Antoin McFadden

Antoin McFadden (born c. 1989/1990) is an Irish Gaelic football coach and player who has played for St Michael's and the Donegal county team. Pronounced AN-tawn, his forename is derived from the name of Roman great antiquity origin.^[2]

Antoin McFadden

Personal information
Irish name	Antoin Mac Pháidín
Sport	Gaelic football
Occupation	Strength and Rehabilitation Coach[1]
Club(s)
Years	Club
?–	St Michael's
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
2011?–201?	Donegal
Inter-county titles
All-Irelands	1

Playing career

McFadden made substitute appearances in the semi-final and final of the Ulster Under-21 Football Championship in 2010.^[3][4]

He then played in the final of the 2010 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship, which Donegal (managed by Jim McGuinness) narrowly lost to Dublin (managed by Jim Gavin).^[5]

After being appointed senior manager in late-2010, McGuinness called McFadden into his squad ahead of the 2011 Dr McKenna Cup.^[6]

Himself, Eamonn Doherty, James Carroll and Declan Walsh transferred to Boston for the summer in 2011.^[7]

McFadden reached, and played in, the final of the 2011 Donegal Senior Football Championship — the first senior final in his club's history — but lost.^[8][9]

Coaching career

McFadden coached Newcastle West to the 2015 Limerick Senior Football Championship and also worked with the Limerick county team.^[10][11][12]

Antoin McFadden later moved to Melbourne. He began work as Strength and Rehabilitation Coach for the Australian Football League (AFL) on 1 May 2018.^[1]

The COVID-19 pandemic allowed McFadden to return to Ireland, and he played for his club in the 2020 Donegal Senior Football Championship after five years away (including time spent in America and Limerick).^[13][14]

McFadden had been due to join the Melbourne Demons until the pandemic forced him back.^[15] He joined the Donegal management team as strength and conditioning coach ahead of the 2021 season.^[16] Mattie Brady replaced him ahead of the 2022 season.^[17]

Personal life

McFadden attended St Eunan's College in Letterkenny.^[18] His father has been a coach at the St Michael's club.^[19]

He is the younger brother of Colm McFadden. There is a seven-year age difference.^[19] Both McFaddens were part of the Donegal team that won the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, though Antoin did not play in the final. His brother, Colm, scored Donegal's second goal in the tenth minute and contributed four more points to the winning total.^[20] Antoin McFadden also has another brother, fifteen years his senior.^[19]

Honours

Donegal

• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 2012
• All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship runner-up: 2010^[5]
• Ulster Senior Football Championship: 2012
• Ulster Under-21 Football Championship: 2010^[4]

St Michael's

• Donegal Senior Football Championship runner-up: 2011

References

1. "First day in the new job as Strength and Rehabilitation Coach for the @AFL". 1 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
2. "Antoin". Retrieved 1 May 2018.
3. McNulty, Chris (7 April 2020). "The diary, the dream and Donegal's first steps to 'the other place'". Retrieved 7 April 2020.
4. "Ulster U21FC: Murphy leads Donegal to title". Hogan Stand. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010. In the next attack, substitute Anton[sic] McFadden's attempted ball inside bounced over Smith's crossbar to confirm that this was to be Donegal's night.
5. O'Toole, Fintan (6 April 2013). "Remember the last time that Jim Gavin managed against Jim McGuinness?: The opposing managers in tomorrow's Division 1 league tie in Ballybofey have come face to face before". The42.ie. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
6. "Cassidy and Hegarty in McGuinness' Donegal panel". BBC Sport. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
7. McNulty, Chris (13 September 2013). "SFC: Doherty keeps 'Eamon' high for St Eunan's". Donegal News. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
8. "Murphy is the star as Glenswilly triumph". The Irish Times. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
9. "Murphy magic proves key as Glenswilly secure first Donegal crown". Irish Independent. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
10. "McFadden appointed to Donegal backroom team". Hogan Stand. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
11. "Creeslough man's championship starts this weekend". 28 May 2016.
12. "Stephen Kelly says Antoin McFadden influence the turning point for Newcastle West". 17 October 2015.
13. Ferry, Ryan (30 July 2020). "Big match at the Bridge". Donegal News. p. 60. There are injury concerns over Daniel McLaughlin and Martin McElhinney, but they have been boosted by the return of Antoin McFadden, Stephen Doak, and Ciaran Kelly, who were all based a way from home before the lockdown.
14. Craig, Frank (13 August 2020). "Michael's gunning for third win on the bounce". Donegal News. p. 59. [Antoin] McFadden is back in his home club jersey following a five-year hiatus that took him to places like America, Australia, and even Limerick.
15. "McFadden addition". Donegal News. 7 January 2021. p. 56. The St Michael's club man… was about to start a new role with the Melbourne Demons just last year. However, the Covid-19 pandemic meant those plans were shelved.
16. "Bonner makes additions to Donegal backroom team". Donegal News. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
17. Craig, Frank (23 December 2021). "MacNiallais blow for Donegal". Donegal News. p. 64. Ex county star Paddy Campbell has joined the coaching set-up alongside Bonner and Stephen Rochford while Tyrone native Mattie Brady, who is from Dungannnon, is the county's new full-time strength and conditioning coach. Dr Ciarán Kearney — who has worked very closely with Paddy Tally in the past — has also come on board. Dr Kearney's chief role, according to one player that[sic] previously worked under him, is one of 'building a culture around a team'.
18. "Twitter feed". St Eunan's College. EunansFootball Best of luck 2our past pupils who r in Donegal panel v Cork in All Ire Semi-Final on Sun @neilgerardgalla @murphm95 @AntoinMcFadden @Tommyk_91 @BrickMolloy @123kav @kevin_raff @gmacfadden14 @mdboyler24 +Mr McFadden #TheCollege
19. Scott, Ronan (19 March 2020). "Donegal legend [Colm] McFadden recalls impact made by Jim McGuinness". Gaelic Life. Retrieved 19 March 2020. Also published as "Colm Rain or Shine" in the Donegal News of the same date, 19 March 2020: pp 50–53. "Colm has one brother who was eight years older, and another who is seven years younger, so there wasn't the sibling rivalry that other families might have had".
20. "Donegal beat Mayo to end wait for Sam". RTÉ Sport. 23 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2012.