Leo McLoone

Leo McLoone (born 1989) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Naomh Conaill and also, formerly, the Donegal county team.

Personal information
Irish name Leo Mac Giolla Uain[1]
Sport Gaelic football
Position Centre Forward
Born 1989 (age 31–32)
Letterkenny
Occupation Secondary school teacher
Club(s)
Years Club
200?–
c. 2017
 Naomh Conaill
Donegal New York
Club titles
Donegal titles 4
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
2008–2019
 Donegal 109
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 5
All-Irelands 1
All Stars 0

A versatile player,[2] often employed as a forward, he has been an important source of goals for club and county.[3]

McLoone made 109 appearances for his county, winning five Ulster Senior Football Championships and one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. He was "the last of that famous Naomh Conaill four that also included Anthony Thompson, Dermot Molloy and Marty Boyle" to retire from inter-county football, doing so, as has been his custom, without making a public announcement.[4]

McLoone's father was captain of the team that reached the Senior County Championship Final in 1965.[5]

Playing career

Club

As a 16-year-old, McLoone was introduced as a substitute in the final of the 2005 Donegal Senior Football Championship, which the club won for the very first time.[6]

He inspired his club to the Donegal Senior Football Championship title for a second time in 2010, with a man of the match display.[7] Then he inspired them to the final of the 2010 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship, knocking out Cavan champions Kingscourt, Monaghan champions Clontibret and Tyrone champions Coalisland along the way.[8][9]

McLoone was 'man-of-the-match' in the final of the 2015 Donegal Senior Football Championship, as him and his club claimed their third title.[10] He also captained that team.[5]

He also captained the 2019 winning team.[5]

McLoone played for Donegal New York in 2017, winning a New York Senior Football Championship.[11]

Underage

McLoone played in the Ulster Minor Football Championship Final as Donegal won their first such title in 10 years at Croke Park in 2006.[12]

McLoone played for Donegal throughout the 2010 Ulster Under-21 Football Championship campaign, a competition which they won and in which McLoone scored two points in each of the quarter-final and semi-final.[13][14] 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), though McLoone scored a goal.[15]

Senior

Brian McIver gave McLoone his senior Donegal debut in 2008; McLoone was a substitute against Mayo.[16] McIver's successor John Joe Doherty gave McLoone his first start during a 2009 All-Ireland qualifier win against Carlow at MacCumhaill Park.[16]

In March 2011, McLoone broke his ankle.[17] Then, upon returning to the game, he sustained a horrific injury during a club meeting between Naomh Conaill and Glenswilly; a double fracture of his eye socket which required surgery. The injury caused him to miss Donegal's Ulster Senior Football Championship final win over Derry. He had come off the bench to help Donegal overcome Tyrone in the semi-final.[18] He had only returned for Donegal from his broken ankle in the Ulster SFC quarter-final victory over Cavan.[19] He was eventually declared fit for Donegal's All-Ireland semi-final clash with Dublin; however Donegal lost that game.[17][20]

On 16 June 2012, he scored an important goal against Derry to help Donegal through to an Ulster Senior Football Championship semi-final meeting with Tyrone.[21][22][23] He was subsequently named in the team for the final.[24] He had a terrific game in that final on 22 July 2012 as Donegal retained the Ulster title for the first time in their history with a 2–18 to 0–13 victory over Down.[25] McLoone scored a goal in the final.[26] He played in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final against Mayo.[27][28]

He added a third Ulster SFC in 2014.[29]

And in some ways, the frustration of being behind the wire was almost preferable to that which he had gone through in the first two years under Rory Gallagher.

Under the management of Rory Gallagher, McLoone fell by the wayside.[30] He was absent by his own choice for six months of the 2015 season but returned in 2016.[30][31] However, he only started four matches (each one in the 2016 National Football League.[30] He scored a goal against Mayo during a second-half substitute appearance in the same competition.[32] Then, in the opening match of the 2016 Ulster Senior Football Championship, he appeared as an early substitute only to be taken off again at half-time.[30][33] He did not make another appearance in the competition.[30] He had 54 minutes of play as a substitute in the two matches against Cork and Dublin during the 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.[30][34][35]

Frustrated at the lack of regular play, McLoone departed from the county team in 2017.[16] He headed stateside.[36] Manager Declan Bonner convinced him to return for 2018.[16] Though initially thought doubtful for the National Football League opener against Kerry, McLoone started and completed most of the game before making way for Jason McGee late on.[37][38] He also started the six remaining fixtures against Galway, Dublin, Kildare, Tyrone, Monaghan and Mayo.[39][40][41][42][43][44]

