‘Boots’ McDaid was looking after Conor Mortimer when Donegal met Mayo in 2009

When Donegal and Mayo renew rivalry on Sunday in O’Donnell Park thoughts go back to 2009 when Donegal somehow managed to hold on for a draw after being nine points up at half-time.

New Mayo manager, Andy Moran, was part of the Mayo team that day.

At corner-back for Donegal was Paddy ‘Boots’ McDaid but time has dimmed almost all memories of the game for the Termon man.

“It’s funny, I remember playing Mayo down in Castlebar but I don’t have many memories of the game in Letterkenny. I do remember I was marking Conor Mortimer. At that stage it was me and (Karl) Lacey who were getting the marking jobs.

McDaid had been around the squad for a number of years and got some time under Brian McEniff  before coming in then under Brian McIver the year after they won the league.

“I had a good enough year in 2008 and 2009 but got injured both years before the championship. I would have  been starting in the championship in 2008. They actually even told me that and then I got injured.

“I was out for a couple of months at that stage and then John Joe (Doheerty) came in.  I played a lot of football under John Joe the first year and in the second year I didn’t get as much. I think they were bringing in the U-21s at that stage.

“My memory of games is not great. The games I would remember, I would have good memories. I do remember that Mortimer was a good player. He was probably at his peak then and would have probably been one of the best forwards in the country. With the bleached hair, there was a big of a swagger about him. He could give you a long hour, put it like that.

“I remember the game down in Mayo because it was the only time that the three Termon players started, Michael Boyle, myself and Wappa (Kevin McMenamin). It was a big thing for us at the time. Wappa was going well then,” said McDaid, who feels Donegal are going well again.

McDaid is also hopeful that Termon can be well represented again at county level. We have Cormac Gallagher in there at the minute and young Cian McMenamin is getting back up to speed. “He has been very, very unfortunate with injuries. He’s getting there and back training but I don’t know if he’s contact training yet.

“He’s a big miss for us in Termon as well.”

READ NEXT: Karl Lacey and Donegal to honour Pat Shovelin's memory in unique fashion

McDaid says the game has changed so much since his time, and for the better. “These boys are doing more training at club level now than we were doing at county back then. The county game is much easier to watch. The changes have made a difference. Maybe there could be a few tweaks but I wouldn’t change much.

“The attitude of young players has also changed. Most of them are now going to the gym and are not interested in drinking and partying. They just take their coffee and are into keeping fit.”

As for his own involvement, McDaid says he is busy at work and with four girls under the age of 10, it is likely that he will have to dip his hand back in again.

“We have great facilities now at The Burn Road and there are plans for another pitch across the road. And it is badly needed with all the teams and hurling also starting up.”


Donegal team against Mayo in 2009

The teams and scorers from that 2009 game were: 

Donegal 2-10

Mayo 1-13

Donegal: Michael Boyle; Declan Walsh, Neil McGee, Paddy McDaid; Frank McGlynn, Barry Monaghan, Eamon McGee (0-1); Neil Gallagher, Ciaran Bonner (0-2); Rory Kavanagh, Conall Dunne, David Walsh (0-1); Michael Doherty (0-1), Stephen Griffin (0-5, 5f), Michael Murphy (2-0). Subs: Brendan Boyle for Dunne (52); Colm McFadden for Murphy (59), Owen Waide for McGlynn (62); Kevin McMenamin for Walsh (69); Leon Thompson for Doherty (72).

Mayo: David Clarke; Liam O’Malley, Ger Cafferkey, Donal Vaughan; Peadar Gardiner (0-1), Tom Cunniffe, Pat Kelly; Tom Parsons, Ronan McGarrity; Billy Joe Padden (0-1), Trevor Mortimer (0-1), Alan Dillon (0-1, 1f); Conor Mortimer (0-6, 4f), Barry Moran (1-1), Andy Moran. Subs: Barry Kelly for Dillon (27); Mickey Sweeney (0-1) for Kelly (half-time); Pat Harte for Padden (39); Mark Ronaldson   for Parsons (43); Kieran Conroy (0-1) for McGarrity (55).

Referee: John Bannon (Longford).