Paul McGrane
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Gaelic football | ||
| Position | Midfield | ||
| Born |
County Armagh, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Nickname | Floppy | ||
| Occupation | Accountant[1] | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| Ballyhegan | |||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
1993-2008 | Armagh | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Ulster titles | 7 | ||
| All-Irelands | 1 | ||
| NFL | 1 | ||
| All Stars | 2 | ||
Paul McGrane is an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for Armagh in the 1990s and 2000s. He won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal, seven Ulster Championships and a National League title with the county. He also won two All Star awards.
McGrane plays club football for Ballyhegan Davitts.
McGrane is a midfielder. He is known as one of Armagh's best ever players.[2] In 2009 to mark the 125th anniversary of the Gaelic Athletic Association he was named by The Irish News as one of the all-time best 125 footballers from Ulster.[3]
Playing career
Inter-county
In 1992 McGrane won the Ulster Minor Football League and Ulster Minor Football Championship with the Armagh Minor team.[1] Armagh finished runners-up to Meath in that year's All-Ireland Minor final.[3] He was captain of the Minor team that year.[3]
McGrane made his Senior inter-county Championship debut for Armagh against Fermanagh in May 1993.[1] He won his first Ulster Senior Football Championship medal with the county in 1999[3] - the county's first Ulster Championship in 17 years. Armagh also defended their Ulster title the following year.[3]
In 2002 he helped Armagh win the Ulster Championship[4] as well as the county's first ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.[3] McGrane received an All Star award for his performances that year.[3]
In 2003 Armagh once again reached the All-Ireland final, but were defeated by neighbours Tyrone. 2004 saw McGrane and Armagh again win the Ulster Championship.[5] In 2005 McGrane helped Armagh win the National League, beating Wexford in the final.[6] Later that year he helped Armagh win another Ulster Championship.[7] Team captain Kieran McGeeney invited McGrane to lift the Anglo Celt Cup with him after the match.[8] McGrane was awarded a second All Star that year.
McGrane took over the Armagh captaincy in November 2005 after Kieran McGeeney retired.[9] Armagh completed a three-in-a-row of Ulster Championships in 2006, this time with McGrane as captain.[10] McGrane won another Ulster Championship medal with Armagh in 2008,[11] his seventh in all and second as captain.
McGrane retired from inter-county football in April 2009, due to a persistent knee injury.[9]
Club
With Ballyhegan, McGrane has won the Armagh Junior Football Championship[1] (1995) and Armagh Intermediate Football Championship[1] (1997).
International Rules
McGrane represented Ireland in the International Rules Series.
Province
McGrane played for Ulster, and won the Railway Cup on ? occasions with the province.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Senior Pen Pics - Paul McGrane". Official Armagh GAA website. Retrieved 13 April 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Ulster's 125 - Armagh shortlist". The Irish News. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ulster's 125 - The province's 125 best footballers since 1884". The Irish News. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ "Armagh win Ulster final". BBC Sport Online. 7 July 2002. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ "Armagh outclass Donegal". BBC Sport Online. 11 July 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ "Wait is over for Armagh". Newry Democrat. 4 May 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ "McConville fires Armagh to glory". BBC Sport Online. 25 July 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ Keys, Colm (9 April 2009). "McGrane calls time on special Armagh career". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ a b "Armagh trio call it a day". BBC Sport Online. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ "Donegal 0-09 1-09 Armagh (match report)". BBC Sport Online. 9 July 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ "Armagh 1-11 0-8 Fermanagh (match report)". BBC Sport Online. 27 July 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2009.