{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} {{Short description|Donegal Gaelic football coach, player and teacher}} {{Infobox Gaelic games player |image = |name = |irish = Leo Mac Giolla Uain<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 = [[Secondary school]] teacher |birth_date = {{birth year and age|1989}} |birth_place = [[Letterkenny]] |height = |sport = Gaelic football |code = Football |county = Donegal |province = Ulster |club = [[Naomh Conaill CLCG|Naomh Conaill]]<br>Donegal New York |clyears = 200?–<br>{{c.}} 2017 |clposition = Forward |clapps(points) = |clcounty = 8 |clprovince = |clallireland = |counties = [[Donegal county football team|Donegal]] |icyears = 2008–2019 |icposition = Centre Forward |icapps(points) = 109 |icprovince = 5 |icallireland = 1 |nfl = |allstars = 0 |clupdate = |icupdate = }} '''Leo McLoone''' (born 1989) is an Irish [[Gaelic football]]er who plays for [[Naomh Conaill CLCG|Naomh Conaill]] and also, formerly, the [[Donegal county football team|Donegal county team]].
A versatile player,<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Campbell|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/with-mcloone-on-board-mcguinness-has-all-angles-covered-16193428.html|title=With McLoone on board McGuinness has all angles covered|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=3 August 2012|accessdate=3 August 2012|quote=There are versatile footballers — and then there is Leo McLoone.}}</ref> often employed as a forward, he has been an important source of goals for club and county.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/gallagher-injury-scare-1-4033684|title=Gallagher injury scare|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=7 July 2012|access-date=7 July 2012}}</ref>
McLoone made 109 appearances for his county, winning five [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]]s and one [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]]. He was "the last of that famous Naomh Conaill four that also included [[Anthony Thompson (Gaelic footballer)|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.<ref name=dn_01022020/>
==Early life== McLoone's father was [[Captain (Gaelic games)|captain]] of the team that reached the [[Donegal Senior Football Championship|Senior County Championship]] final in 1965.<ref name=The42_27112019>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=O'Brien|url=https://www.the42.ie/leo-mcloone-naomh-conaill-jim-mcguinness-4907278-Nov2019/|title='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|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=27 November 2019|access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>
==Playing career== ===Club=== As a 16-year-old, McLoone was introduced as a substitute in the final of the 2005 [[Donegal Senior Football Championship]] (SFC), which the club won for the very first time.<ref name=democrat_01112012>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/st-eunan-s-take-favourites-tag-into-final-1-4429989|title=St Eunan's take favourites tag into final|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=1 November 2012|accessdate=1 November 2012|quote=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.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412180155/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/soccer/st-eunan-s-take-favourites-tag-into-final-1-4429989|archive-date=12 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The game was drawn, so went to a [[Replay (sports)|replay]]; McLoone's substitute appearance in the drawn final was his senior championship debut.<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Harrington|url=https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/mcloone-has-gone-from-boy-wonder-to-main-man-for-naomh-conaill/|title=McLoone has gone from Boy Wonder to main man for Naomh Conaill|date=26 November 2019|access-date=26 November 2019}}</ref>
McLoone inspired his club to the Donegal SFC title for a second time in [[2010 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2010]], with a [[man of the match]] display.<ref name=2010_donegal_championship>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/mcloone-proves-too-hot-26686762.html|title=McLoone proves too hot|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=4 October 2010|access-date=4 October 2010}}</ref> Then he inspired them to the final of the 2010 [[Ulster Senior Club Football Championship]], knocking out Cavan champions [[Kingscourt Stars GAA|Kingscourt]], Monaghan champions [[Clontibret O'Neills GAA|Clontibret]] and Tyrone champions [[Coalisland Na Fianna GAC|Coalisland]] along the way.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/naomh-conaill-s-adventure-continues-with-coalisland-test-1-2008908|title=Naomh Conaill's adventure continues with Coalisland test|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=9 November 2010|accessdate=9 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412175103/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/naomh-conaill-s-adventure-continues-with-coalisland-test-1-2008908|archive-date=12 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/kernan-red-card-spurs-on-cross-26606013.html|title=Kernan red card spurs on Cross'|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=13 December 2010|access-date=13 December 2010}}</ref>
