Mark Coyle ‘proud’ to be first Donegal captain ever to lift Premier Division title

Mark Coyle says leading Shelbourne to League of Ireland Premier Division success was an amazing feat. 

And the Burt native and former Cockhill Celtic man is now getting ready to return to pre-season with Damien Duff’s charges. 

But a few days back home over the Christmas period gave him time for some reflection. And he admits that taking the league title around the north-west schools recently had a real impact on him. 

“When I went back up to Donegal someone said that to me, I was the first Donegal man to captain a team to the League of Ireland, it was a big shock as so many talented players have come from Donegal,” he says.

“To be the first is something for the history books, I am very proud but it's something I will look back on when I am finished but now I am focused on not getting caught up in that, I know how important it is to park things.

“I brought the trophy to my primary school, my secondary school, and a few other schools, It’s great because I remember when Finn Harps won the First Division, they brought it in to my primary school and I got a picture with Shane Bradley at the time.

“I remember that fondly, that’s why the gaffer and Joey O’Brien told me to bring it up because God knows when it will be up again.

“But if that inspires any young kid, that’s the most important. It brought a lot to me seeing how it was received in the schools and how happy they were for me, that did more for me than maybe me bringing it to them.”