Columba McDyer
Columba McDyer (13 January 1921 - 18 September 2001)[1] was a former Gaelic football player for Cavan and Donegal.
Playing career
McDyer, a Glenties man, played as a centre half-forward, bringing an element of tactics to the forward line. He played with the great Cavan team that won the legendary 1947 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final at the Polo Grounds in New York City. This resulted in him becoming the first Donegal man to win an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal.
Following his success with Cavan, McDyer returned to Donegal and his native Glenties where he coached the Donegal senior team for a number of years. He also collected a Railway Cup medal with Ulster in 1942 and he also played in the same competition with Connacht.[2][3]
Managerial career
McDyer managed Donegal. He was also an early influence on Jim McGuinness, Donegal's future All-Ireland winning manager. McGuinness described him as "an absolute gentleman to the fingertips, very well-educated [...] a very gentle, bubbly person".[4]
References