A brawl among dozens of people after a [[2011 Donegal Senior Football Championship]] game between Naomh Conaill and [[Glenswilly GAA|Glenswilly]] at [[Davy Brennan Memorial Park]] led to McLoone breaking several bones in his face and the Donegal Competition's Controls Committee (CCC) launching an investigation. McLoone had to have surgery to have a plate put into his eye socket.<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://donegalnews.com/2011/07/mcloone-discharged/|title=McLoone discharged|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=7 July 2011|access-date=7 July 2011}}</ref>
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.<ref name=2015_donegal_championship>{{cite news|url=http://www.the42.ie/2015-donegal-sfc-final-2396300-Oct2015/|title=Leo McLoone stars as 14-man Naomh Conaill dethrone the Donegal champions: It's a first SFC title since 2010 for the Glenties men|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=18 October 2015|access-date=18 October 2015}}</ref> He also captained that team.<ref name=The42_27112019/>
With [[Ciarán Thompson]] now as captain,<ref name=rte_2020_donegal_championship/> Naomh Conaill won another Donegal SFC in [[2019 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2019]], after a three-game final in which McLoone was held scoreless in the first two games, but scored a point in the third game's first half.<ref name=2019_donegal_championship>GAME 1: {{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/1020/1084543-donegal-champions-gaoth-dobhair-set-for-decider-replay/|title=Ulster champions Gaoth Dobhair face Donegal decider replay after draw against Naomh Conaill|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=20 October 2019|access-date=20 October 2019}} GAME 2: {{cite news|first=Cahair|last=O'Kane|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2019/10/28/news/gaoth-dobhair-and-naomh-conaill-proving-inseparable-1750474/|title=Gaoth Dobhair and Naomh Conaill proving inseparable|work=[[The Irish News]]|date=28 October 2019|access-date=28 October 2019}} GAME 3: {{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/1030/1087657-naomh-conaill-0-8-gaoth-dobhair-0-7/|title=Naomh Conaill prevail in Donegal decider|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=30 October 2019|access-date=30 October 2019}}</ref>
The club retained the Donegal SFC title in [[2020 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2020]], with the final being delayed until August 2021 due to the [[impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games]].<ref name=rte_2020_donegal_championship>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/0814/1240892-naomh-conaill-claim-donegal-title-after-shoot-out-win/|title=Naomh Conaill claim Donegal title after penalty shoot-out win against Kilcar|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=14 August 2021|access-date=14 August 2021|quote=…and Thompson joined a unique band of players who have lifted the Dr Maguire Cup for a second successive time.}}</ref>
Then he won the [[2022 Donegal Senior Football Championship]], making a substitute appearance in the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2022/10/15/donegal-sfc-football-gaa-naomh-conaill-st-eunans/|title=Naomh Conaill win Donegal SFC title after narrow victory over St Eunan's|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=15 October 2022|access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref><ref name=2022_donegal_championship>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.the42.ie/naomh-conaill-beat-st-eunans-donegal-sfc-final-5894370-Oct2022/|title=Controversy as Naomh Conaill crowned Donegal kings against 14-man St Eunan's: Shane O'Donnell's sending off was the major talking point after Naomh Conaill's one-point win|publisher=[[The42.ie]]|date=15 October 2022|access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref> He also won the [[2023 Donegal Senior Football Championship]].<ref name=rte_2023_donegal_championship>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2023/1022/1412263-magnificent-seven-for-naomh-conaill-in-donegal-decider/|title=Magnificent seven for Naomh Conaill in Donegal decider|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=22 October 2023|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/donegal-sfc-final-charles-mcguinness-leads-way-to-naomh-conaills-seventh-title/a1455402814.html|title=Donegal SFC final: Charles McGuinness leads way to Naomh Conaill's seventh title|work=[[Irish Independent]]|date=22 October 2023|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/gaelic-games/67187395|title=Naomh Conaill outclass Gaoth Dobhair 1–16 to 1–8 in Donegal Football Final|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=22 October 2023|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref> Ahead of the 2023 final, McLoone (alongside [[Marty Boyle]], Stephen McGrath, [[Anthony Thompson (Gaelic footballer)|Anthony Thompson]] and [[Eoin Waide]]) was recognised for making a 100th club championship appearance.<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/donegal-sfc-final-fourth-title-in-five-years-for-naomh-conaill/|title=Donegal SFC Final: Fourth title in five years for Naomh Conaill|date=22 October 2023|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>
