Donal Reid

Donal Reid (/ˈdoʊnəl ˈriːd/ DOH-nəl reed; born 1961 or 1962) is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played for Bundoran, Red Hughs and the Donegal county team. He played more than 100 times competitively for Donegal, appearing at all age levels and positions from midfield to forward to defence.

Reid won two All-Ireland titles with his county, and was part of Jim McGuinness's backroom team when they won another in 2012. He also played hurling with the Setanta club.

Reid played first with Bundoran and later with the Red Hughs club. He played alongside future Donegal manager Brian McEniff in the team's defence.

Reid first played for his county at the age of 17. He was a replacement All Star in 1980. His brother Bosco graduated to the senior ranks of county football in 1985–6, while another brother, Oliver, played at under-21 level for his county in 1992.

Reid started the 1982 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship final, the nineteenth edition of this competition and the first one that Donegal won. 1982 was also his first year as a senior player. With Donegal having an abundant supply of players in defence, Reid played at half forward in the 1983 Ulster Senior Football Championship final, in which Donegal defeated Cavan. He won his second Ulster SFC in 1990. He also won Railway Cup medals in 1989 and 1990, while playing with Ulster against the other provinces.

Reid was a replacement All Star in 1990 and made the trip to both coasts of the United States. Shortly after his return, the 1990 Ulster Senior Football Championship got underway. Donegal recorded victories over Cavan and Derry in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively. Reid played at the back and scored a point in that year's Ulster final against Armagh, which Donegal won.

The pinnacle of Reid's playing career came in 1992, when Donegal won the Sam Maguire Cup. By this time he was 30 years of age and based in Letterkenny, working for Donegal Creameries. Hogan Stand regarded Reid's importance to his county team highly, writing: "Even objective observers of the game in Donegal recognised that the Shovlin, Gavigan and Reid combination probably represented the best line of defence in the country. The Dublin trio of Curran, Carr and Heery were the only other combination which vied for that tag." However, manager Brian McEniff did not select Reid to start Donegal's opening round Ulster SFC match against Cavan at Breffni Park on 24 May. Dropped for the first time in his career, the move proved contentious amongst supporters and team sponsors. An opportunity arose in the first half when Paul Carr was withdrawn. Reid entered play as a substitute and helped Donegal secure a draw. They won the replay. Donegal progressed to the Ulster SFC final, and Reid made his 24th Championship appearance, against Derry.

However, after winning the Ulster SFC (and thereby qualifying for the semi-final of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship), Reid returned to his club, Red Hughs. Shortly before the All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Mayo, he played in a Donegal County Football Championship match against Termon. An opponent punched Reid towards the end of the game. He sustained a broken jaw and nose and permanent damage to his facial structure, including the loss of many teeth. Even though he was in some discomfort, Reid approached the opposition dressing room door and asked for his assailant to explain his actions. His assailant did not appear, never offered an explanation and did not express sorrow, even in the aftermath. Reid would later regret not having sought legal action. Donegal team doctor Jim McDaid went with Reid to hospital in Letterkenny, where 18 stitches were applied to his gums. Such was the state of his face that his then young daughter cried when she saw him. Reid recovered sufficiently to start at right half back in the 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final as Donegal, in their first appearance at this stage of the competition, unexpectedly defeated the then 21-times winners Dublin.