Martin McElhinney

Martin McElhinney (born 10 August 1988) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Naomh Mícheál and also, formerly, for the Donegal county team (between 2007 and 2019).

Martin McElhinney
Personal information
Irish name Máirtín Mac Giolla Chainnigh[1]
Sport Gaelic football
Position Midfield
Born (1988-08-10) August 10, 1988
County Donegal
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Occupation Student
Club(s)
Years Club
?–
 Naomh Mícheál
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
2007–2019
 Donegal 104[2]
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles 4
All-Irelands 1

Among other accolades, he has one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and four Ulster Senior Football Championships to his name.[2] He is from Creeslough.[2]

Playing career

Club and college

McElhinney's club reached the final of the 2011 Donegal Senior Football Championship— their first ever senior final—but lost, though McElhinney scored during the game.[3][4]

McElhinney also played for DCU.[5]

Inter-county

McElhinney scored two goals for Donegal at Croke Park in the 2006 Ulster Minor Football Championship Final, which Donegal won.[6]

He made his debut at senior inter-county level under the management of Brian McIver in 2007.[2]

By the time of Jim McGuinness's arrival as manager, McElhinney was still part of the team. Against Derry in the 2011 Ulster Senior Football Championship final, Rory Kavanagh went off injured late in the first half and McElhinney replaced him.[7] In the 2012 Ulster final against Down, his appearance as a second-half substitute was credited with being vital to the victory.[8] He started Donegal's next game, a comprehensive All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final defeat of Kerry at Croke Park.[9][10] He came on as a second-half substitute for Patrick McBrearty in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, won by Donegal.[11] He was treated like a VIP when himself and Maxi Curran brought the Sam Maguire Cup to Mulroy College in Milford.[12]

McElhinney started Rory Gallagher's first match in charge of the county, a 2015 Dr McKenna Cup away defeat to Derry.[13] He came on a substitute in the first match of the 2015 National Football League (also against Derry but at home), contributing 0–1 to the team's victory.[14] He also made a substitute appearances in the next game against Dublin at Croke Park, the third fixture against Cork in Ballyshannon and the fourth fixture against Monaghan.[15][16][17] He started the fifth fixture against Kerry at Austin Stack Park and contributed 0–1.[18] He started the sixth fixture against Tyrone and scored 0–2 in what RTÉ described as an "impressive" performance.[19] He followed this up with a further point in the seventh fixture against Mayo.[20] Donegal qualified for the NFL semi-final. McElhinney started and scored 0–2.[21][22]

McElhinney started the 2015 Ulster Senior Football Championship final.[23] He had previously started the preliminary round against Tyrone (scoring 1–2), the quarter-final against Armagh (scoring 0–1) and the semi-final against Derry (scoring 0–1).[24][25][26] McElhinney made substitute appearances in the 2015 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier defeat of Galway at Croke Park and the next game against Mayo at the same venue.[27][28]

McElhinney made a substitute appearance in the second fixture of the 2016 National Football League against Cork, a ten-point win in Ballyshannon.[29] He also made substitute appearances in the third and fourth fixtures against Mayo and Kerry.[30][31] He started the fifth fixture against Roscommon.[32] Another substitute appearance followed in the next game away to Dublin at Croke Park, during which James McCarthy used his left hand to seemingly gouge McElhinney's eye.[33][34][35][36] McElhinney started the seventh fixture away to Monaghan in Castleblayney and scored a goal.[37] Donegal qualified for the NFL semi-final. McElhinney also started this game, scoring a point.[38]

McElhinney made a substitute appearance in the 2016 Ulster Senior Football Championship final.[39] He had previously started the quarter-final against Fermanagh (scoring 0–1), the semi-final against Monaghan and the semi-final replay against the same opposition (scoring 0–1).[40][41][42] McElhinney also started the 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier defeat of Cork at Croke Park and the next game against Dublin at the same venue.[43][44]

McElhinney made a late substitute appearance in the fifth fixture of the 20017 National Football League against Tyrone.[45] He made further substitute appearances in the sixth and seventh fixtures against Monaghan and Mayo.[46][47]

McElhinney made substitute appearances in the 2017 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final victory against Antrim and semi-final loss to Tyrone.[48][49] He made a further substitute appearance in the 2017 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier defeat of Meath at Páirc Tailteann.[50] He then made a substitute appearance in the qualifier loss to Galway at Markievicz Park and scored 0–1.[51]

Under the management of Declan Bonner, McElhinney made his 100th appearance for Donegal against Cavan in the 2019 Dr McKenna Cup.[2] Following Donegal's victory over Armagh in the 2019 National Football League, McElhinney informed Bonner of his decision to withdraw from inter-county football. He had been an unused substitute in that game and the game before, though he had played in three earlier games of that year's league.[2] These were a substitute appearance in the opening fixture of the competition against Clare in Ennis,[52] Meath in the second fixture (starting then making way for Jason McGee),[53] and again as a substitute, on this occasion for Oisín Gallen, in the third fixture against Tipperary.[54]

