{{Use Hiberno-English|date=April 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Short description|Irish Gaelic footballer (born 1984)}} {{Distinguish|Eamonn Magee}} {{Infobox Gaelic games player |image = Eamon Mc Gee Donegal GAA.png |name = Eamon McGee |irish = Éamonn Mac Aoidh<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2014/09/20/countdown-to-croker-donegal-name-team-for-all-ireland-final/|title=Countdown to Croker: Donegal name 'team' for All-Ireland final|date=20 September 2014|access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> |nickname = |occupation = Physical therapist |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|4|26|df=yes}} |birth_place = [[Letterkenny]], [[Ireland]] |height = {{convert|1.87|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} |sport = Gaelic football |code = Football |county = Donegal |province = Ulster |club = [[CLG Ghaoth Dobhair|Gaoth Dobhair]] |clyears = 2001– |clposition = Centre Back |clapps(points) = |clcounty = 3 |clprovince = 1 |clallireland = |counties = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] |icyears = 2004–2016 |icposition = Right Corner Back |icapps(points) = 154<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0808/807795-eamon-mcgee-follows-colm-mcfadden-into-donegal-retirement/|title=Eamon McGee follows Colm McFadden into Donegal retirement|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=8 August 2016|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> (GLS?-PTS?) |icprovince = 3 |icallireland = 1 |nfl = 1 |allstars = 0 |clupdate = |icupdate = }} '''Eamon McGee''' (born 26 April 1984)<ref>{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Duggan|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/mcgee-on-the-road-not-taken-1.536120|title=McGee on the road not taken|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=22 September 2012|access-date=23 April 2013}}</ref> is an Irish [[Gaelic football]]er who plays for [[CLG Ghaoth Dobhair|Gaoth Dobhair]] and also, formerly, for the [[Donegal county football team|Donegal county team]] (between 2004 and 2016). He is the older brother of [[Neil McGee]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Duggan|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/lot-riding-for-two-sides-tired-of-deceiving-1.1216250|title=Lot riding for two sides tired of deceiving|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=31 May 2008|access-date=31 May 2008|quote='I am looking forward to this more than any other game in the last few years', reveals Eamonn McGee, the imperturbable Gweedore man who now forms the central spine of the Donegal defence with his younger brother Neil.}}</ref>

From [[Gweedore]] in [[County Donegal]], he won one [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]] title, three [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]] titles and one [[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League]] title with his county and an Ulster title with his club. For a small time until [[Patrick McBrearty]], Neil McGee, [[Paddy McGrath]], [[Leo McLoone]], [[Frank McGlynn (Gaelic footballer)|Frank McGlynn]], [[Michael Murphy (Gaelic footballer)|Michael Murphy]] and [[Anthony Thompson (Gaelic footballer)|Anthony Thompson]] surpassed it in [[2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2018]], McGee's haul of Ulster SFC titles was a joint county team record (alongside such past players as [[Anthony Molloy (Gaelic footballer)|Anthony Molloy]], [[Martin McHugh (Gaelic footballer)|Martin McHugh]], [[Joyce McMullan]] and [[Donal Reid]]).

==Playing career== ===Club=== McGee made his championship debut for his club against [[CLG Seán Mac Cumhaills|Seán Mac Cumhaills]] on 8 July 2001.<ref name=dn_19102023/> By 2023 he had won three [[Donegal Senior Football Championship]] (SFC) titles with his club: in 2002, 2006 and 2018; and he had played for his club in 23 consecutive championship campaigns, including in 35 consecutive championship games between 2001 and 2009.<ref name=dn_19102023>Statistics for McGee's club championship games as far as the 2023 Donegal Senior Football Championship final compiled by [[Seán Ó Gallchóir|Fr Seán Ó Gallchóir]] and published as follows: {{cite news|title=McGee brothers approaching the ton|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=19 October 2023|page=62}}</ref> Ahead of the [[2023 Donegal Senior Football Championship]] final, he had made 97 appearances in the club championship (92 in the Donegal SFC and 5 in the Ulster and All-Ireland Club SFC).<ref name=dn_19102023/>

