- Niall McGinn
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Niall McGinn 
Personal information Full name Niall McGinn Date of birth 20 July 1987 Place of birth Donaghmore, Northern Ireland Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Playing position Winger Club information Current club Brentford (on loan from Celtic) Number 18 Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2005–2008 Dungannon Swifts 42 (4) 2008–2009 Derry City 31 (6) 2009– Celtic 28 (4) 2011– → Brentford (loan) 16 (2) National team‡ 2007–2008 Northern Ireland U23 2 (0) 2009 Northern Ireland B 1 (0) 2008– Northern Ireland 17 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 November 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 October 2011Niall McGinn (born 20 July 1987 in Donaghmore) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Brentford as a winger on loan from Celtic.
Contents
Club career
Derry City
McGinn was signed by Derry City manager Stephen Kenny in January 2008 for an undisclosed fee from Dungannon Swifts in the Carnegie Premier League, who in turn signed him from Donaghmore Celtic, who moulded this young man into the player he is today, although no recognition was ever given.[1] His decision to sign a professional football contract meant that McGinn retired from playing Gaelic football for Donaghmore and Tyrone U-21s.[1] A very promising young talent, McGinn mainly plays on the left or right side of midfield but he can also be employed as a secondary striker.
During 2008, he attracted interest from such clubs as Celtic and Championship sides Ipswich Town and Swansea City.[2]
Celtic
McGinn signed for Celtic on 1 January 2009.[3] On 12 September 2009, McGinn made his first team debut for Celtic against Dundee United. Although the game ended in a 1–1 draw, McGinn was awarded the official Man of the Match award.
On 31 October 2009 McGinn scored his first goal for Celtic coming on as a 66th minute substitute in a 3–0 win over Kilmarnock at Celtic Park. Niall scored his second goal for Celtic against Hamilton Academical on 26 December 2009 by driving a right footed shot into the top corner. He scored his first goal in the Scottish Cup and his third of the 2009–10 season to put Celtic 1–0 ahead against Greenock Morton on 19 January 2010.
McGinn played and scored his in his first game of the 2010–11 season with a goal in a 3–2 win against St Johnstone in the Scottish League Cup on 30 October 2010.[4]
Brentford
On 7 July 2011, Niall signed for Brentford on a season long loan deal.
International career
McGinn's performances for Derry City lead to him featuring in the Northern Ireland under-23 team.
In November 2008, McGinn received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland senior squad by manager Nigel Worthington for the series of international friendlies[5] and he gained his first cap coming on as a substitute against Hungary on 19 November.[6] He was the first Derry City player to play for the senior Northern Ireland team in 19 years.[7] Although disappointed in the result, Nigel Worthington is quoted as saying of McGinn:
“ He was the one bright spark in our side. He did what he is good at – he kept it simple. He ran at players when he had the opportunity and was not afraid.[8] ” McGinn again impressed when called up to the senior squad for the friendly against Israel at Windsor Park on 12 August 2009. The match ended 1–1, and McGinn came on as a second half substitute. Again, his individual perfmormance was praised by manager Nigel Worthington:
“ Niall McGinn did terrifically well – he got us up the pitch and used his pace and ability.[9] ” International appearances and goals # Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Goals 1 19 November 2008 Windsor Park, Belfast 
Hungary0–2 Friendly 2 6 June 2009 Arena Garibaldi, Pisa 
Italy0–3 Friendly 3 12 August 2009 Windsor Park, Belfast 
Israel1–1 Friendly 4 9 September 2009 Windsor Park, Belfast 
Slovakia0–2 FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying 5 14 September 2009 Synot Tip Arena, Prague 
Czech Republic0–0 FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying 6 14 November 2009 Windsor Park, Belfast 
