Former Donegal defender McConigley aiming to take Kilkenny to All-Ireland glory

Former Donegal defender and Gaeil Fhánada clubman Paddy McConigley is a selector for Kilkenny as they bid for All-Ireland Junior Footballer Championship glory against London at Croke Park today, throw-in 1pm.

Kilkenny defeated London 3-11 to 2-9 at the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown on Friday and will this afternoon take on New York, who managed to get the better of Charlie O’Donnell from Ballyshannon’s Warwickshire in the other semi-final, 1-8 to 0-6.

The Kilkenny team were able to call on the likes of Paul Murphy and Ciaran Wallace who are better known for their fortunes with the senior hurlers but it was Mick Kenny and Mick Malone who stood out as they scored 3-7 between them in a thrilling clash.

McConigley studied nursing at Letterkenny Institute of Technology before making the move to his wife Siobhan’s native Kilkenny - she’s from  Castlecomer  - where McConigley works as a nurse for those with intellectual disabilities.

When Brian McIver guided Donegal to the National Football League Division 1 title in 2007, where they overcame Mayo 0-13 to 0-10 at Croke Park, McConigley was right wing-back in a defence that included Karl Lacey and Neil McGee and went on to make his championship debut that same season against Armagh in Ballybofey.