Donal Reid

{{short description|Irish Gaelic footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox Gaelic games player | name = Donal Reid | image = | alt = | caption = |  | irish = | sport = Gaelic football | clposition = | icposition = Utility player | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|57|2019|2|12}}<ref name=ii_12022019>{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Maguire|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/all-ireland-winning-gaa-star-saves-woman-who-caught-fire-at-mass-37809272.html|title=All-Ireland winning GAA star saves woman who caught fire at mass|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=12 February 2019|access-date=12 February 2019}}</ref> | birth_place = [[Letterkenny]], Ireland | death_date = | death_place = | feet = 5 | inches = 11<ref name=hs_31071992/> | nickname = | occupation = [[Physical therapy|Physiotherapist]]<ref name=heroes_of_92/> |  | code = Football | clyears = {{c.}} 1982–19??<br>{{c.}} 1992–? | clubs = Bundoran<br>Red Hughs | clapps(points) = |  | county = Donegal | clcounty = | province = | clprovince = | clallireland = |  | colyears = | colleges = | colapps(points) = |  | fitz = | sig = |  | icyears = 1982–1992/3 | counties = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] | icapps(points) = 100+<ref name=hs_31071992/> |  | icprovince = | icconnacht = | iculster = 3 | icleinster = | icmunster = | icallireland = 1 | nfl = | nhl = | allstars = |  | clupdate = | icupdate = }} '''Donal Reid''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|o:|n|@|l|_|'|r|iː|d}} {{respell|DOH|nəl|_|reed}}; born 1961 or 1962) is an Irish former [[Gaelic football]]er who played for Bundoran, Red Hughs and the [[Donegal county football team|Donegal county team]]. He played more than 100 times competitively for Donegal, appearing at all age levels and [[Utility player|positions from midfield to forward to defence]].<ref name=hs_31071992>{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/Donegal/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=63005|title=Reid, Donal|work=[[Hogan Stand]]|date=31 July 1992}}</ref>

Reid won two All-Ireland titles with his county, and was part of [[Jim McGuinness]]'s backroom team when they [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|won another in 2012]]. He also played [[hurling]] with the [[Setanta Hurling Club (Donegal)|Setanta]] club.<ref name=heroes_of_92/>

==Playing career== Reid played first with Bundoran and later with the Red Hughs club.<ref name=heroes_of_92/> He played alongside future Donegal manager [[Brian McEniff]] in the team's defence.<ref name=hs_31071992/>

Reid first played for his county at the age of 17.<ref name=it_14012017/> He was a replacement [[All Star]] in 1980.<ref name=hs_31071992/> His brother Bosco graduated to the senior ranks of county football in 1985–6, while another brother, Oliver, played at under-21 level for his county in 1992.<ref name=hs_31071992/>

Reid started the [[1982 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship]] final, the nineteenth edition of this competition and the first one that Donegal won.<ref name=it_14012017/><ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/declan-bonner-yearning-repeat-long-term-rewards-golden-age/|title=Declan Bonner yearning for repeat of the long-term rewards from the golden age|date=20 July 2018|access-date=20 July 2018}}</ref> 1982 was also his first year as a senior player.<ref name=hs_31071992/> With Donegal having an abundant supply of players in defence, Reid played at half forward in the 1983 [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]] final, in which Donegal defeated [[Cavan GAA|Cavan]].<ref name=hs_31071992/><ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/donegal-heroes-of-1983-1-1985399|title=Donegal heroes of 1983|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=15 July 2008|access-date=15 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218181207/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/donegal-heroes-of-1983-1-1985399|archive-date=18 December 2015}}</ref> He won his second Ulster SFC in 1990.<ref name=hs_31071992/> He also won [[Railway Cup]] medals in 1989 and 1990, while playing with [[Ulster GAA|Ulster]] against [[Provinces of Ireland|the other provinces]].<ref name=hs_31071992/>

Reid was a replacement All Star in 1990 and made the trip to both coasts of the United States.<ref name=1990_winners/> Shortly after his return, the 1990 Ulster Senior Football Championship got underway.<ref name=1990_winners/> Donegal recorded victories over Cavan and [[Derry GAA|Derry]] in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively.<ref name=1990_winners/> Reid played at the back and scored a point in that year's Ulster final against [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]], which Donegal won.<ref name=1990_winners>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/donegals-1990-ulster-winners-will-be-honoured-tomorrow-heres-their-story/|title=Donegal's 1990 Ulster winners will be honoured tomorrow — here is their story|date=18 July 2015|access-date=18 July 2015}}</ref>

