Naomh Conaill - champions for the eighth time in Donegal Picture Thomas Gallagher
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23 Oct 2025
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23 Oct 2025
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John Hannigan (St Eunan's)
John Hannigan started the first game against Down in 1972 at full-forward and was responsible for creating the space for Seamie Granaghan to score the all-important goal. One of the most underated footballers the county has produced. Could play just anywhere and did. I remember one year in the Lagan Cup Derry gave us an awful hammering but we met them again in the semi-final and Hannigan was put in to mark Sean O'Connell and kept him scoreless and with five minutes to go, went up the field and scored the winning point.
John gave great service to St Eunan's and Donegal and it was a big wonder that he was never selected to represent Ulster in the Railway Cup. Maybe it was because he was so versatile. He had come back in 1972 after being part of the Donegal team throughout the 1960s.
He was part of the first Donegal team to win an Ulster minor title in 1956 as a corner-forward and played 114 times for Donegal between 1958 and 1973. He also managed Donegal in 1975 and 1976. Won three Donegal SFC medals with St Eunan's.
Sadly passed to his eternal reward in 2014.
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