Honours
Donegal

References
  1. "Countdown to Croker: Donegal name 'team' for All-Ireland final". Donegal Daily. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  2. McNulty, Chris (6 March 2019). "All-Ireland winner Martin McElhinney pulls out of Donegal panel". Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  3. "Murphy is the star as Glenswilly triumph". The Irish Times. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  4. "Murphy magic proves key as Glenswilly secure first Donegal crown". Irish Independent. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  5. Keane, Paul (28 March 2016). "Donegal turn blind eye to James McCarthy incident". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 March 2016. It was McCarthy's tangle with Donegal substitute Martin McElhinney, ironically an ex-team-mate at DCU, that was particularly controversial as the Dublin defender's left hand made contact with McElhinney's eye area.
  6. "Second-half surge sees Donegal end long title wait". Irish Independent. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
  7. "Donegal 1–11 Derry 0-08". RTÉ Sport. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  8. Campbell, John (3 August 2012). "With McLoone on board McGuinness has all angles covered". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 3 August 2012. McLoone's actual role in the side to face Kerry on Sunday is still uncertain given that McGuinness is continuing to study the fitness of midfielder Neil Gallagher while also assessing the credentials of Martin McElhinney. It was McElhinney who turned the tide in Donegal's favour against Down when he went in as a second-half substitute to impose himself forcibly at midfield, winning invaluable possession that was translated into scores.
  9. "Donegal supporters on the edge of their seats". Donegal Democrat. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012. Kerry's Paul Galvin is forced off the ball by Martin McElhinney, Frank McGlynn and Anthony Thompson.
  10. "Donegal 1-12 Kerry 1-10". RTÉ Sport. 5 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  11. "Live updates from the All-Ireland finals at Croke Park". RTÉ Sport. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  12. "The day Sam got the 'Max' from Mulroy College". 13 November 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  13. McNulty, Chris (4 January 2015). "Report: Rory Gallagher's experimental Donegal well beaten by Derry". Donegal News. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  14. "Gallagher delighted with early statement as McBrearty steps up". Irish Independent. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  15. "14-man Dublin too hot for Donegal to handle". RTÉ Sport. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  16. "Donegal edge out Cork in Ballyshannon". RTÉ Sport. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  17. "Monaghan grind out result in dour encounter". RTÉ Sport. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  18. O'Riordan, Ian (15 March 2015). "Kerry hold nerve and Donegal in Tralee spring classic". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  19. Bannon, Orla (29 March 2015). "Donegal make light work of Tyrone". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  20. Finnerty, Mike (6 April 2015). "Stephen Griffin leapfrogs Donegal into semis". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  21. "Football League Div 1 semi-final: Cork 4–11 0–19 Donegal". BBC Sport. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  22. Moynihan, Michael (13 April 2015). "Rampant Cork Rebels rock Donegal with goal rush". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  23. Breheny, Martin (19 July 2015). "Monaghan beat Donegal at their own game as Ulster champions dethroned". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  24. Mooney, Francis (17 May 2015). "Donegal edge Tyrone in tough Ulster battle". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  25. Mooney, Francis (14 June 2015). "Donegal progress untested by Armagh". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  26. Mooney, Francis (27 June 2015). "Donegal forced to dig deep for Derry win". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  27. Keane, Paul (1 August 2015). "Round 4B: Brilliant Donegal dismantle Galway". Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  28. Keane, Paul (8 August 2015). "Classy Mayo outgun sluggish Donegal". Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  29. "Cork crash to 10-point defeat as impressive Donegal go top of Division 1: Goals from Odhrán MacNiallais and Martin O'Reilly spurred Donegal to victory". The42.ie. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  30. Campbell, Peter (28 February 2016). "Donegal march on beating Mayo". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  31. Leen, Tony (7 March 2016). "Dogged Kerry win arm wrestle". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  32. Campbell, Peter (13 March 2016). "Rossies signal greater intent after win over Donegal". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  33. Keane, Paul (28 March 2016). "Donegal turn blind eye to James McCarthy incident". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  34. "Video: Should Dublin's James McCarthy face retrospective action for alleged eye gouge?". Irish Independent. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  35. McGillicuddy, Kevin (March 2016). "Dublin's James McCarthy accused of eye-gouging in win over Donegal". JOE.ie.
  36. "Dublin's James McCarthy Could Be In Massive Trouble After This Alleged Eye Gouge". Pundit Arena. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  37. Shalvey, Colm (3 April 2016). "Allianz FL D1: Last gasp Monaghan avoid relegation". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  38. "FL1 semi-final: dazzling Dubs demolish disappointing Donegal". Hogan Stand. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  39. Mooney, Francis (17 July 2016). "Late scores help Tyrone to Ulster title". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  40. Mooney, Francis (12 June 2016). "Odhran Mac Niallais brace powers Donegal into Ulster semi-finals". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  41. Mooney, Francis (25 June 2016). "Monaghan and Donegal draw in Ulster thriller". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  42. "Ulster SFC semi-final replay: Donegal 0–17 Monaghan 2–10". BBC Sport. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  43. 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.
  44. Crowe, Dermot (7 August 2016). "Stuttering Dubs show their fallibility". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  45. Kelly, Kevin (18 March 2017). "Allianz FL D1: Donegal too good for Tyrone". Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  46. Foley, Alan (27 March 2017). "Late escape for Monaghan as Donegal pay penalty". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  47. Gannon, Colm (2 April 2017). "Aidan O'Shea's late introduction proves decisive as Mayo see off Donegal to avoid relegation". The42.ie. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  48. Foley, Alan (21 May 2017). "Paddy McGrath among the goalscorers as Donegal blitz Antrim to advance in Ulster". The42.ie. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  49. "The pendulum has swung decisively in Tyrone's favour in the battle of Ulster's giants following a runaway win at Clones". Irish Examiner. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  50. Keane, Paul (8 July 2017). "Round 3A Qualifier: Donegal edge thriller". Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  51. Small, Daragh (22 July 2017). "Round 4A Qualifier: Impressive Galway advance". Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  52. Lynch, Derrick (27 January 2019). "Missing a host of regulars, Donegal come away from Clare with victory". The42.ie. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  53. Campbell, Peter (2 February 2019). "Fortuitous goal sees Donegal come back to beat Meath". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  54. Fallon, John (10 February 2019). "Casey strikes late goal as Tipp come back to shock Donegal". The42.ie. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
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