McLoone played for his club in the [[2025 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2025 Donegal SFC]], when his club won the final again, with McLoone scoring 0–1 as a substitute in that game and receiving his eighth winners' medal from 13 appearances in the decider.<ref name=rte_2025_donegal_championship>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/1012/1538131-naomh-conaill-comeback-sees-them-take-donegal-crown/|title=Naomh Conaill come from seven down to take Donegal crown|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=12 October 2025|access-date=12 October 2025}}</ref>
McLoone played for [[Donegal New York]] in 2017, {{clarify|date=May 2020|reason=The source confirms he played for them in 2017. The final match result needs sourcing.|text=winning a [[New York Senior Football Championship]]|pre-text=|post-text=}}.<ref name=dsh_09092017>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/leo-mcloone-faces-hectic-24-hours-sides-atlantic/|title=Leo McLoone faces a hectic 24 hours on both sides of the Atlantic|date=9 September 2017|access-date=9 September 2017}}</ref>
===Inter-county=== ====Underage==== McLoone played in the [[Ulster Minor Football Championship]] final as Donegal won a first such title in 10 years at Croke Park in 2006.<ref name=Ulster_MFC_10072006>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/second-half-surge-sees-donegal-end-long-title-wait-26373716.html|title=Second-half surge sees Donegal end long title wait|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=10 July 2006|access-date=10 July 2006}}</ref>
McLoone played for Donegal throughout the 2010 [[Ulster Under-21 Football Championship]] campaign, a competition which the team won and in which McLoone scored two points in each of the quarter-final and semi-final.<ref name=the_diary_the_dream>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2020/04/07/the-diary-the-dream-and-donegal-footballs-first-steps-to-the-other-place/|title=The diary, the dream and Donegal's first steps to 'the other place'|date=7 April 2020|access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=Ulster_U21FC_08042010>{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/126826|title=Ulster U21FC: Murphy leads Donegal to title|work=[[Hogan Stand]]|date=8 April 2010|access-date=8 April 2010}}</ref> 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 county football team|Dublin]] (managed by [[Jim Gavin (footballer)|Jim Gavin]]), though McLoone scored a goal.<ref name=Gavin_vs_McGuinness>{{cite news|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-michael-murphy-859156-Apr2013/|title=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|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=6 April 2013|access-date=6 April 2013}}</ref>
====Senior==== [[Brian McIver]] gave McLoone his senior Donegal debut in 2008; McLoone was a substitute against [[Mayo county football team|Mayo]].<ref name=a_real_leader_100th/> McIver's successor [[John Joe Doherty]] gave McLoone his first start during a [[2009 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|2009 All-Ireland SFC]] qualifier win against [[Carlow county football team|Carlow]] at [[MacCumhaill Park]].<ref name=a_real_leader_100th/>
In March 2011, McLoone broke his ankle.<ref name=donegal_daily_declared_fit_for_dubs_clash/> Then, upon returning to the game, he sustained a horrific injury during a club meeting between Naomh Conaill and [[Glenswilly GAA|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 county football team|Derry]]. He had come off the bench to help Donegal overcome [[Tyrone county football team|Tyrone]] in the semi-final.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=151087|title=Donegal CCC to probe McLoone attack|work=[[Hogan Stand]]|date=5 July 2011|access-date=5 July 2011}}</ref> He had only returned for Donegal from his broken ankle in the Ulster SFC quarter-final victory over [[Cavan county football team|Cavan]].<ref name=bbc_derry_04072011>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/northern-ireland/14012284|title=Donegal's Leo McLoone will miss Ulster SFC decider|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=4 July 2011|access-date=4 July 2011}}</ref> He was eventually declared fit for Donegal's All-Ireland semi-final clash with [[Dublin county football team|Dublin]]; however Donegal lost that game.