The final of the 2002 Donegal SFC, featuring McGee and his club, was not played until 2003 due to a disagreement between two other clubs over [[Eddie Brennan (Gaelic footballer)|Eddie Brennan]]. McGee has described the medal he received as "tainted".<ref>{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Craig|title=Decision won't have been taken lightly — [Eamon] McGee|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=8 October 2020|page=50|quote=It's easy to forget now but McGee has experienced similar disappointment where a Donegal SFC final was left in limbo and, in the end, not finished in the same calendar year it began. The 2002 SFC in the county was held up due to a spat between the Ardara and St Eunan's clubs over a saga that will forever be recalled as the Eddie Brennan affair. The final, between the Letterkenny men and Gaoth Dobhair, was eventually settled in February of 2003 with McGee and the Magheragallon side coming out on top… 'I've three medals at home [2006 and 2018] but one of them, in my mind at least, that is a wee bit tainted'.}}</ref>

In 2006, his club returned to the Donegal SFC final. McGee played as his team won a 14th title, in one of the worst Donegal county finals ever.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/gweedore-cash-in-as-smash-and-grab-raid-sinks-eunans-26360158.html|title=Gweedore cash in as smash and grab raid sinks Eunan's|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=16 October 2006 |access-date=16 October 2006|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130107192157/http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/gweedore-cash-in-as-smash-and-grab-raid-sinks-eunans-73485.html|archive-date=7 January 2013}}</ref>

McGee was sent off in the final of the 2018 [[Ulster Senior Club Football Championship]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Donnchadh|last=Boyle|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/composed-ferry-has-final-say-as-gaoth-dobhair-see-off-scotstown-37587826.html|title=Composed Ferry has final say as Gaoth Dobhair see off Scotstown: Carey sees red as Monaghan men come up just short in Ulster decider|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=3 December 2018|access-date=3 December 2018|quote=…as Scotstown sought an equaliser, Eamon McGee was sent off…}}</ref>

===Inter-county=== McGee was first called up to the senior team by [[Brian McEniff]] for winter training in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/royals-seal-of-approval-puts-pressure-on-boylan-25920872.html|title=Royals' seal of approval puts pressure on Boylan|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=5 November 2003|access-date=5 November 2003}}</ref> His early years in a Donegal shirt were marked by lapses of discipline&mdash;at one point [[Shane Carr]] left the panel when McGee moved ahead of him on the substitutes bench despite his lack of dedication.<ref>{{cite news|first=Dermot|last=Crowe|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/former-wild-child-wants-footballs-natural-high-26285227.html|title=Former wild child wants football's natural high|work=[[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|Sunday Independent]]|date=25 February 2007|access-date=25 February 2007}}</ref>

During the [[2004 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]], he and [[Brian McLaughlin (Gaelic footballer)|Brian McLaughlin]] were suspended from the Donegal panel for a breach of discipline.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/3920201.stm|title=Donegal morale 'good'|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=23 July 2004}}</ref> The [[BBC]] reported that the pair had arrived for a "training session in an unfit condition" on two consecutive nights, one month after failing to turn up for one session at all.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/3899401.stm|title=Donegal duo axed from panel|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=16 July 2004}}</ref>

In 2006, he and [[Kevin Cassidy]] were suspended from the Donegal football panel over a breach of discipline.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/4926612.stm|title=Donegal pair dropped from panel|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=20 April 2006|access-date=20 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/4757483.stm|title=McGee makes Donegal squad return|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=10 May 2006|access-date=10 May 2006}}</ref> McGee later returned and played in the 2006 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final at [[Croke Park]], scoring one point.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/5153174.stm|title=Donegal 0-09 1-09 Armagh|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=9 July 2006|access-date=9 July 2006}}</ref>

McGee was a member of the Donegal team that won the [[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League]] in 2007, playing from the start to the end in the final against [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]].<ref name=dt_25042007>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaltimes.com/2007/04_2/sport.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412230842/http://www.donegaltimes.com/2007/04_2/sport.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 April 2015|title=Donegal achieve historic win - First national league title comes to county after victory over Mayo|work=Donegal Times|date=25 April 2007|access-date=25 April 2007}}</ref>

He spent some time in London and trained with their county team before returning to Donegal in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breakingnews/breakingnews_sport/article14685969.ece|title=McGee eyes London lineout|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=17 February 2010|access-date=17 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/8634368.stm|title=Monaghan and McGee boost Donegal|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=21 April 2010|access-date=21 April 2010}}</ref>

