The Tricolour: Gaelic football’s new hat-trick

The GAA's Ferguson Files, a new statistics database, will provide an opportunity to record and celebrate feats that might otherwise slip quietly under the radar

HAT-TRICK HEROES: Monaghan's David Garland was the first player to score Gaelic football's new hat-trick while Kerry's David Clifford has scored twice more than another footballer. Pics: Sportsfile

David Garland was the first to do it. It was January 2025 and the early stages of the new Gaelic football rules rollout. The Monaghan forward did what had never been done before: his scoring sequence lifted a green, white and orange flag.

Garland scored 1-4 against Cavan in that Division 2 league clash. It included the complete set from play - a goal, a point and a two-pointer.

The introduction of the two-pointer to Gaelic football has taken time to win the public over. This is understandable. Its tactical implications are only just beginning to reveal themselves. In the survey included in the Football Review Committee’s final report, the arc and new scoring system ranked fourth most popular of the seven core enhancements. The solo and go was number one, followed by 3 up/4 back and limits on passing to the goalkeeper. Kickouts, 1v1 throw-in and the advanced mark came behind.

There have been some notable examples of hat-tricks in recent weeks. Mayo prospect Kobe McDonald landed one on his debut against Monaghan. Clare forward Mark McInerney recently scored a hat-trick from play to go with two two-pointers, kicked off both left and right, against Limerick. This emerging statistic is one of the many things that will be tracked in the GAA’s new database.

The Ferguson Files, named in honour of Pádraig Ferguson of Sligo who spent 40 years amassing GAA match statistics dating back to 1887, is a project nearing completion. It will prove to be a welcome addition for GAA fans who have long yearned for a results and statistics archive.

Thanks to their meticulous work, we can delve into the growing lore of the hat-tricks so far. First things first, what should we call it? Basketball has its triple-double. Our recent call for suggestions prompted a long-list: A podium. Cliffhangers. A Grand Slam. The full six. hAon-dó-trí. To eventually become a Hayndo. A Garland. The Trinity.

Our personal favourite comes from former Sligo footballer Neil Ewing, who suggested we honour the three colours fluttering beside the posts: a tricolour.

The inability to celebrate appearance or scoring records has long been one of the GAA’s quiet frustrations. In recent years, the tightening race between Patrick Horgan and TJ Reid to become leading scorer in the history of the hurling championship was at risk of being under-recognised. Only the remarkable labour of amateur statisticians like Carlow’s Leo McGough or Ferguson kept a running tally.

It was again an issue when Limerick’s James Naughton scored 4-12 in Division 4 victory over Waterford last year. Verifying where Naughton’s tally stands in the history of the sport proved a challenge. Frankie Donnelly’s 4-11 for Tyrone against Fermanagh in a Dr Lagan Cup match in 1957 was believed to be the highest total in an inter-county match. In championship, Cillian O’Connor hit 4-9 against Tipperary in the 2020 All-Ireland semi-final. A wider comparison was near impossible.

Until now. The Ferguson Files will change that landscape. It is because of them we are able to tell you that the first tricolour in championship history was scored by Meath’s Ruairí Kinsella. He scored 1-5 against Carlow in the Leinster preliminary round meeting. On the same day, Galway’s Matthew Tierney scored 2-4 against New York.

This is where an asterisk might apply: his two-pointer in Gaelic Park was a free.

When it comes to teams, Donegal, Derry and Mayo have never conceded a tricolour. Cavan and Sligo have never scored one. The thrilling draw in Tralee between Galway and Kerry saw both teams register one.

Counties already make a considerable effort to celebrate players for their milestone feats. Last month, Cavan honoured Dara McVeety after he played his 100th competitive game for the county. His family were invited to Kingspan Breffni Park for the Meath game and he was presented with a framed jersey to mark the occasion.

The Ferguson Files will provide an opportunity to record and celebrate feats that might otherwise slip quietly into the ether. Or it could simply serve as a reminder of the generational talent we are currently privileged to watch in the game.

During the course of delving into the data, we saw that one star had scored a stunning eight hat-tricks, twice more than any other player. Five of them were from play.

His name is David Clifford.