<ref name=donegal_daily_declared_fit_for_dubs_clash>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldaily.com/2011/08/10/gaa-boost-for-donegal-as-mcloone-declared-fit-for-dubs-clash/|title=GAA: Boost for Donegal as McLoone declared fit for Dubs clash|date=10 August 2011|access-date=10 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2011/0828/284053-gaatracker/|title=As it Happened: Dublin 0–08 Donegal 0–06|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=28 August 2011|accessdate=28 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315221525/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2011/0828/284053-gaatracker/|archive-date=15 March 2015}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/northern-ireland/18434853|title=Donegal 2-13 0-9 Derry|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=16 June 2012|access-date=16 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Kieran|last=O'Daly|url=http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2012/06/16/Donegal-too-strong-for-Derry/gnid-145164/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126225831/http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2012/06/16/Donegal-too-strong-for-Derry/gnid-145164/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 November 2023|title=Donegal too strong for Derry|publisher=Setanta Sports|date=16 June 2012|access-date=16 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/donegal-down-derry-26865727.html|title=Donegal down Derry|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=16 June 2012|access-date=16 June 2012}}</ref> He was subsequently named in the team for the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/local-sport/mcloone-in-for-donegal-for-ulster-final-1-4076601|title=McLoone in for Donegal for Ulster final|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=20 July 2012|access-date=20 July 2012}}</ref> 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 county football team|Down]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/07/22/history-makers-donegal-double-champions-as-jims-boys-retain-ulster-title/|title=History makers! Donegal double champions as Jim's boys retain Ulster title|date=22 July 2012|access-date=22 July 2012|quote=Ryan Bradley, Frank McGlynn and Leo McLoone had terrific games for Donegal.}}</ref> McLoone scored a goal in the final.<ref name=bbc_down_22072012>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/northern-ireland/18912731|title=Ulster Senior Football Final: Donegal 2–18 0–13 Down|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=22 July 2012|access-date=22 July 2012}}</ref> He played in the [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final]] against 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><ref name=rte_mayo_23092012>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2012/0923/338732-donegal-beat-mayo-to-end-wait-for-sam/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329174043/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2012/0923/338732-donegal-beat-mayo-to-end-wait-for-sam/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 March 2015|title=Donegal 2-11 Mayo 0-13|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=23 September 2012|access-date=23 September 2012}}</ref>
He added a third Ulster SFC in 2014.<ref name=42_monaghan_20072014>{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-monaghan-ulster-final-2014-2-1581038-Jul2014/|title=Donegal reverse 2013 result to claim Ulster football title|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=20 July 2014|access-date=20 July 2014}}</ref>
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.{{fact|date=April 2021}}
Under the management of [[Rory Gallagher (Gaelic footballer)|Rory Gallagher]], McLoone fell by the wayside.<ref name=in_06022018>{{cite news|first=Cahair|last=O'Kane|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2018/02/06/news/energised-mcloone-revelling-in-donegal-return-1249986/|title=Energised McLoone revelling in Donegal return|work=[[The Irish News]]|date=6 February 2018|access-date=6 February 2018}}</ref> He was absent by his own choice for six months of the 2015 season but returned in 2016.<ref name=in_06022018/><ref name=dsh_10082015/> However, he only started four matches (each one in the [[2016 National Football League (Ireland)|2016 National Football League]].<ref name=in_06022018/> He scored a goal against Mayo during a second-half substitute appearance in the same competition.<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0228/771370-donegal-v-mayo/|title=Donegal march on beating Mayo|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=28 February 2016|access-date=28 February 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name=in_06022018/><ref>{{cite news|first=Francis|last=Mooney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0612/795019-fermanagh-v-donegal/|title=Odhran Mac Niallais brace powers Donegal into Ulster semi-finals|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=12 June 2016|access-date=12 June 2016}}</ref> He did not make another appearance in the competition.<ref name=in_06022018/> He had 54 minutes of play as a substitute in the two matches against [[Cork county football team|Cork]] and Dublin during the [[2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]].<ref name=in_06022018/><ref>{{cite news|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-cork-mcbrearty-2903513-Jul2016/|title=McBrearty inspires Donegal to battling win over Cork and sets up clash with Dublin|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=30 July 2016|access-date=30 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Dermot|last=Crowe|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/stuttering-dubs-show-their-fallibility-34944597.html|title=Stuttering Dubs show their fallibility|work=[[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|Sunday Independent]]|date=7 August 2016|access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref>