He and his brother played in the [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final]] against [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2012/0923/338702-live-all-ireland-football-finals/|title=Live updates from the All-Ireland finals at Croke Park|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=23 September 2012|access-date=23 September 2012}}</ref> He had missed the start of the [[2012 Ulster Senior Football Championship]] with a [[hamstring]] injury.<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2012/05/rory-to-lead-donegal/|title=Rory to lead Donegal|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=17 May 2012|access-date=17 May 2012|quote=The Ulster champions… confirmed that the game comes too soon for Gaoth Dobhair's Eamon McGee who will miss out due to a hamstring injury.|archive-date=10 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910015725/http://donegalnews.com/2012/05/rory-to-lead-donegal/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He departed the inter-county scene in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Kiely|url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/eamon-mcgees-retirement-announcement-right-greatest-gaa-history-90333|title=Eamon McGee's retirement announcement right up there with the greatest in GAA history|publisher=[[Joe (website)|JOE.ie]]|date=8 August 2016|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref>

He thinks that the All Stars "mean very little" but admits his own total affects this thinking.<ref>[https://twitter.com/EamonMcGee/status/1362715413684117504 Having a total of zero all stars means I would say that though].</ref> Himself and [[Paddy Andrews]] agree on this.<ref>[https://twitter.com/EamonMcGee/status/1362714521064898569 No metric for what we added].</ref>

===Inter-provincial=== McGee represented [[Ulster GAA|Ulster]] in the Inter-Provincial Series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/donegal/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=185570|title=Murphy to spearhead Ulster challenge|work=[[Hogan Stand]]|date=13 February 2013|access-date=13 February 2013}}</ref>

==Post-playing career== In November 2017, he became part of [[Gary McDaid]]'s backroom team when McDaid became the first manager of the new Donegal under-20 football team.<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/sport/283748/donegal-u-20-manager-glenswilly-s-gary-mcdaid-set-to-lead-donegal-u-20s-in-2018.html|title=Glenswilly's Gary McDaid set to lead Donegal U-20s in 2018|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=24 November 2017|access-date=24 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129063621/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/sport/283748/donegal-u-20-manager-glenswilly-s-gary-mcdaid-set-to-lead-donegal-u-20s-in-2018.html|archive-date=29 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highlandradio.com/2017/11/28/gary-mcdaid-on-starting-out-as-donegals-u20-manager/|title=Gary McDaid on starting out as Donegal's u20 Manager|publisher=[[Highland Radio]]|date=28 November 2017|access-date=28 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128122559/http://www.highlandradio.com/2017/11/28/gary-mcdaid-on-starting-out-as-donegals-u20-manager/|archive-date=28 November 2017}}</ref>

In March 2021, Donegal announced him as part of [[Gary Duffy]]'s under-20 management team.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/0301/1200274-donegal-all-ireland-winners-join-u20-management-team/|title=Donegal All-Ireland Eamonn McGee and Leo McLoone winners join U20 management team|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=1 March 2021|accessdate=1 March 2021}}</ref> In November 2022, he was part of the management team announced for Duffy's successor, [[Leo McLoone]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/965691/leo-mcloone-appointed-as-new-manager-of-donegal-u-20s.html|title=Leo McLoone appointed as new manager of Donegal U-20s|date=15 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115211949/https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/965691/leo-mcloone-appointed-as-new-manager-of-donegal-u-20s.html|archive-date=15 November 2022|quote=McLoone was part of the backroom team for the last two years under Gary Duffy, alongside Eamon McGee and Donegal GAA have confirmed the Naomh Conaill clubman will now take over the role, with McGee — who was also helped Donegal lift Sam Maguire 10 years ago — staying on.}}</ref>