McLoone started the final as Donegal secured the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship.[45]

McLoone made a late substitute appearance against Clare in the opening fixture of the 2019 National Football League in Ennis.[46] He then made substitute appearances in the fixtures against Meath, Tipperary and Fermanagh.[47][48][49] He started the fifth, sixth and seventh fixtures against Armagh, Cork and Kildare.[50][51][52] It was during this competition that McLoone made his 100th senior appearance for Donegal.[16] Following his 101st appearance in the next match (against Armagh, which was also his first start of the season), he was presented with an honour to commemorate his achievement.[53] Donegal qualified for the National Football League Division 2 final and McLoone started the game as Donegal defeated Meath to win the title.[54] McLoone collected his fifth and final Ulster SFC in 2019, appearing as a substitute in the final against Cavan.[55] He decided to retire from inter-county football at the age of 30 at the end of the 2019 season, but this only became public knowledge much later (though manager and teammates were aware).[4] Declan Bonner confirmed McLoone had retired while speaking at a press event on 25 January 2020 ahead of Donegal's second National Football League game of the season, away to Meath.[4] He made 109 appearances for his county.[56]

Coaching

McLoone has been involved with the Naomh Conaill management team.[31]

Personal life

McLoone is regarded as media shy.[57] According to clubmate and former Donegal player John Gildea: "The one thing you'd never find with Leo McLoone was any level of arrogance... He gave absolutely everything at training and when he played for Donegal. But at the end of it all he was always happy to sit at the back of the bus and let others make the noise".[4]

He got engaged around the time of his Donegal playing retirement.[4]