Frustrated at the lack of regular play, McLoone departed from the county team in 2017.<ref name=a_real_leader_100th/> He headed stateside.<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/odhr%C3%A1n-mac-niallais-and-leo-mcloone-set-for-donegal-returns-1.3232012|title=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|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=24 September 2017|access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> Manager [[Declan Bonner]] convinced him to return for 2018.<ref name=a_real_leader_100th/> But he would not be a regular starter, in was to be his last two years of inter-county play.<ref>{{cite news|first=P. J.|last=Browne|url=https://www.balls.ie/gaa/leo-mcloone-donegal-long-careers-gaa-475778|title='You Look At Neil McGee, 35 He Is Now, It's Hard To See Them Reaching Those Ages'|publisher=[[Balls.ie]]|date=11 July 2021|access-date=11 July 2021}}</ref> Though initially thought doubtful for the [[2018 National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League]] opener against [[Kerry county football team|Kerry]], McLoone started and completed most of the game, before making way for [[Jason McGee]] late on.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/279430|title=McLoone dealt setback in Donegal return|work=[[Hogan Stand]]|date=30 December 2017|access-date=30 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole|url=https://www.the42.ie/kerry-donegal-football-3821091-Jan2018/|title=Casey hits winning point, O'Shea fires 0-7 and 3 red cards shown in Kerry Donegal clash: The sides met in Killarney today|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=28 January 2018|access-date=28 January 2018}}</ref> He also started the six remaining fixtures against [[Galway county football team|Galway]], Dublin, [[Kildare county football team|Kildare]], Tyrone, [[Monaghan county football team|Monaghan]] and Mayo.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.the42.ie/galway-donegal-allianz-league-report-3833590-Feb2018/|title=Last-gasp Galway snatch victory in Donegal to make it two from two|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=4 February 2018|access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=O'Brien|url=https://www.the42.ie/dublin-donegal-report-3845428-Feb2018/|title=Dublin survive strong Donegal fightback to make it three wins from three|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=10 February 2018|access-date=10 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0225/943452-donegal-scrape-by-14-man-kildare-in-relegation-dogfight/|title=Donegal scrape by 14-man Kildare in relegation dogfight|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=25 February 2018|access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Declan|last=Bogue|url=https://www.the42.ie/tyrone-v-donegal-report-3897125-Mar2018/|title=Two-goal Tyrone move closer to safety with big win over Donegal in Omagh|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=10 March 2018|access-date=10 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Graham|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0318/948440-monaghan-1-16-donegal-1-10/|title=Monaghan ease past relegation-threatened Donegal|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=18 March 2018|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Gannon|url=https://www.the42.ie/mayo-donegal-division-1-draw-3923536-Mar2018/|title=McLoughlin's stunning 74th minute equaliser sees Mayo survive the drop and Donegal suffer relegation|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=25 March 2018|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref>
McLoone started the final as Donegal secured the [[2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship]].<ref name=rte_fermanagh_24062018>{{cite news|first=Francis|last=Mooney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0624/972816-ruthless-donegal-end-fermanaghs-ulster-title-dream/|title=Energetic Donegal end Fermanagh's Ulster title dream|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=24 June 2018|access-date=24 June 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161155/https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0624/972816-ruthless-donegal-end-fermanaghs-ulster-title-dream/|archive-date=25 June 2018}}</ref>
