Brian McGilligan (born 19 December 1963) is an Irish former dual player of Gaelic games, who played Gaelic football at senior level for the Derry county team in the 1980s and 1990s, especially the 1993 team. He was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side and also won two Ulster Championships with the side. For his performances in the 1987 and 1993 Championships he won two All Star awards.

Brian McGilligan
Personal information
Sport Dual player
Football Position: Midfield
Hurling Position: ?
Born (1963-12-19) 19 December 1963 (age 60)
County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Occupation Site manager
Club(s)
Years Club Apps (scores)
?-?
Dungiven
Kevin Lynch's
?
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
?-?
Derry ?
Inter-county titles
  Football Hurling
Ulster Titles 2 ?
All-Ireland Titles 1 -
League titles 3 -
All-Stars 2

In addition to Gaelic football, McGilligan also played hurling for Derry. He played club football for St Canice's GAC Dungiven and hurling for Kevin Lynch's. After being part of the backroom staff for 2007, he was appointed Derry Senior and Under 21 hurling manager for 2008. In September 2008 he announced his interest in the vacant Derry Senior football manager's job.[1] He was also a selector on the Derry Under 21 team which won the Ulster Under 21 and All-Ireland Under 21 Championships in 1997.

Personal life edit

McGilligan was born in Benedy outside Dungiven and attended Dernaflaw National School. He went to St Patrick's College, Dungiven.[2]

Inter-county career edit

McGilligan was part of Derry's 1987 Ulster Championship winning team and won an All Star for his performances that year, which included a man of the match display against Meath, despite the fact Derry were defeated.[3] He added a second All-Star and Ulster medal in 1993 in addition to winning All-Ireland with Derry, defeating Cork in the final.

He won National Football League medals with Derry in 1992, 1995 and 1996 and also holds Railway Cup medals. McGilligan won Personality of the Year at the 1996 Ulster GAA Writer's Association Awards.[4]

International rules career edit

Kevin Heffernan, manager of the Ireland international rules football team at the time, noticed McGilligan in a hurling match for Derry against Dublin in Parnell Park.[5] He was so impressed with McGilligan's performance, that he asked him to play for Ireland in the 1986 International Rules series.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "McGilligan keen on Derry vacancy". BBC Sport Online. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  2. ^ "Hoganstand article on McGilligan". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  3. ^ "The Irish Emigrant - August 23, 1987". Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  4. ^ "Ulster GAA Writer's Association Awards - 1996". Ulster GAA Writer's Association website. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  5. ^ a b Brolly, Joe (24 October 2008). "Let's stand up for ourselves". Gaelic Life. p. 48. Retrieved 14 November 2008. [dead link]

External links edit