Honours
Donegal
Naomh Conaill
Donegal New York

References
  1. "Countdown to Croker: Donegal name 'team' for All-Ireland final". Donegal Daily. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  2. Campbell, John (3 August 2012). "With McLoone on board McGuinness has all angles covered". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 3 August 2012. There are versatile footballers – and then there is Leo McLoone.
  3. "Gallagher injury scare". Donegal Democrat. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  4. Craig, Frank (1 February 2020). "Gildea pays tribute to departing McLoone". Donegal News. Retrieved 1 February 2020. It's so time consuming, takes up so much of your life that players are inevitably retiring a little younger. I understand he's just got engaged too so he's moving onto another part of life now.
  5. O'Brien, Kevin (27 November 2019). "'Jim McGuinness introduced me to the panel and said, 'He'll be playing for the next 20 years': As Naomh Conaill prepare for Sunday's Ulster final, Leo McLoone reflects on his career with the Glenties club". The42.ie. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  6. "St. Eunan's take favourites tag into final". Donegal Democrat. 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2012. Martin Regan and Leo McLoone - who was only 16 at the time - were introduced as replacements in 2005, will also feature in the Naomh Conaill line-up.
  7. "McLoone proves too hot". Irish Independent. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  8. "Naomh Conaill's adventure continues with Coalisland test". Donegal Democrat. 9 November 2010. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  9. Keys, Colm (13 December 2010). "Kernan red card spurs on Cross'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  10. "Leo McLoone stars as 14-man Naomh Conaill dethrone the Donegal champions: It's a first SFC title since 2010 for the Glenties men". The42.ie. 18 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  11. Foley, Alan (9 September 2017). "Leo McLoone faces a hectic 24 hours on both sides of the Atlantic". Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  12. "Second-half surge sees Donegal end long title wait". Irish Independent. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
  13. McNulty, Chris (7 April 2020). "The diary, the dream and Donegal's first steps to 'the other place'". Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  14. "Ulster U21FC: Murphy leads Donegal to title". Hogan Stand. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  15. O'Toole, Fintan (6 April 2013). "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". The42.ie. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  16. McNulty, Chris (20 February 2019). "'A real leader' - Leo McLoone set for 100th Donegal appearance". Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  17. "GAA: Boost for Donegal as McLoone declared fit for Dubs clash". 10 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  18. "Donegal CCC to probe McLoone attack". Hogan Stand. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  19. "Donegal's Leo McLoone will miss Ulster SFC decider". BBC Sport. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  20. "As it Happened: Dublin 0-08 Donegal 0-06". RTÉ Sport. 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  21. "Donegal 2-13 0-9 Derry". BBC Sport. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  22. O'Daly, Kieran (16 June 2012). "Donegal too strong for Derry". Setanta Sports. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  23. "Donegal down Derry". Irish Independent. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  24. "McLoone in for Donegal for Ulster final". Donegal Democrat. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  25. "History makers! Donegal double champions as Jim's boys retain Ulster title". 22 July 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012. Ryan Bradley, Frank McGlynn and Leo McLoone had terrific games for Donegal.
  26. "Ulster Senior Football Final: Donegal 2-18 0-13 Down". BBC Sport. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  27. "Live updates from the All-Ireland finals at Croke Park". RTÉ Sport. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  28. "Donegal 2-11 Mayo 0-13". RTÉ Sport. 23 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  29. "Donegal reverse 2013 result to claim Ulster football title". The42.ie. 20 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  30. O'Kane, Cahair (6 February 2018). "Energised McLoone revelling in Donegal return". The Irish News. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  31. Foley, Alan (10 August 2015). "Leo McLoone: 'I'll be looking forward to a big season next season". Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  32. Campbell, Peter (28 February 2016). "Donegal march on beating Mayo". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  33. Mooney, Francis (12 June 2016). "Odhran Mac Niallais brace powers Donegal into Ulster semi-finals". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  34. O'Toole, Fintan (30 July 2016). "McBrearty inspires Donegal to battling win over Cork and sets up clash with Dublin". The42.ie. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  35. Crowe, Dermot (7 August 2016). "Stuttering Dubs show their fallibility". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  36. McNulty, Chris (24 September 2017). "Odhrán Mac Niallais and Leo McLoone set for Donegal returns: Duo opted out of panel in 2017 and have spent summer playing in New York". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  37. "McLoone dealt setback in Donegal return". Hogan Stand. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  38. O'Toole, Fintan (28 January 2018). "Casey hits winning point, O'Shea fires 0-7 and 3 red cards shown in Kerry Donegal clash: The sides met in Killarney today". The42.ie. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  39. Foley, Alan (4 February 2018). "Last-gasp Galway snatch victory in Donegal to make it two from two". The42.ie. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  40. O'Brien, Kevin (10 February 2018). "Dublin survive strong Donegal fightback to make it three wins from three". The42.ie. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  41. Campbell, Peter (25 February 2018). "Donegal scrape by 14-man Kildare in relegation dogfight". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  42. Bogue, Declan (10 March 2018). "Two-goal Tyrone move closer to safety with big win over Donegal in Omagh". The42.ie. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  43. Graham, John (18 March 2018). "Monaghan ease past relegation-threatened Donegal". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  44. Gannon, Colm (25 March 2018). "McLoughlin's stunning 74th minute equaliser sees Mayo survive the drop and Donegal suffer relegation". The42.ie. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  45. Mooney, Francis (24 June 2018). "Energetic Donegal end Fermanagh's Ulster title dream". RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  46. Lynch, Derrick (27 January 2019). "Missing a host of regulars, Donegal come away from Clare with victory". The42.ie. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  47. Campbell, Peter (2 February 2019). "Fortuitous goal sees Donegal come back to beat Meath". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  48. Fallon, John (10 February 2019). "Casey strikes late goal as Tipp come back to shock Donegal". The42.ie. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  49. Campbell, Peter (24 February 2019). "Fermanagh rally against 13-man Donegal to stay unbeaten in Division 2". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  50. Foley, Alan (2 March 2019). "Super sub Murphy makes decisive impact in narrow win for Donegal". The42.ie. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  51. Hurley, Denis (16 March 2019). "Cork on brink of drop to Division 3 as Donegal power home". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  52. Branigan, Peter (24 March 2019). "Murphy masterclass fires Donegal back to top flight". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  53. "Leo McLoone honoured on his 101st appearance". 4 March 2019. Archived from the original on 12 March 2019.
  54. O'Brien, Kevin (30 March 2019). "Murphy masterclass helps Donegal to Division 2 glory after comeback win over Meath". The42.ie. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  55. Sweeney, Peter (23 June 2019). "Donegal power past Cavan to claim Ulster title". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  56. Ferry, Ryan (30 January 2020). "Donegal prepare for Meath challenge". Donegal News. p. 80. The Donegal manager also confirmed that Leo McLoone, who made 109 appearances for his county and won five Ulster titles as well as the Sam Maguire Cup in 2012, has retired...
  57. "The lack of performance was hardest to take - McLoone". Donegal Democrat. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
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