Michael Duignan
Encyclopedia
Michael Duignan is a retired Irish
hurling
manager
and former dual player
. He played hurling and Gaelic football
with his local club St. Rynagh's
and with the Offaly
senior inter-county teams from the 1980s until the early 2000s. Duignan served as manager of the Meath
senior hurling team from 2001 until 2003. He has since become a Gaelic games
pundit for RTÉ
.
with the famous St. Rynagh's
club in Banagher. He enjoyed some success at underage levels before winning a senior county title in 1987. Three more county titles followed in 1990, 1992 and 1993, with Duignan converting this last county win into a Leinster
club title. Shortly after his retirement from inter-county hurling in 2001 Duignan, who at that stage was living in Naas
, County Kildare
, transferred to the Raheen club in Kildare. In 2004 he moved clubs again, this time to Durrow wher ehe expected to end his career, however, in 2006 Duignan returned to his native club of St. Rynagh's.
minor hurling team in the mid-1980s. He won Leinster
and All-Ireland
honours at minor level in 1986, the year that he also made his senior inter-county debut. In 1988, 1989 and 1990 Duignan won his first three Leinster
titles, however, Offaly were defeated on each occasion in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final. The most embarrassing of these defeats wa sin 1989 when an unfancied Antrim
team got the better of Offaly. There was some consolation in 1991 when Duignan helped Offaly to win its very first, and since then its only, National Hurling League
title.
Three years later in 1994 Duignan won a fourth provincial title. He didn’t play in the All-Ireland final which Offaly won following a great game against Limerick
, however, he did win an All-Ireland medal as a substitute. Offaly were back in 1995 winning another Leinster title, however, in the All-Ireland final victory went to Clare
. It was the county’s first All-Ireland win since 1914. Three years later in 1998 Duignan claimed his first All-Ireland
title following a win over the Leinster champions Kilkenny
. He finished off the year by winning his first All-Star
award. In 2000 the old foes of Offaly and Kilkenny met again in both the Leinster and All-Ireland finals, however, this time Kilkenny emerged victorious in one of the most one-sided All-Ireland finals in decades.
In 2001 Duignan decided to retire from inter-county hurling.
of the Meath
senior hurling team in 2001, shortly after his retirement from playing. During his tenure in charge Meath managed a dramatic Leinster championship
victory over Laois
in Páirc Tailteann
. The team also put up a creditable performance against Offaly and hopes were high that they would make further progress. Duignan, however, and the Meath County Board had major public clashes towards the end of his term in charge, after the board fixed senior club football championship games just 24 hours before Meath hurlers were due to play Antrim in a crucial National Hurling League
match. As a result of this key players were expected to play for their clubs a day prior to the Antrim game.
Duignan is also a regular contributor to Radio Telefís Éireann's Gaelic Games
programme The Sunday Game
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
and former dual player
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...
. He played hurling and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with his local club St. Rynagh's
St. Rynagh's GAA
St. Rynagh's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club that encompasses the towns of Cloghan and Banagher in County Offaly, in Ireland. Formed in 1961, the club gained almost immediate success - winning the senior championship in 1965. St. Rynagh's went on to appear in three All-Ireland club finals...
and with the Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
senior inter-county teams from the 1980s until the early 2000s. Duignan served as manager of the Meath
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
senior hurling team from 2001 until 2003. He has since become a Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
pundit for RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
.
Club
Duignan played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with the famous St. Rynagh's
St. Rynagh's GAA
St. Rynagh's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club that encompasses the towns of Cloghan and Banagher in County Offaly, in Ireland. Formed in 1961, the club gained almost immediate success - winning the senior championship in 1965. St. Rynagh's went on to appear in three All-Ireland club finals...
club in Banagher. He enjoyed some success at underage levels before winning a senior county title in 1987. Three more county titles followed in 1990, 1992 and 1993, with Duignan converting this last county win into a Leinster
Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between the winners of the senior club hurling championships of the counties in Leinster. The current holders of the Leinster title are Ballyhale Shamrocks from Kilkenny. The first Leinster senior club hurling...
club title. Shortly after his retirement from inter-county hurling in 2001 Duignan, who at that stage was living in Naas
Naas
Naas is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. With a population of just over twenty thousand, it is also the largest town in the county. Naas is a major commuter suburb, with many people residing there and working in Dublin...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, transferred to the Raheen club in Kildare. In 2004 he moved clubs again, this time to Durrow wher ehe expected to end his career, however, in 2006 Duignan returned to his native club of St. Rynagh's.
Inter-county
Duignan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the OffalyOffaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
minor hurling team in the mid-1980s. He won Leinster
Leinster Minor Hurling Championship
The ESB Leinster Minor Hurling Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council...
and All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
honours at minor level in 1986, the year that he also made his senior inter-county debut. In 1988, 1989 and 1990 Duignan won his first three Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
titles, however, Offaly were defeated on each occasion in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final. The most embarrassing of these defeats wa sin 1989 when an unfancied 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...
team got the better of Offaly. There was some consolation in 1991 when Duignan helped Offaly to win its very first, and since then its only, National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
title.
Three years later in 1994 Duignan won a fourth provincial title. He didn’t play in the All-Ireland final which Offaly won following a great game against Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
, however, he did win an All-Ireland medal as a substitute. Offaly were back in 1995 winning another Leinster title, however, in the All-Ireland final victory went to Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
. It was the county’s first All-Ireland win since 1914. Three years later in 1998 Duignan claimed his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
title following a win over the Leinster champions Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. He finished off the year by winning his first 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. In 2000 the old foes of Offaly and Kilkenny met again in both the Leinster and All-Ireland finals, however, this time Kilkenny emerged victorious in one of the most one-sided All-Ireland finals in decades.
In 2001 Duignan decided to retire from inter-county hurling.
Post-playing career
In retirement from playing Duignan maintained a keen interest in the game. He was appointed managerManager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
of the Meath
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
senior hurling team in 2001, shortly after his retirement from playing. During his tenure in charge Meath managed a dramatic Leinster championship
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Leinster in Ireland....
victory over Laois
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
in Páirc Tailteann
Páirc Tailteann
Páirc Tailteann is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Navan, County Meath, Ireland. It is the home of the Meath Gaelic football and Hurling teams. The ground has a capacity of between 30,000 and 33,000. It is the venue of the annual Meath GAA club championship finals of which the winners...
. The team also put up a creditable performance against Offaly and hopes were high that they would make further progress. Duignan, however, and the Meath County Board had major public clashes towards the end of his term in charge, after the board fixed senior club football championship games just 24 hours before Meath hurlers were due to play Antrim in a crucial National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
match. As a result of this key players were expected to play for their clubs a day prior to the Antrim game.
Duignan is also a regular contributor to Radio Telefís Éireann's Gaelic Games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
programme The Sunday Game
The Sunday Game
The Sunday Game is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's main Gaelic games television programme. It is shown on RTÉ Two every Sunday during the Football Championship and Hurling Championship seasons. It is one of RTÉ Two’s longest-running shows, having been on air since 1979, one year after the channel first...
.