Tributes to Mickey McLoone - reflective of a huge legacy

The death on Sunday last of Michael (Mickey) McLoone has evoked such widespread sadness and reflections about his legacy as a former Donegal footballer and his contribution to the Donegal community.

The stories that have been re-told over the past few days all have one thread - a football genius and an administrative giant, who has left a huge legacy.

His footballing career was cut short by a knee injury and it surely robbed the Ballyshannon wizard and Donegal of success at the highest level. 

He was made Donegal senior team captain at the age of 20 and led them into an Ulster senior final against Down in 1966 just weeks after his 21st birthday. By my reckoning he was even younger than Michael Murphy in gaining the captaincy and that was not the norm back in the 1960s. But such were his leadership qualities.

The successes included two Ulster Minor League medals; three Lagan Cups; two McKenna Cups and three Ulster U-21 championships.

It is remarkable that he was picked on the Millennium team of 2000 having only played 13 championship matches for Donegal.

The other successes came at club level winning two Donegal minor championships and three senior championships with St Joseph’s as well as two Ulster club medals and an All-Ireland club in 1968 when he contributed handsomely to St Joseph’s defeating Dunmore McHales over two legs. McLoone scored 1-4 in the home leg and 1-3 in Tuam.

Such was his contribution in that short period that he was and is regarded one of the greatest forwards that Donegal has ever produced.

Injury ended his career at 25 years of age in 1970 and he missed out when Donegal made the breakthrough in Ulster in 1972.

He would later contribute to Aodh Ruadh winning two senior championships in 1986 and 1987 in a coaching role alongside PJ Buggy.

His 3-4 in a championship game against Fermanagh in 1966 remains along with Seamus Bonar’s 4-1 against Antrim in 1974 as the top individual score by a Donegal player in a championship game. That may be challenged now with two pointers available, but for the moment it is a record that stands the test of time so well.


Mickey McLoone (front centre) with Anton Carroll and John Hannigan. Back Declan O'Carroll, Fionn Gallagher, PJ Flood and Bernard Brady

PJ Buggy, Aodh Ruadh President

“Though we lived quite near, I went to Creevy school. Michael went to De La Salle and we didn't get to know each other until we went to secondary school.  We played Corn na nOg and Mac Larnon Cup together and won a Co Minor Championship in 1963 together.

“He was always encouraging to lesser players like myself and we have been friends ever since.

“When I came back to Ballyshannon and got involved in U-10 and U-12 coaching and management he came on board. He was involved in setting up Bord na nOg with myself and others.

“When I became senior team manager in 1986 he came on board as trainer. He added so much to the team with his expertise and his ability to develop a great bond among the players.

“He was such a wonderful footballer and a great coach.  He contributed massively to  society generally.  Yet he was humble and unassuming. And a great friend to have.”

Declan O’Carroll

“Mickey was the greatest footballer of my era in Donegal. He was absolutely the greatest player

“A point was for the plebs. He wanted the onion bag, and he could get the goal, left foot or right foot, it didn’t matter to him. He was ahead of his time with his ability to shoot under pressure from either foot, fantastic.

“And then he took abuse because of his ability. He was targeted in every game.

“I think Mickey was finished by 24 or 25 and added to that his studies in Dublin and his progression in the business world. He was very dedicated. If he was following something he put his mind to it and followed it through. He got to the end of it.

“We went to school together and were in the same class. Matt McNulty would have been another in that class. It was a small class with just 13 of us. We grew up together playing football with Donegal minors, U-21s, seniors and St Joseph’s.

“I think he scored the goal down in Tuam Stadium that ensured that we would win the All-Ireland Club.”

Seamie Granaghan

“He was the  man who put it under the bar. I used to put it over the bar,” laughs Granaghan. He was a great man to get a goal. That was all that was in Mickey’s mind when he was heading in towards the goals.

“He had brains to burn. It was a pleasure to play alongside him.

“The knee injury that he had and the operations he had, I seen him after those operations and there were plasters everywhere. I would have loved to play with him for longer.

“If we had to have in 1972 we would have won an All-Ireland, definitely. I think his last game was with St Joseph’s in 1970. I was just looking at photographs of him here.

“He wrote a lovely piece in the St Joseph’s book, The Men, the Magic and the Memories.

“I’m looking at three successive Lagan Cup teams that he was on. I came on the day of the famous penalty in Croke Park.

“If you were in the right place he would give you the ball. He would almost always, if he did go himself, he was taken out of it or he scored. That was his way of playing. If you were in the right place he would give the pass too. Many’s the good ball he game me. To have played alongside him was a pleasure. I have fond memories of playing with him and always will,” said Granaghan.

Donegal U-21s 1963. Mickey McLoone is third from right, front row

Anton Carroll

“Mickey McLoone was a gentleman on and off the field. I don’t think you will find anyone with a bad word to say about him. We had some great times, especially on journeys to and from matches. He was a great conversationalist.

“He was also a fabulous footballer who rose to the very top of the game. His was a short career but he still rose to the top.

“We had some great tussles also at club level and even though he was small in stature he could look after himself.

“I think the last time I was talking to him was a couple of years ago at an Ulster final when he was along with his cousin Fr Michael McCullagh. And of course we would have met regularly when he was working in Dublin in Beaumont Hospital.

“Mickey was universally liked by his teammates on the football field and also by his opponents.”

Pauric McShea

“The death of Michael on Sunday morning last brought a genuine sad reflective pause from so many varying different dispositions and walks of life across county Donegal and Ireland. Michael's approach to life across every facet very much embodied “Via Romana” or the Roman way, with values which he applied to the highest standard, as he represented himself, his family, and Donegal with unique distinction in a personal and professional capacity throughout his life. 

“He inspired his school pals and Aodh Ruadh teams as he excelled at everything he did, while at the same time he championed Donegal at National level with great passion and spirit. From his early days on the pitch as a wonderful player he believed in the potential of power and people, thereby creating the environment for others to flourish once the strategic intent and devotion was set.

“His ability to lead and manage change across decades of senior executive responsibility was achieved through the listening ear which he employed while communicating with others. 

“I always believed that Donegal could have won Sam in 1972 if Michael had not suffered serious knee injuries. He had that x factor which was unique.”

Brian McEniff

“It was a pity he wasn’t around in 1972 when we made the breakthrough to win Ulster. I have no doubt we would have made the All-Ireland final that year if we had Mickey McLoone on board.

“He was just a wonderful footballer. I remember one particular day going to Gaoth Dobhair and myself and Mickey were left to pick the team. He put the two of us in at midfield and then said to me before the throw-in, ‘You stay down, I’ll jump and knock it down to you’.

“He was just a rare and special talent and he was full of confidence and had great self belief. He was a fine soccer player also and I think he might have played with the Combined Universities team.

“He was also a great conversationalist too, like his father Phil. He was very well educated and became a very successful man in his work at different places all over the country but notably as Donegal County Manager here in Donegal.”


1959 Bakery Cup winning captain