Tragic Maguire inspires McGrath

Wrapped in a Brazilian flag sporting the name of his late friend Tomás Maguire at Donegal’s Ulster final homecoming in July, Paddy McGrath admits he was emotional.

Who wouldn’t be? Maguire had only died in a road accident in Western Australia the month previous. The 24-year-old had been a footballer of some quality and had even been called up by Jim McGuinness to the extended training panel earlier this year but opted to head Down Under.

However, to McGrath most of all he was a friend and an Ardara club mate who he modelled himself on.