Rory's GAA connection
June 20, 2011
US Open Champion Rory McIlroy
His uncle Mickey McDonald was a star attacker for Armagh from 1982 to 1987.
From the St. Pauls club in Lurgan, Mickey usually lined out at left half and left full forward.
During this period, Armagh were rated amongst the top teams in the country and were warm favourites for the NFL title in 1983.
The Orchard County had edged out Meath on a 2-8 to 1-7 scoreline in the semi-finals, the opportunist McDonald finishing with a tally of 1-2.
Unfortunately for the men in Saffron, old rivals Down surprised everybody by virtue of a 1-8 to 0-8 final victory, with Mickey McDonald notching one of the Armagh points.
During that League run McDonald struck 1-1 in a famous victory over Kerry in his native Lurgan, while his brace of goals edged Armagh to a 3-4 to 0-9 victory over Mayo.
The St. Pauls club was formed in 1971 to cater for a growing GAA population in Lurgan, also the home of famed Clan na Gael, the first Armagh team to win Ulster Club honours.
Mickey McDonald emerged as a star attacker amongst a host of successful St. Pauls' underage teams and first came to national prominence as a key member of a very talented Armagh minor team, who eventually went under to future All-Ireland champions Down following a replay in 1977.
So, as they say in that part of Armagh, 'Rory just didn't pick it up off the bushes'! That sporting ability and accuracy was always in his genes.
Congratulations Rory. Tweet
