Paul McGrane

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

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Senior Pen Pics - Paul McGrane". Official Armagh GAA website. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  2. ↑ "Ulster's 125 - Armagh shortlist". The Irish News. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Ulster's 125 - The province's 125 best footballers since 1884". The Irish News. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  4. ↑ "Armagh win Ulster final". BBC Sport Online. 7 July 2002. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  5. ↑ "Armagh outclass Donegal". BBC Sport Online. 11 July 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  6. ↑ "Wait is over for Armagh". Newry Democrat. 4 May 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  7. ↑ "McConville fires Armagh to glory". BBC Sport Online. 25 July 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  8. ↑ Keys, Colm (9 April 2009). "McGrane calls time on special Armagh career". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  9. 1 2 "Armagh trio call it a day". BBC Sport Online. 9 April 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  10. ↑ "Donegal 0-09 1-09 Armagh (match report)". BBC Sport Online. 9 July 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  11. ↑ "Armagh 1-11 0-8 Fermanagh (match report)". BBC Sport Online. 27 July 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
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