Niall McGinn

Niall McGinn

Personal information
Full name	Niall McGinn
Date of birth	20 July 1987 (1987-07-20)
Place of birth	Donaghmore, Northern Ireland
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Winger
Club information
Current club	Brentford (on loan from Celtic)
Number	18
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2008	Dungannon Swifts	42	(4)
2008–2009	Derry City	31	(6)
2009–	Celtic	28	(4)
2011–	→ Brentford (loan)	25	(4)
National team‡
2007–2008	Northern Ireland U23	2	(0)
2009	Northern Ireland B	1	(0)
2008–	Northern Ireland	17	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 February 2012. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 October 2011

Niall McGinn (born 20 July 1987 in Donaghmore) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Brentford as a winger on loan from Celtic.

Club career

Derry City

McGinn was signed by Derry City manager Stephen Kenny in January 2008 for an undisclosed fee from Dungannon Swifts in the Carnegie Premier League, who in turn signed him from Donaghmore Celtic, who moulded this young man into the player he is today, although no recognition was ever given. His decision to sign a professional football contract meant that McGinn retired from playing Gaelic football for Donaghmore and Tyrone U-21s. A very promising young talent, McGinn mainly plays on the left or right side of midfield but he can also be employed as a secondary striker.

During 2008, he attracted interest from such clubs as Celtic and Championship sides Ipswich Town and Swansea City.

Celtic

McGinn signed for Celtic on 1 January 2009. On 12 September 2009, McGinn made his first team debut for Celtic against Dundee United. Although the game ended in a 1–1 draw, McGinn was awarded the official Man of the Match award.

On 31 October 2009 McGinn scored his first goal for Celtic coming on as a 66th minute substitute in a 3–0 win over Kilmarnock at Celtic Park. Niall scored his second goal for Celtic against Hamilton Academical on 26 December 2009 by driving a right footed shot into the top corner. He scored his first goal in the Scottish Cup and his third of the 2009–10 season to put Celtic 1–0 ahead against Greenock Morton on 19 January 2010.

McGinn played and scored his in his first game of the 2010–11 season with a goal in a 3–2 win against St Johnstone in the Scottish League Cup on 30 October 2010.

Brentford

On 7 July 2011, Niall signed for Brentford on a season long loan deal.

International career

McGinn's performances for Derry City lead to him featuring in the Northern Ireland under-23 team.

In November 2008, McGinn received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland senior squad by manager Nigel Worthington for the series of international friendlies and he gained his first cap coming on as a substitute against Hungary on 19 November. He was the first Derry City player to play for the senior Northern Ireland team in 19 years. Although disappointed in the result, Nigel Worthington is quoted as saying of McGinn:

“

He was the one bright spark in our side. He did what he is good at – he kept it simple. He ran at players when he had the opportunity and was not afraid.

”

McGinn again impressed when called up to the senior squad for the friendly against Israel at Windsor Park on 12 August 2009. The match ended 1–1, and McGinn came on as a second half substitute. Again, his individual perfmormance was praised by manager Nigel Worthington:

“

Niall McGinn did terrifically well – he got us up the pitch and used his pace and ability.

”

International appearances and goals
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Competition	Goals
1	19 November 2008	Windsor Park, Belfast	Hungary	0–2	Friendly
2	6 June 2009	Arena Garibaldi, Pisa	Italy	0–3	Friendly
3	12 August 2009	Windsor Park, Belfast	Israel	1–1	Friendly
4	9 September 2009	Windsor Park, Belfast	Slovakia	0–2	FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
5	14 September 2009	Synot Tip Arena, Prague	Czech Republic	0–0	FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying
6	14 November 2009	Windsor Park, Belfast	Serbia	0–1	Friendly
7	3 March 2010	Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana	Albania	0–1	Friendly
8	8 October 2010	Windsor Park, Belfast	Italy	0–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
9	12 October 2010	Svangaskarð, Toftir	Faroe Islands	1–1	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
10	17 November 2010	Windsor Park, Belfast	Morocco	1–1	Friendly
11	9 February 2011	Aviva Stadium, Dublin	Scotland	0–3	2011 Nations Cup
12	24 May 2011	Aviva Stadium, Dublin	Republic of Ireland	0–5	2011 Nations Cup
13	27 May 2011	Aviva Stadium, Dublin	Wales	0–2	2011 Nations Cup
14	10 August 2011	Windsor Park, Belfast	Faroe Islands	4–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

Awards

McGinn's fine season with Derry City in 2008 was publicly recognised when he won the 2008 PFAI Young Player of the Year award.

In January 2010 McGinn was awarded the George Best Breakthrough Award for 2009 in recognition of his impressive performances for club and country.

Personal life

In January 2011, it was reported that Royal Mail had intercepted packages containing bullets addressed to both McGinn and Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

Career statistics

As of 14 February 2012

Club	Season	League		Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dungannon Swifts	2005–06	1	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0
	2006–07	23	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	23	0
	2007–08	18	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	18	4
	Total	42	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	42	4
Derry City	2008	31	6	13	4	-	-	-	-	44	10
	Total	31	6	13	4	-	-	-	-	44	10
Celtic	2009–10	14	2	1	1	0	0	5	0	20	3
	2010–11	14	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	15	3
	Total	28	4	1	1	1	1	5	0	35	6
Brentford	2011–12	25	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	27	4
	Total	25	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	27	4
Career Total		126	18	16	5	1	1	5	0	148	24

Honours

Celtic

Scottish Cup

• Winner: 2010–11

External links

• Niall McGinn profile Celtic FC
• Niall McGinn career stats at Soccerbase