Tom Conaghan

Tom Conaghan is an Irish Gaelic football figure who managed Donegal teams during the 1980s and, later, the Sligo senior team. His former players regarded him as a disciplinarian in his approach to management.[1][2]

Conaghan managed Donegal to the 1982 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship.[3] He later took over from Brian McEniff as senior manager when McEniff had won the 1983 Ulster Senior Football Championship.

Over the course of his time as senior manager during the 1980s, Conaghan fell out with numerous players. He dropped Marty Carlin and Charlie Mulgrew from his team for one year after they played for Letterkenny in a Forster Cup final victory at Ravenhill in 1987.[1] Other players with whom he fell out during his time as senior manager included Declan Bonner, Manus Boyle, Matt Gallagher, Barry McGowan and Sylvester Maguire.[2][4] Conaghan's spell as county manager ended with a heavy defeat to Tyrone.[4] McEniff, returning to the senior job for a fourth time in September 1989, restored many of those with whom Conaghan had fallen out to the panel in time for the 1990 Ulster Senior Football Championship, which Donegal won.[4]

Conaghan later managed the Sligo seniors.[5] He was mentioned as a possible successor to P. J. McGowan as Donegal manager in 1997 in a dual role with Anthony Molloy.[6] He withdrew and Declan Bonner became manager.[2]

In later years, Conaghan became involved in politics and sat as an independent on Donegal County Council.[3] He first stood for election in 2009 but did not win a seat.[7] He won a seat in 2014 and retained it in 2019.[7] He was elected Cathaoirleach of the Donegal Municipal District on 13 June 2017.[8]

References

1. "Regrets, I've had a few — The life and times of Marty Carlin". 1 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020. Tom being the disciplinarian that he was, he cut us.
2. "Declan Bonner: It'll be 'all or nothing' for Donegal's 'half mad' new manager". 22 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017. It was a year that saw him feel the sharp disciplinary edge of manager Tom Conaghan… 'Tom was real no-nonsense manager'.
3. "Anthony Molloy: 'The man from the mist' gets Freedom of Donegal". 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
4. McNulty, Chris (18 July 2015). "Donegal's 1990 Ulster winners will be honoured tomorrow — here is their story". Retrieved 18 July 2015.
5. "Gallagher, Matt". Hogan Stand. 17 July 1992. Former team manager of the Donegal team, later Sligo's boss, Tom Conaghan, believed in Gallagher's versatile skills so much so that he employed the 5 feet 10 inch, 13 stone veteran in various positions in attack for the team.
6. Moran, Sean (9 July 1997). "McGowan calls it a day with Donegal". The Irish Times.
7. "Tom Conaghan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
8. "Donegal councillor says there's now too much pressure on young people in sport". Ocean FM. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.