Serbia0–1 Friendly 7 3 March 2010 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana 
Albania0–1 Friendly 8 8 October 2010 Windsor Park, Belfast Italy0–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying 9 12 October 2010 Svangaskarð, Toftir 
Faroe Islands1–1 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying 10 17 November 2010 Windsor Park, Belfast 
Morocco1–1 Friendly 11 9 February 2011 Aviva Stadium, Dublin 
Scotland0–3 2011 Nations Cup 12 24 May 2011 Aviva Stadium, Dublin 
Republic of Ireland0–5 2011 Nations Cup 13 27 May 2011 Aviva Stadium, Dublin 
Wales0–2 2011 Nations Cup 14 10 August 2011 Windsor Park, Belfast Faroe Islands4–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Awards
McGinn's fine season with Derry City in 2008 was publicly recognised when he won the 2008 PFAI Young Player of the Year award.[10]
In January 2010 McGinn was awarded the George Best Breakthrough Award for 2009 in recognition of his impressive performances for club and country.[11]
Personal life
In January 2011, it was reported that Royal Mail had intercepted packages containing bullets addressed to both McGinn and Celtic manager Neil Lennon.[12]
Career statistics
- As of 19 November 2011
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Dungannon Swifts 2005–06 1 0 - - - - - - 1 0 2006–07 23 0 - - - - - - 23 0 2007–08 18 4 - - - - - - 18 4 Total 42 4 - - - - - - 42 4 Derry City 2008 31 6 13 4 - - - - 44 10 Total 31 6 13 4 - - - - 44 10 Celtic 2009–10 14 2 1 1 0 0 5 0 20 3 2010–11 14 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 15 3 Total 28 4 1 1 1 1 5 0 35 6 Brentford 2011–12 16 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 18 2 Total 16 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 18 2 Career Total 117 16 15 5 2 1 5 0 139 22 Honours
Celtic
- Winner: 2010–11
References
- ^ a b PLAYER PROFILES – Niall McGinn Derry City FC, Retrieved 16 November 2008
- ^ Chelsea scouting City's McGinn Derry Journal Online, 14 October 2008, Retrieved 23 November 2008
- ^ "McGinn seals transfer to Celtic". BBC Sport. 16 December 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/7786475.stm. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
- ^ "St Johnstone 2–3 Celtic". BBC Sport. 27 October 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9122491.stm.
- ^ McGinn gains first senior call-up RTÉ Sport, 7 November 2008; Retrieved 16 November 2008
- ^ NORTHERN IRELAND 0–2 HUNGARY Irish FA, 19 November 2008, Retrieved 23 November 2008
- ^ Aidan Fitzmaurice McGinn aims to end 19 years of Derry exclusion Herald.ie, 12 November 2008; Retrieved 23 November 2008
- ^ Worthington fumes after defeat[dead link] TeamTalk, Retrieved 23 November 2008
- ^ NI winger impresses Worthington BBC Sport, 12 August 2009; Retrieved 14 August 2009
- ^ Fahey named PFAI Player of the Year RTÉ Sport, 17 November 2008, Retrieved 23 November 2008
- ^ McGinn nets top football award Celtic FC, 29 January 2010
- ^ Murray, Ewan (10 January 2010). "Neil Lennon brushes aside bullets threat as Celtic ease past Berwick". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/09/berwick-rangers-celtic-scottish-cup.
External links
- Niall McGinn profile Celtic FC
- Niall McGinn career stats at Soccerbase
Brentford F.C. – current squad 1 Lee · 2 O'Connor (c) · 3 Woodman · 4 Bean · 5 Eger · 7 Saunders · 8 Douglas · 9 Donaldson · 10 Grella · 11 Weston · 12 Spillane · 14 Logan · 16 Wood · 17 Hudson · 18 McGinn · 19 Forrester · 20 Diagouraga · 21 Devlin · 22 Osborne · 23 Thompson · 24 Adams · 25 Llera · 29 Alexander · 31 Moore · 32 Legge · 40 Reeves · Manager: Rösler
Categories:- 1987 births
- Living people
- People from Dungannon
- Association footballers from Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland B international footballers
- Northern Ireland international footballers
- Roman Catholics from Northern Ireland
- Association football midfielders
- Dungannon Swifts F.C. players
- Derry City F.C. players
- Celtic F.C. players
- Brentford F.C. players
- League of Ireland players
- Irish Football League players
- Scottish Premier League players
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