2011 Donegal season

The 2011 Donegal season was the franchise's 107th season since the County Board's foundation in 1905. The team ended the season as Ulster champions after winning the 2011 Ulster Senior Football Championship. It was their sixth title and a first since Brian McEniff led the team to Sam MCMXCII.

Ahead of the new season, Jim McGuinness was appointed as the team's manager, bringing to an end the era of John Joe Doherty. The arrival of McGuinness brought the first appearance of a soon-to-be revolutionary tactic The System.

Ulster Championship

Donegal v Antrim

15 May 2011 3:30pm Preliminary round

Donegal	1-10 - 0-7	Antrim
M McHugh 1-1, M Murphy 0-3 (3f), R Bradley, C McFadden (1f) 0-2 each, D Molloy, A Hanlon 0-1 each	Report	T McCann, P Cunningham (1f), K Niblock (2f) 0-2 each, M Dougan 0-1

MacCumhail Park, Ballybofey Attendance: 7,385 Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

Donegal v Cavan

12 June 2011 3:30pm Quarter-final

Donegal	2-14 - 1-8	Cavan
P McBrearty 1-3 (1f), C McFadden 0-5 (2f), R Kavanagh 1-0, D Molloy 0-2, K Cassidy, K Rafferty, L McLoone and M Murphy 0-1(f) each	Report	M Brennan 1-1, N McDermott 0-4 (3f), G McKiernan, F Flanagan and S Johnston 0-1 (f) each.

Breffni Park, Cavan Attendance: 9,325 Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo)

Tyrone v Donegal

26 June 2011 3:30pm Semi-final

Tyrone	0-9 - 2-6	Donegal
S O'Neill 0-2, S Cavanagh 0-2 (1f), P Jordan, B Dooher, O Mulligan, M Penrose and P Harte (f) 0-1 each	Report	C McFadden 1-1 (1f), D Molloy 1-0, M Murphy 0-2 (1f), K Cassidy, K Rafferty and P McBrearty 0-1 each

St. Tiernach's Park, Clones Attendance: 18,536 Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

Derry v Donegal

17 July 2011 4:00pm Final

Derry	0-08 - 1-11	Donegal
J Kielt 0-04 (2f), C Kielt 0-02, C Gilligan (f), M Donaghy 0-01 each	Report	M Murphy 1-02 (1-00 pen), C McFadden 0-04 (2f), M Hegarty, A Thompson 0-02 each, R Bradley 0-01

St. Tiernach's Park, Clones Attendance: 28,364 Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

All-Ireland Championship

Donegal v Kildare

30 July 6:00pm Quarter-final

Donegal	1-12 - 0-14 A.E.T.	Kildare
C Toye 1-1, M Murphy 0-3 (1f), K Cassidy 0-2, K Lacey, R Kavanagh, M McHugh, R Bradley, P McBrearty, D Molloy 0-1 each	Report	E O'Flaherty 0-6 (4f), A Smith 0-2, E Bolton, P O'Neill, E Callaghan, J Kavanagh, G White (f), R Sweeney 0-1 each

Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 39,612 Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

Dublin v Donegal

28 August 2011 3:30pm Semi-final

Dublin	0-08 - 0-06	Donegal
B Brogan 0-04 (4f), S Cluxton 0-02 (1f, 1 '45), B Cullen, K McManamon 0-01 each	Report	C McFadden 0-4 (2f), K Cassidy, R Bradley 0-01 each

Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 81,436 Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

All Stars

Donegal achieved three All Stars.

