Frank McGlynn


Frank McGlynn is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Glenfin and also, formerly, for the Donegal county team.
In 2015, Pat Spillane included McGlynn in his top 40 footballers in the game today. Yet, his humility has also been noted.
He won one All Star, one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and five Ulster Senior Football Championships with his county. He was shortlisted for All Stars Footballer of the Year in 2012, but the award went to teammate Karl Lacey.

Playing career

Youth

McGlynn played association football for Drumkeen United as a youngster. He has also played soccer for Finn Harps at underage level. His talent earned him trials with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Preston North End in soccer's English Football League. He played and scored for Everton in the Milk Cup – in a team which also featured Wayne Rooney, who went on to become one of the most-capped players and highest goalscorers in England team history.
McGlynn's childhood hero was Martin Gavigan.

Club

McGlynn won the Donegal Intermediate Football Championship with Glenfin in 2018.

Inter-county

McGlynn made his senior inter-county debut in 2006.
A prominent part of the inter-county teams of the Jim McGuinness era, McGlynn won his first Ulster Senior Football Championship winners' medal with Donegal on 17 July 2011, becoming the first man from the Glenfin club to achieve this. He had a terrific game on 22 July 2012 as Donegal retained the Ulster title for the first time in their history with a 2–18 to 0–13 victory over Down. His goal that day sealed the win and remains the only goal he has scored for his county as of .
Indeed, McGlynn's first Championship point only came in the 2012 Ulster Senior Football Championship. This was against Cavan; he followed this with a point against Derry, that goal against Down in the provincial final and yet another point in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final victory against Cork. He added another point against Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, bringing his 2012 championship season total to 1–4. For a player in the left-full-back position this is considered a remarkable achievement at senior level. He won an All Star but was unable to attend the Football Tour of New York.
His next Championship match against Down was memorable for different reasons. Coming in the 2013 Ulster Senior Football Championship, McGlynn was concussed, as was teammate Ryan Bradley, causing manager McGuinness to voice fears that one of his players would receive a spinal injury or a neck injury if the behaviour of their opponents continued in this way.
McGlynn made his 100th inter-county appearance against Armagh in the 2014 Dr McKenna Cup. He added a third Ulster SFC title later that year.
His fourth Ulster SFC title came in 2018. McGrath scored a point in the final against Fermanagh.
Not featuring until the final round of the 2019 National Football League, he came on as a second half substitute in the victory over Kildare. He collected his fifth and final Ulster SFC later that year, appearing as a second half substitute for Neil McGee in the final against Cavan.
McGlynn announced his retirement form inter-county football on 5 November 2019.

Personal life

McGlynn is married to Diane, who also plays for their club Glenfin. They have three children: Harry, Gracie and Lucas. A teacher by profession, he has taught at Stramore National School, Glendowan, Churchill, Glenswilly. He enjoys darts and cards.

Honours

;Donegal
;Glenfin
;Individual