The pinnacle of Reid's playing career came in 1992, when Donegal won the [[Sam Maguire Cup]].<ref name=heroes_of_92/> By this time he was 30 years of age and based in [[Letterkenny]], working for [[Donegal Creameries]].<ref name=hs_31071992/> ''[[Hogan Stand]]'' regarded Reid's importance to his county team highly, writing: "Even objective observers of the game in Donegal recognised that the [[Martin Shovlin|Shovlin]], [[Martin Gavigan|Gavigan]] and Reid combination probably represented the best line of defence in the country. The Dublin trio of [[Paul Curran (Gaelic footballer)|Curran]], [[Tommy Carr (Gaelic footballer)|Carr]] and [[Eamon Heery|Heery]] were the only other combination which vied for that tag."<ref name=hs_31071992/> However, manager Brian McEniff did not select Reid to start Donegal's opening round Ulster SFC match against Cavan at [[Breffni Park]] on 24 May.<ref name=hs_31071992/> Dropped for the first time in his career, the move proved contentious amongst supporters and team sponsors.<ref name=hs_31071992/> An opportunity arose in the first half when [[Paul Carr (Gaelic footballer)|Paul Carr]] was withdrawn.<ref name=hs_31071992/> Reid entered play as a substitute and helped Donegal secure a draw.<ref name=hs_31071992/> They won the replay.<ref name=hs_31071992/> Donegal progressed to the Ulster SFC final, and Reid made his 24th Championship appearance, against Derry.<ref name=hs_31071992/>

However, after winning the Ulster SFC (and thereby qualifying for the semi-final of the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]]), Reid returned to his club, Red Hughs. Shortly before the All-Ireland SFC semi-final against [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]], he played in a [[Donegal Senior Football Championship|Donegal County Football Championship]] match against [[Termon GAA|Termon]].<ref name=it_14012017/> An opponent punched Reid towards the end of the game.<ref name=it_14012017/> He sustained a broken jaw and nose and permanent damage to his facial structure, including the loss of many teeth.<ref name=it_14012017>{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Duggan|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/donal-reid-has-been-there-done-that-and-bears-the-scars-1.2933417|title=Donal Reid has been there, done that – and bears the scars|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=14 January 2017|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref> Even though he was in some discomfort, Reid approached the opposition dressing room door and asked for his assailant to explain his actions.<ref name=it_14012017/> His assailant did not appear, never offered an explanation and did not express sorrow, even in the aftermath.<ref name=it_14012017/> Reid would later regret not having sought legal action.<ref name=it_14012017/> Donegal team doctor [[Jim McDaid]] went with Reid to hospital in Letterkenny, where 18 stitches were applied to his gums.<ref name=it_14012017/> Such was the state of his face that his then young daughter cried when she saw him.<ref name=it_14012017/> Reid recovered sufficiently to start at right half back in the [[1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final]] as Donegal, in their first appearance at this stage of the competition, unexpectedly defeated the then 21-times winners [[Dublin GAA|Dublin]].<ref name=heroes_of_92>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalsport/The-heroes-of--3992.4856965.jp|title=The heroes of '92 – Where are they now?|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=8 January 2009|access-date=8 January 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218180946/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/the-heroes-of-92-where-are-they-now-1-1989654|archive-date=18 December 2015}}</ref>

==Retirement== Reid retired from inter-county football in the 1990s. According to [[Declan Bonner]], Reid retired following the 1992 All-Ireland SFC Final.<ref>{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Duggan|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/donegal-where-big-names-and-youth-collide-1.2549930|title=Donegal: where big names and youth collide|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=27 February 2016|access-date=27 February 2016|quote='If I look back to 1992, I always remember Donal Reid saying he had played his last game' says [under-21 manager Declan] Bonner. 'And it was: he finished after the All-Ireland final'.}}</ref> [[Ger Canning]] mentioned in his commentary during that game that Reid planned to retire afterwards and also referred to the imminent retirement when the game had concluded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM9YcGR6wYI&t=17m41s|title=1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Final: Dublin v Donegal|date=21 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM9YcGR6wYI&t=1h20m19s|title=1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Final: Dublin v Donegal|date=21 March 2020}}</ref> However, the ''[[Donegal Democrat]]''{{'}}s Alan Foley wrote in 2009 that a broken shoulder sustained against [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] in 1993 led to Reid's retirement.<ref name=heroes_of_92/> He went on to manage the under-21 county team, leading players such as [[Brian Roper (Gaelic footballer)|Brian Roper]] and [[James Ruane]] to an [[Ulster Under-21 Football Championship]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sean|last=Moran|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/mcgowan-calls-it-a-day-with-donegal-1.89218|title=McGowan calls it a day with Donegal|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=9 July 1997|quote=Donal Reid, right wing back on that [1992] team, is currently manager of the under-21s.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2014/08/its-all-in-the-mind-for-anthony-mcgrath/|title=It's all in the mind for Anthony McGrath|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=1 August 2014|access-date=1 August 2014|quote=Under Donal Reid's management, McGrath – on a team that included Diver, Martin Coll, Adrian Sweeney, James Ruane and Brian Roper – won an Ulster Under-21 Championship against Cavan in 1995.|archive-date=31 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031153738/http://donegalnews.com/2014/08/its-all-in-the-mind-for-anthony-mcgrath/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Having previously spent time working in London's [[Metropole Hotel, London|Metropole Hotel]] as a youth and then been involved in hotel management, Reid retrained in [[physical therapy]] and then spent time working as a volunteer at an orphanage in [[Siret]], a town in [[Romania]]'s [[Suceava County]], on the border with [[Ukraine]].<ref name=it_14012017/> He became infatuated with Romania and asked to learn [[Romanian language|the language]].<ref name=it_14012017/> Then, in 1999, he experienced a year-long [[Mental disorder|breakdown]] from [[Major depressive disorder|depression]], which he later blamed on a delayed response to the abrupt lack of inter-county football.<ref name=it_14012017/> He described it thus: "So I just avoided people and stayed in the house. But the morning, knowing I had a full day to face, was just terrible. It is nothingness. Your kids don't matter or your wife. Nothing physical. Just this terrible pain. I was suicidal 24/7 for a time. I couldn't be left alone. So I looked forward to nine o'clock and bed".<ref name=it_14012017/> He attended [[Counseling psychology|counselling]] and took [[Antidepressant|medication]], eventually recovering.<ref name=it_14012017/>