McLoone made a late substitute appearance against [[Clare county football team|Clare]] in the opening fixture of the [[2019 National Football League (Ireland)|2019 National Football League]] in [[Ennis]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Derrick|last=Lynch|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-clare-league-report-4462420-Jan2019/|title=Missing a host of regulars, Donegal come away from Clare with victory|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=27 January 2019|access-date=27 January 2019}}</ref> He then made substitute appearances in the fixtures against [[Meath county football team|Meath]], [[Tipperary county football team|Tipperary]] and [[Fermanagh county football team|Fermanagh]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0202/1027139-donegal-1-13-meath-0-14/|title=Fortuitous goal sees Donegal come back to beat Meath|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=2 February 2019|access-date=2 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Fallon|url=https://www.the42.ie/tipperary-donegal-division-2-football-report-4486602-Feb2019/|title=Casey strikes late goal as Tipp come back to shock Donegal|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=10 February 2019|access-date=10 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Campbell|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0224/1032501-fermanagh-rally-against-13-man-donegal-to-stay-unbeaten/|title=Fermanagh rally against 13-man Donegal to stay unbeaten in Division 2|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=24 February 2019|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref> He started the fifth, sixth and seventh fixtures against [[Armagh county football team|Armagh]], Cork and Kildare.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-v-armagh-2-march-2019-4521610-Mar2019/|title=Super sub Murphy makes decisive impact in narrow win for Donegal|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=2 March 2019|access-date=2 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Denis|last=Hurley|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0316/1036817-cork-1-12-donegal-1-19-allianz-football-league/|title=Cork on brink of drop to Division 3 as Donegal power home|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=16 March 2019|access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Branigan|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0324/1038307-murphy-masterclass-fires-donegal-back-to-top-flight/|title=Murphy masterclass fires Donegal back to top flight|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=24 March 2019|access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> It was during this competition that McLoone made his 100th senior appearance for Donegal.<ref name=a_real_leader_100th>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=McNulty|url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/02/20/a-real-leader-leo-mcloone-set-for-100th-donegal-appearance/|title='A real leader' — Leo McLoone set for 100th Donegal appearance|date=20 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://donegalgaa.ie/2019/03/04/leo-mcloone-honoured-on-his-101st-appearance/|title=Leo McLoone honoured on his 101st appearance|date=4 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312032642/https://donegalgaa.ie/2019/03/04/leo-mcloone-honoured-on-his-101st-appearance/|archive-date=12 March 2019}}</ref> Donegal qualified for the National Football League Division 2 final and McLoone started the game as Donegal defeated Meath to win the title.<ref name=42_meath_30032019>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=O'Brien|url=https://www.the42.ie/donegal-meath-division-2-final-report-4568833-Mar2019/|title=Murphy masterclass helps Donegal to Division 2 glory after comeback win over Meath|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42.ie]]|date=30 March 2019|access-date=30 March 2019}}</ref> McLoone collected his fifth and final Ulster SFC in 2019, appearing as a substitute in the final against Cavan.<ref name=rte_cavan_23062019>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Sweeney|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0623/1057017-donegal-power-past-cavan-to-claim-ulster-title/|title=Donegal power past Cavan to claim Ulster title|publisher=[[RTÉ Sport]]|date=23 June 2019|access-date=23 June 2019}}</ref> 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).<ref name=dn_01022020/> 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.<ref name=dn_01022020>{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Craig|url=https://donegalnews.com/2020/02/gildea-pays-tribute-to-departing-mcloone/|title=Gildea pays tribute to departing McLoone|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=1 February 2020|access-date=1 February 2020|quote=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.|archive-date=23 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223010758/https://donegalnews.com/2020/02/gildea-pays-tribute-to-departing-mcloone/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made 109 appearances for his county.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Ferry|title=Donegal prepare for Meath challenge|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=30 January 2020|page=80|quote=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…}}</ref>
