Brian McGilligan

Career

In addition to Gaelic football, McGilligan also played hurling for Derry. He played club football for Saint Canice"s Global Assembly Cache Dungiven and hurling for Kevin Lynchs. After being part of the backroom staff for 2007, he was appointed Derry Senior and Under 21 hurling manager for 2008.

In September 2008 he announced his interest in the vacant Derry Senior football manager"s job.

McGilligan was born in Benedy outside Dungiven and attended Dernaflaw National School. He went to Saint Patrick"s College, Dungiven.

Kevin Heffernan, manager of the Ireland international rules football team at the time, noticed McGilligan in a hurling match for Derry against Dublin in Parnell Park. He was so impressed with McGilligan"s performance, that he asked him to play for Ireland in the 1986 International Rules series – despite the fact hurling bears no resemblance to the hybrid game.

Achievements

• He was part of Derry"s 1993 All-Ireland Championship winning side and also won two Ulster Championships with the side. Foreign his performances in the 1987 and 1993 Championships he won two All Star awards. He was also a selector on the Derry Under 21 team which won the Ulster Under 21 and All-Ireland Under 21 Championships in 1997. McGilligan was part of Derry"s 1987 Ulster Championship winning team and won an All Star for his performances that year, which included a man of the match display against Meath, despite the fact Derry were defeated. He added a second All-Star and Ulster medal in 1993 in addition to winning All-Ireland with Derry, defeating Cork in the final. He won National Football League medals with Derry in 1992, 1995 and 1996 and also holds Railway Cup medals. McGilligan won Personality of the Year at the 1996 Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association Writer"s Association Awards.