Pos.	Player	Team	Appearances
GK	20px Stephen Cluxton	Dublin	4
RCB	20px Marc Ó Sé	Kerry	3
FB	Neil McGee	Donegal	1
LCB	Michael Foley	Kildare	1
RWB	Kevin Cassidy	Donegal	2
CB	Karl Lacey	Donegal	3
LWB	20px Kevin Nolan	Dublin	1
MD	20px Bryan Sheehan	Kerry	1
MD	20px Michael D. Macauley	Dublin	1
RWF	20px Darran O'Sullivan	Kerry	1
CF	20px Alan BroganFOTY	Dublin	3
LWF	20px Paul Flynn	Dublin	1
RCF	20px Colm Cooper	Kerry	7
FF	Andy Moran	Mayo	1
LCF	20px Bernard Brogan	Dublin	2

County breakdown

• Dublin = 6
• Kerry = 4
• Donegal = 3
• Mayo = 1
• Kildare = 1

Management

• Manager: Jim McGuinness
• Selectors: Rory Gallagher, Maxi Curran
• Goalkeeping coach: Pat Shovelin
• Surgical consultant: Kevin Moran
• Team doctor: Charlie McManus
• Team physio: Dermot Simpson
• Physical Therapists: Charlie Molloy, Paul Coyle, Donal Reid, JD.

Team roster

New manager Jim McGuinness included Kevin Cassidy (who intended to retire at the end of the previous season) and Michael Hegarty (who was not involved in the previous season) in his squad for the 2011 Dr. McKenna Cup. Also named were several of the under-21s, including Peter Boyle, Thomas McKinley, Daniel McLaughlin, Kevin Mulhern and Antoin McFadden, and Johnny Bonner and Marty Boyle, stars of Naomh Conaill's run to the 2010 Ulster club football final.

McKenna Cup roster

Paul Durcan, Peter Boyle, Karl Lacey, Neil McGee, Barry Dunnion, Johnny Bonner, Tomas McKinley, Edward Kelly, Neil Gallagher, Rory Kavanagh, Christopher Murrin, Dermot Molloy, Michael Hegarty, Colm McFadden, Daniel McLaughlin, Marty Boyle, David Walsh, Adrian Hanlon, Michael Murphy, Paddy McGrath, Kevin Mulhern, Leo McLoone, Ryan Bradley, Kevin Cassidy, Frank McGlynn, Antoin McFadden.

Championship roster

Details

No. Player Position Club 1 Paul Durcan Goalkeeper The Four Masters 2 Frank McGlynn Right Corner Back Glenfin 3 Neil McGee Full Back Ghaoth Dobhair 4 Paddy McGrath Left Corner Back Ard an Rátha 5 Anthony Thompson Right Half Back Naomh Conaill 6 Karl Lacey Centre Back The Four Masters 7 Kevin Cassidy Left Half Back Ghaoth Dobhair 8 Neil Gallagher Midfield Glenswilly 9 Rory Kavanagh Midfield Naomh Adhamhnáin 10 Mark McHugh Right Half Forward Chíll Chartha 11 Michael Hegarty Center Forward Chíll Chartha 12 Ryan Bradley Left Half Forward Buncrana 13 Patrick McBrearty Right Corner Forward Chíll Chartha 14 David Walsh Full Forward Naomh Bríd 15 Colm McFadden Left Corner Forward Naomh Mícheál

No. Player Position Club 16 Michael Boyle Goalkeeper Termon 17 Eddie Kelly Full Back Urris 18 Michael Maguire Right Corner Back Glencolumbkille 19 Kevin Rafferty Midfield Naomh Adhamhnáin 20 Ciarán Mac Grianna Centre Forward Naomh Adhamhnáin 21 Ross Wherity Centre Forward Naomh Adhamhnáin 22 Fergal McNulty Full Forward An Urnaigh 23 Gareth Concarr Right Half Forward Ard an Rátha 24 Ross Wherity Right Half Back Naomh Adhamhnáin 25 Barry Dunnion Right Half Back The Four Masters 26 Brendan Boyle Left Half Forward Ard an Rátha 27 Lee McFadden Right Half Back Cloughaneely 28 Eoin Waide Left Half Back Naomh Conaill 29 Leo McLoone Center Half Forward Naomh Conaill

Christy Toye

Squad as per Donegal vs Kildare, 2011 All-Ireland Quarter-final, 30 July 2011

Kit