==Coaching career== While still playing with Donegal, McLoone was involved with the Naomh Conaill management team.<ref name=dsh_10082015>{{cite news|first=Alan|last=Foley|url=http://www.donegalsporthub.com/audio-leo-mcloone-ill-be-looking-forward-to-a-big-season-next-season/|title=Leo McLoone: 'I'll be looking forward to a big season next season|date=10 August 2015|access-date=10 August 2015}}</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|access-date=1 March 2021}}</ref>
In November 2022, McLoone succeeded Duffy as Donegal under-20 team manager.<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: Naomh Conaill clubman Leo McLoone takes over as Donegal U-20 manager from Gary Duffy, with Luke Barrett continuing in the role as U-17 boss for the a third year|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}}</ref>
==Personal life== McLoone is regarded as media shy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sport/gaelic-games/the-lack-of-performance-was-hardest-to-take-mcloone-1-6324609|title=The lack of performance was hardest to take — McLoone|work=[[Donegal Democrat]]|date=26 September 2014|accessdate=26 September 2014}}</ref> 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".<ref name=dn_01022020/>
He got engaged around the time of his Donegal playing retirement.<ref name=dn_01022020/>
==Honours== ;Donegal *[[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]]: [[2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final|2012]]<ref name=rte_mayo_23092012/> *[[Ulster Senior Football Championship]]: [[2011 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2011]],<ref name=bbc_derry_04072011/> [[2012 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2012]],<ref name=bbc_down_22072012/> [[2014 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2014]],<ref name=42_monaghan_20072014/> [[2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2018]],<ref name=rte_fermanagh_24062018/> [[2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship|2019]]<ref name=rte_cavan_23062019/> *[[National Football League (Ireland)|National Football League Division 2]]: [[2011 National Football League (Ireland)|2011]], [[2019 National Football League (Ireland)|2019]]<ref name=42_meath_30032019/> *[[Dr McKenna Cup]]: [[2010 Dr McKenna Cup|2010]] *[[All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship]] runner-up: 2010<ref name=Gavin_vs_McGuinness/> *[[Ulster Under-21 Football Championship]]: 2010<ref name=Ulster_U21FC_08042010/> *[[Ulster Minor Football Championship]]: 2006<ref name=Ulster_MFC_10072006/> *[[Ulster Minor Football Championship|Ulster Minor Football League]]: 2006
;Naomh Conaill *[[Donegal Senior Football Championship]]: 2005,<ref name=democrat_01112012/> [[2010 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2010]],<ref name=2010_donegal_championship/> [[2015 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2015]],<ref name=2015_donegal_championship/> [[2019 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2019]],<ref name=2019_donegal_championship/> [[2020 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2020]],<ref name=rte_2020_donegal_championship/> [[2022 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2022]],<ref name=2022_donegal_championship/> [[2023 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2023]],<ref name=rte_2023_donegal_championship/> [[2025 Donegal Senior Football Championship|2025]]<ref name=rte_2025_donegal_championship/> *Donegal Under-21 Football Championship: 2007, 2008, 2010
;Donegal New York *[[New York Senior Football Championship]]: {{clarify|date=May 2020|reason=The source confirms he played for them in 2017. The final match result needs sourcing.|text=2017|pre-text=|post-text=}}<ref name=dsh_09092017/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130527171453/http://www.donegalgaa.ie/playerProfile/2822/Leo_Mc_Loone Official profile]
{{Naomh Conaill CLCG squad}} {{Navboxes |title=Naomh Conaill squads |bg=white |fg=blue |bordercolor=blue |list1= {{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2005}} {{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2010}} {{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2015}} {{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2019}} {{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2020}} {{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2022}} {{Donegal Senior Football Champions 2023}} }} {{Navboxes |title=Donegal squads |bg=#FCF75E |fg=green |bordercolor=green |list1= {{Donegal Minor Football Team 2006}} {{Donegal Under 21 Football Team 2010}} {{Donegal Football Team 2011}} {{Donegal Football Team 2012}} {{Donegal Football Team 2014}} }} {{Donegal county football team managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcloone, Leo}} [[Category:1989 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Donegal inter-county Gaelic footballers]] [[Category:Donegal New York Gaelic footballers]] [[Category:Gaelic football forwards]] [[Category:Gaelic football managers]] [[Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in the United States]] [[Category:Irish schoolteachers]] [[Category:Naomh Conaill Gaelic footballers]] [[Category:Winners of one All-Ireland medal (Gaelic football)]]