Reid writes a weekly column in the ''[[Donegal Democrat]]''.<ref name=dn_30092016/> Married to Maura, the couple have two daughters.<ref name=hs_31071992/><ref name=dn_30092016/> He managed such clubs as Red Hughs, Clan na Gael, Gortin, Aghyaran, Robert Emmet's and MacCumhaill's.<ref name=heroes_of_92/> He was also part of manager [[Jim McGuinness]]'s backroom team when Donegal won their [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|2012]] All-Ireland SFC title.<ref name=it_14012017/> Reid has played for the Donegal Masters' team (for older men).<ref name=it_14012017/>

In October 2016, Reid's autobiography, ''Confessions of a Gaelic Footballer'', was published.<ref name=dn_30092016/> Reid described the completion of the book as his lifelong ambition, while the ''[[Donegal News]]'' described it as "something of a labour of love".<ref name=dn_30092016>{{cite news|title=Donal Reid to launch book this month|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=30 September 2016|page=75}}</ref> The title references Reid's devotion to his [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] faith.<ref name=it_14012017/>

In February 2019, Reid put out the flames from a woman whose clothing caught fire during [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] in his local church in [[Killygordon]].<ref name=ii_12022019/> The elderly woman had come in close contact with a candle.<ref name=ii_12022019/> Reid, seated around four rows behind the woman, saw her ignite and rushed to her aid.<ref name=ii_12022019/> He brushed down the flames with his bare hands and pulled her coat from her to prevent any further harm.<ref name=ii_12022019/> Reid sustained burns to his hands during the incident.<ref name=ii_12022019/> He later explained: "I just saw the light on the woman's coat and realised it was actually on fire. It was soon getting worse".<ref name=ii_12022019>{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Maguire|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/all-ireland-winning-gaa-star-saves-woman-who-caught-fire-at-mass-37809272.html|title=All-Ireland winning GAA star saves woman who caught fire at mass|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=12 February 2019|access-date=12 February 2019}}</ref>

Reid's name was linked by media with the [[Fine Gael]] candidacy for the [[1996 Donegal North–East by-election]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Louise|last=Doyle|title=The Way We Were — 25 Years Ago: March 15, 1996 — Ready for April 2nd poll|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=11 March 2021|page=18|quote=Independent Fianna Fáil are to hold their selection conventions this weekend for a candidate to contest the by-election now scheduled for April 2nd. While Councillor Harry Blaney will almost certainly represent Independent Fianna Fáil, several political candidates have emerged for Fine Gael including the former county footballer, Donal Reid.}}</ref>

==Honours== * [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]]: [[1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|1992]]<ref name=heroes_of_92/> * [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]]: 1983,<ref name=hs_31071992/> 1990,<ref name=hs_31071992/> 1992<ref name=hs_31071992/> * [[All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship]]: [[1982 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship|1982]]<ref name=hs_31071992/> * [[Railway Cup]]: 1989,<ref name=hs_31071992/> 1990<ref name=hs_31071992/>

==See also== * [[List of people with major depressive disorder]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://archive.today/20130124012232/http://www.gaainfo.com/players/football/donegal/D%20Reid.php Donal Reid] at GAAinfo.com

{{Donegal Under 21 Football Team 1982}} {{Donegal Football Team 1992}} {{Donegal Football Team 2012}} {{Donegal county football team managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reid, Donal}} [[Category:1960s births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Donegal inter-county Gaelic footballers]] [[Category:Dual players]] [[Category:Gaelic football backs]] [[Category:Gaelic football forwards]] [[Category:Gaelic football managers]] [[Category:Gaelic football utility players]] [[Category:Irish columnists]] [[Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Romania]] [[Category:Irish physiotherapists]] [[Category:Setanta hurlers]] [[Category:Ulster inter-provincial Gaelic footballers]] [[Category:Winners of one All-Ireland medal (Gaelic football)]] [[Category:Health professionals from County Donegal]] [[Category:Writers from County Donegal]] [[Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]