On the night of 25 November 2023, McGee was announced as a coach under the senior football management team of Gary Duffy at the Buncrana club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2023/11/26/eamon-mcgee-to-join-buncrana-gaa-management-team/|title=Eamon McGee to join Buncrana GAA management team|date=26 November 2023|access-date=26 November 2023|quote=The announcement was made last night…}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://donegalnews.com/eamon-mcgee-set-to-coach-buncrana-senior-footballers/|title=Eamon McGee set to coach Buncrana senior footballers|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=25 November 2023|access-date=25 November 2023|quote=The Inishowen club released a statement this evening…}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1357880/eamon-mcgee-comes-on-board-with-buncrana-as-senior-football-team-coach.html|title=Eamon McGee comes on board with Buncrana as senior football team coach|date=26 November 2023|access-date=26 November 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life== McGee has a profound [[fear of flying]], a condition which has affected his ability to cope with flights to games.<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2013/03/mcgee-flying-high-with-donegal/|title=McGee flying high with Donegal|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=15 March 2013|access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref>

McGee supports marriage equality and has campaigned to Repeal the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution.<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Fogarty|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/football/donegals-eacuteamon-mcgee-shrugs-off-criticism-over-marriage-equality-vote-stance-316406.html|title=Donegal's Éamon McGee shrugs off criticism over marriage equality vote stance|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|date=6 March 2015|access-date=6 March 2015}}</ref>

==Honours== ;Donegal * [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]]: [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|2012]] * [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]]: [[2011 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2011]], [[2012 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2012]], [[2014 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2014]] * [[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League Division 1]]: [[2007 National Football League (Ireland)|2007]]<ref name=dt_25042007/> * [[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League Division 2]]: [[2011 National Football League (Ireland)|2011]] * [[Dr McKenna Cup]]: [[2009 Dr McKenna Cup|2009]], [[2010 Dr McKenna Cup|2010]]

;Gaoth Dobhair * [[Donegal Senior Football Championship]]: 2002, 2006, 2018

;Colleges * [[Sigerson Cup]]: 2004, 2005

;Individual * [[GAA GPA All Stars Awards|All Star]]: 0 **<u>Nominated</u> in 2012,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2012/1002/340084-donegal-dominate-all-star-nominations-with-12/|title=Donegal dominate All-Star football nominations with 12 players selected|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=2 October 2012|access-date=2 October 2012}}</ref> 2014<ref>{{cite news|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole|url=https://www.the42.ie/allstar-football-2014-1711498-Oct2014/|title=11 for Kerry, 9 for Donegal, 9 for Dublin and 6 for Mayo in 2014 Allstar football nominees|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=8 October 2014|access-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> * Player of the Week: February 2013<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=O'Neill|url=http://sportsnewsireland.com/gaa/gaa-team-of-the-week-2013-02-13/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227003647/http://sportsnewsireland.com/gaa/gaa-team-of-the-week-2013-02-13/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 December 2017|title=GAA Team of the Week: Player of the Week is Eamon McGee|date=13 February 2013|access-date=13 February 2013}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130527064633/http://www.donegalgaa.ie/playerProfile/2806/eammon_mc_gee Official profile] * {{Twitter}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120801114153/http://www.gaainfo.com/players/football/donegal/Eamon%20McGee.php Eamon McGee] at gaainfo.com * [https://www.buzz.ie/sport/crisis-meetings-eamon-mcgee-27145262 Eamon McGee reflects on most memorable crisis meeting of his career] * {{cite news|first=An tAthair Seán|last=Ó Gallchóir|authorlink=Seán Ó Gallchóir|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/sport/1326516/eamonn-agus-neil-mcgee-gaoth-dobhair-closing-in-on-100-championship-games.html|title=Éamonn agus Neil McGee, Gaoth Dobhair — closing in on 100 championship games|date=19 October 2023|access-date=19 October 2023}}

{{CLG Ghaoth Dobhair squad}} {{Navboxes |title=Gaoth Dobhair squads |bg=#006844 |fg=white |list1= {{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2002}} {{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2006}} {{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2018}} }} {{Navboxes |title=Donegal squads |bg=#FCF75E |fg=green |bordercolor=green |list1= {{Donegal Football Team 2007}} {{Donegal Football Team 2011}} {{Donegal Football Team 2012}} {{Donegal Football Team 2014}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcgee, Eamon}} [[Category:1984 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Donegal inter-county Gaelic footballers]] [[Category:Gaelic football backs]] [[Category:Gaoth Dobhair Gaelic footballers]] [[Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in England]] [[Category:Ulster inter-provincial Gaelic footballers]] [[Category:Winners of one All-Ireland medal (Gaelic football)]]