Johnny McGurk
Encyclopedia
John McGurk is an Irish former dual GAA player
, who is most notable for being a Gaelic football
er for the Derry senior football team
in the 1980s and 1990s. He was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
winning side and also won two Ulster Championships
with the side. For his performances in the 1993 Championship he won an All Star
award.
McGurk also won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
in 1991 with his club Lavey
, where he was captain
. He was one of very few players in Ireland to complete this unique double and almost did the extreme rarity of winning both competitions in the same year in 1993, but Lavey were defeated in the All-Ireland club after winning their second Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
.
McGurk played most of football career in defence, but did played in attack for Lavey sometimes.
and attended school at St Patricks College in Maghera. All seven of his brothers were keen sportsmen. Anthony
and won All Star awards in 1973 and 1975, Collie was also in the 1993 panel and Hugh Martin captained Derry in the 1980s. Johnny McGurk works as an accountant
. He has three children. James (9), Patrick (7) and Marc (4).
and All-Ireland Minor Championship
with Derry in 1983.
He made his Derry senior debut in 1988 as a 19 year old against Antrim
in the National Football League
. He was part of Derry's 1993 Ulster Championship
and All-Ireland winning team, which beat Cork in the final. McGurk added a second Ulster Championship medal in 1998.
He won National Football League
medals with Derry in 1992, 1995 and 1996.
. The highlight of his club career was captaining Lavey to victory in the 1991 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
. He said "My greatest memory is of lifting the Cup and seeing the whole parish of Lavey down below me in Croke Park". He also won the Derry Senior Hurling Championship on a number of occasions.
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
, who is most notable for being a Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er for the Derry senior football team
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
in the 1980s and 1990s. He was part of Derry's 1993 All-Ireland Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1993
-All-Ireland Football Final:-Top championship scorer:...
winning side and also won two Ulster Championships
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
with the side. For his performances in the 1993 Championship he won an All Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award.
McGurk also won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
in 1991 with his club Lavey
Lavey GAC
Erins Own GAC Lavey is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the parish of Lavey, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The club is a member of the Derry GAA and currently cater for Gaelic football, Hurling, Camogie and Ladies' Gaelic football....
, where he was captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
. He was one of very few players in Ireland to complete this unique double and almost did the extreme rarity of winning both competitions in the same year in 1993, but Lavey were defeated in the All-Ireland club after winning their second Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
The Ulster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition played between the top clubs in Ulster. The trophy awarded to the winners is the Seamus McFerran Cup...
.
McGurk played most of football career in defence, but did played in attack for Lavey sometimes.
Personal life
McGurk was born in LaveyLavey
Lavey is a Roman Catholic parish in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Lavey is bordered by the parishes of Castledawson, Maghera, Bellaghy, Greenlough and Kilrea. The parish contains no particularly large settlements, although it accommodates a number of small villages and hamlets, in order of...
and attended school at St Patricks College in Maghera. All seven of his brothers were keen sportsmen. Anthony
Anthony McGurk
Anthony 'Tony' McGurk is a two-time All Star winning former Irish Gaelic footballer who played for Derry in the 1970s and 1980s. He won three Ulster Championships with the side...
and won All Star awards in 1973 and 1975, Collie was also in the 1993 panel and Hugh Martin captained Derry in the 1980s. Johnny McGurk works as an accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
. He has three children. James (9), Patrick (7) and Marc (4).
Inter-county career
McGurk won an Ulster Minor ChampionshipUlster Minor Football Championship
The Ulster Minor Football Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The trophy for the winning side is The Liam Murray Cup. The competition began in 1930, with...
and All-Ireland Minor Championship
All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
with Derry in 1983.
He made his Derry senior debut in 1988 as a 19 year old against Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
in the National Football League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
. He was part of Derry's 1993 Ulster Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship
For information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
and All-Ireland winning team, which beat Cork in the final. McGurk added a second Ulster Championship medal in 1998.
He won National Football League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
medals with Derry in 1992, 1995 and 1996.
Hurling
Among McGurk's hurling honours was winning the Ulster Under 21 Hurling Championship with Derry in 1986, defeating Antrim and Down along the way. He scored 1-01 against Antrim in the semi-final at Loughguile in a 2-20 to 1-06 victory. They beat Down in the final after a reply; 3-09 to 1-02. McGurk's brother Collie was also part of the panel.Club career
He made his club debut when 15 years old and won a large array of medals with Lavey. He won four Derry Senior Football Championships and two Ulster Senior Club Football ChampionshipUlster Senior Club Football Championship
The Ulster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition played between the top clubs in Ulster. The trophy awarded to the winners is the Seamus McFerran Cup...
. The highlight of his club career was captaining Lavey to victory in the 1991 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
. He said "My greatest memory is of lifting the Cup and seeing the whole parish of Lavey down below me in Croke Park". He also won the Derry Senior Hurling Championship on a number of occasions.