Inside Track: It’s time for us all to shout McDonnells abú

McDonnell was the surname on many Louth supporters’ lips after the win over Derry at Ardee. And with very good reason.

Three of the clan had been involved in a splendid four-point win, Niall performing heroically in goals, Dara opening the scoring with a two-pointer after only a few minutes’ play, and Tadhg marking his entry as a second sub by matching Dara’s feat and then pushing his tally out to three points.

All belong to different clubs and may not be related. Dara and Tadhg have won senior county championships with Naomh Máirín’s and St Mary’s, respectively, while Niall was on the St Fechin’s team that won the intermediate championship a few years ago.

All of this had us delving into the record books looking for others of the same name who played for the county team. Our research brought us back to 1948 and an All-Ireland semi-final in which Louth played Cavan.

A crowd of 51,117 turned up at Croke Park, and they witnessed an absorbing contest which Cavan won by 1-14 to 4-2. At left-half back was a Darver Volunteer, Jimmy McDonnell.

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When Louth again reached the penultimate round of the All-Ireland series, playing Kerry in 1950, Jimmy McDonnell was at right-half forward. Louth won, by 3-5 to 0-13, qualifying to meet Mayo in the final. There was another McDonnell included for this outing, Jimmy’s brother, Mickey. Mayo won with the help of a late, controversial goal.

The lads were again in the line-up three years later for an All-Ireland semi-final with Kerry, Jimmy on the forty and Mickey at midfield, partnering Hubert Reynolds, who was by now playing with Oliver Plunkets, having transferred from Dundalk Gaels. Another defeat for Louth, 3-6 to 0-10.

As a golden era drew to a close, Louth got a deserved All-Ireland win in 1957. By now Mickey McDonnell was in retirement, but Jimmy, having made a comeback, played at full-forward in the final win over Cork. His best game of the campaign had come in the Leinster semi-final defeat of Kildare, when he claimed three goals.

Running parallel with the seniors’ great run that year was the junior side’s winning streak. It brought them to a Leinster title win with Fr Paddy McDonnell at midfield. The Oliver Plunkets player was winning a second provincial medal, following the minors’ success in 1951.

Louth’s second under-21 Leinster win came in 1978 and included on the side that beat Offaly in the final were Johnny McDonnell and Jim McDonnell, the latter a son of All-Ireland winner, Jimmy.

Jim’s brother, Ollie, also played in an under-21 final – the 1996 meeting with Meath – as well having a lengthy career with the seniors.

The other McDonnell line, Johnny’s, was kept very much alive with Junior, Andy, getting the reward his career merited with his inclusion on last year’s Leinster-winning senior side.

And talk about lines: Dara, mentioned early on, is a nephew of Nicky and James McDonnell, both of whom wore the Louth senior jersey. The boy’s father, Jim, was also a county player back in the 1950s.

All are of Naomh Máirtín stock, and they say up around Monasterboice that the family name will be well to the fore in years to come. Seemingly, there are a few young blades making their mark at underage.

Dundalk Gaels brothers, Davy and Brian McDonnell, had extended runs with the county side, and the family tradition is maintained by Tony, Brian’s son, who won a championship medal with the under-20s last year and is again eligible for the grade this year.

No doubt there are some McDonnell names missing from the foregoing. Give us a shout if you know of any. There’s an address here.