Eugene McGee (Gaelic football manager)

Eugene McGee
Personal information
Irish nameEoghan Mag Aoidh
SportGaelic football
Born16 November 1941
Aughnacliffe, County Longford, Ireland
Died5 May 2019(2019-05-05) (aged 77)
Longford, County Longford, Ireland
OccupationManaging editor
Club management
Years Club
University College Dublin
Newtowncashel
Inter-county management
Years Team
1976–1984
1984–1988
Offaly
Cavan
Inter-county titles
County League Province All-Ireland
Offaly 0 3 1

Eugene McGee (16 November 1941 – 5 May 2019) was an Irish Gaelic footballer, manager, trainer, selector, Gaelic games administrator[1] and journalist,[2] who is best known for his time as manager of the Offaly senior football team.[3] McGee guided the Offaly team to success in the 1980, 1981, and 1982 Leinster Senior Football Championship, and to the 1982 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title.[4][5][6]

McGee was in charge of Ireland when they toured Australia for the 1990 International Rules Series.[7] He was also in charge for the 1987 International Rules Series and Seán McCague was his assistant manager on both occasions.[8]

In 2004, McGee was intermediary in a dispute between Offaly's International Rules Series player Ciaran McManus and the Offaly County Board when McManus questioned the selection of a new manager.[9][10]

McGee chaired the Football Review Committee (FRC) during Liam O'Neill's GAA presidency that led to adjustments to the game such as the introduction of a black card.[6]

He wrote for the Longford Leader, The Irish Press, The Sunday Press, Sunday Tribune and Irish Independent.[6]

Seán Lowry described him as "a stern man".[6]

McGee was interviewed for the documentary Players of the Faithful, which RTÉ One showed less than six months before his death.[11]

  1. ^ "Oral History - Eugene McGee". gaa.ie. GAA. 16 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Tributes for 'giant of gaelic football' Eugene McGee". breakingnews.ie. Landmark Digital Ltd. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  3. ^ "From the Archives: Eugene McGee is one of GAA's authentic voices". The Irish Times. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  4. ^ "All-Ireland-winning Offaly manager Eugene McGee dies". Irish Examiner. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Legendary GAA manager and journalist Eugene McGee has died". The42.ie. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d Fogarty, John (5 May 2019). "Eugene McGee was without doubt one of the greats". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Hackett for Westmeath". Irish Independent. 9 September 2009.
  8. ^ "Former GAA president Seán McCague dies". Hogan Stand. 24 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Controversy remains in Offaly football". RTÉ. 2 November 2004.
  10. ^ Keys, Colm (18 May 2018). "Offaly seeking 15th football manager since last Leinster triumph". Irish Independent.
  11. ^ "'What a story', 'magic moments', 'great show', - Glowing praise for Offaly-Kerry documentary: 'Players of the Faithful' captured the incredible story of Offaly's victory over Kerry in the 1982 All-Ireland SFC final". The42.ie. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.