The Underdogs and The Greatest Underdog of All

There is a symmetry this week with the return of The Underdogs to our screens and the retirement of the biggest and best Underdog of them all. The one and only Kieran Donaghy of Kerry.

Had the programme not returned to our screens, Star’s presence on it and success as its most high profile graduate would perhaps have been a footnote in his retirement story, but the return of the iconic show with the iconic jersey has sparked the curiosity of many GAA viewers too young to remember it the first time around.

Aside from Donaghy a number of other notable GAA figures have featured on the show. Looking back now the Underdogs was an unusual addition to our screens at the time, a reality TV light shone on the GAA we know so well.

There was a certain innocence about them playing the Dubs and then Kerry with both county teams fielding a reasonable number of established stars in games which took place in mid December. Among the players talking part were Stephen Cluxton, Paddy Christie, Ciaran Whelan, Colm Cooper, and Tom O’Sullivan.

So where are some of those Underdogs now?

Kieran Donaghy

Retired this week as a great of the modern game, growing up Donaghy was more renowned as a basketball player with Tralee Tigers. ‘Star’ of course burst onto the county scene with Kerry in 2006 after appearing on the show in ’04. Since then he has been one of their most influential and successful players.

Stephen Poacher

The respected Down man who has caught the eye with coaching the Carlow senior football team alongside Turlough O’Brien in 2017 and 2018 and with his forthright views made post match.  In the inaugural Underdogs game Down man Poacher scored a point and helped create the team’s goal in their one point loss to Dublin.

Pearse O’Neill

Featuring after the series as a midfielder for Cork, Pearse O’Neill won an All Ireland medal and in the series was one half of a forceful midfield duo with Kieran Donaghy. They gave the Kingdom their fill of it as the Underdogs won the game and played for distinction with the Rebels.

Stephen Wallace

Stephen Wallace hailed from the Kerry club Ardfert who won All Ireland junior and intermediate championships in the mid 2000s. This year he was manager of the Offaly senior football team before being relieved of his position by the Faithful County Board in disputed circumstances. He scored 2-2 in the Underdogs match against Kerry which the combined team won by a goal.

Donal McAnallen

Since featuring in the Underdogs, Donal has had a distinguished career as a GAA historian and writer cataloguing the history of higher education competitions and Ulster GAA. He recently penned an affectionate and warmly received tribute book to his late brother Cormac, detailing their rise through the ranks with Eglish GAC.

Eoin Bradley

Part of the Fermanagh management set up this season, Bradley was part of the Tyrone All Ireland in 2005. Since the Underdogs he has featured for Killyclogher and Tyrone.

John McElholm

Involved in the Donegal coaching set up in a strength and conditioning coaching capacity, John has had success with St Mary’s Magherafelt as MacRory Cup winning manager and was part of the management set up in Killyclogher that won the championship in 2017.

Others included Tipperary footballer Hugh Coghlan and Dublin hurler Niall Corcoran.

This year a fresh team of iconic footballers will step up from the playing  field to the sideline. Former Galway Captain Ray Silke, former Cork Ladies Footballer Valerie Mulcahy and previous footballer of the year and Kerry legend Paul Galvin.

This management team of footballing legends, have to put a panel of footballers together that have the potential to take on an intercounty team within a few months.  The only rule is they must never have played gaelic football at a senior intercounty championship level.

O’Neills are proud suppliers of the Underdogs GAA jersey and exclusive TG4 Underdogs training gear.