to Donegal". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  24. "Galway blow as Fallon to switch codes". Irish Independent. 11 February 1998. Donegal also selected their team last night, and they handed league debuts to Martin Bonnar from Na Rossa, home club of new manager Declan Bonner, and John Haran of St Eunan's, Letterkenny.
  25. McNulty, Chris (29 June 2014). "Darach O'Connor leads Donegal's new generation – on and off the field". Donegal News. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  26. Campbell, Peter (28 September 2017). "Why can't Donegal unite behind new manager Declan Bonner?". Retrieved 28 September 2017. Then before the new manager was proposed and seconded (and there was a pregnant pause on that issue too) there were questions about how the new manager would deal with the club v player issue. Even when the new manager was revealed and brought in from the corridor, the atmosphere was sombre. I was surprised that the delegates present could not give him a warmer welcome. There were rumours that Declan wasn't universally popular… It's hard to imagine that a 32-year-old would be given the job nowadays. Back then [in his first spell in charge] his assistants, Matt Gallagher and Charlie Mulgrew, weren't much older.
  27. "Gweedore cash in as smash and grab raid sinks Eunan's". Irish Independent. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2006.
  28. "McBrearty looking for time off". Hogan Stand. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013. 1992 Donegal All-Ireland winner Declan Bonner coached McHugh in the Na Rossa GAA set-up.
  29. "Declan Bonner announced as the new Donegal minor manager". 2 July 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  30. Ferry, Ryan (3 October 2019). "Gaels target historic final berth". Donegal News. p. 73. It's 11 years since Na Rossa last contested a county final, but they are hoping to qualify for the Junior 'A' Championship decider this Saturday when they take on Letterkenny Gaels. In 2008, Na Rossa reached the Intermediate final but lost by three points in the final against MacCumhaills.
  31. "Doherty ratified as new Donegal manager". Irish Examiner. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  32. Keys, Colm (1 October 2008). "Bonner in the running for return to Donegal". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  33. "Donegal go through to first ever minor football final". Irish Examiner. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  34. "We need to look at the bigger picture". Donegal News. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  35. McNulty, Chris (9 October 2014). "Declan Bonner says: 'Time isn't right for me'". Donegal News. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  36. Forker, Mark (3 September 2015). "Declan Bonner appointed new Donegal U21 manager". Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  37. "Declan Bonner linked with Cavan but Donegal U21's is priority". Highland Radio. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  38. "Donegal confirm the appointment of Ulster minor and U21 winning manager". The42.ie. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  39. "We need proper template – Bonner". Donegal News. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  40. Lawlor, Damian (4 October 2017). "Declan Bonner promises change in efforts to bring glory days back to Donegal". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 October 2017. Former player must first win over the doubters…
Sporting positions
Preceded by
P. J. McGowan		 Donegal Senior Football Manager
1997–2000		 Succeeded by
Mickey Moran
Preceded by
Rory Gallagher		 Donegal Senior Football Manager
2017–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Maxi Curran		 Donegal Under-21 Football Manager
2015-2017		 Succeeded by
Gary McDaid
Preceded by
Stephen Friel		 Donegal Minor Football Manager
2013-2015		 Succeeded by
Shaun Paul Barrett
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