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Fergal Doherty (born 7 October 1981) is a former Gaelic footballer who played for the Derry county team, with whom he won a National League title. He was nominated for an All Star four times but narrowly missed out on each occasion.

Doherty played his club football for Bellaghy Wolfe Tones. Doherty won the Derry Senior Football Championship twice with the club, as well as winning the 2000 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship.

For both club and county Doherty usually played in midfield. He was highly regarded for impressive high-fielding skills and work-rate, often helping in attack and also tracking back to help in defence. His ability to win breaking ball, read the game and plug gaps was impressive. Irish News journalist Paddy Heaney says of Doherty "The Bellaghy man does not seek headlines, just victories. He was at one point the Derry captain.

On 3 November 2022 Doherty appeared in court charged with manslaughter over the death of Aaron Law. Father of two Aaron Law, 34, was found lying unconscious on Main Street in the village of Portglenone in the early hours of 30 October 2022. He died later that day in Antrim Area Hospital

Playing career

Inter-county

Doherty made his Championship debut as a 19-year-old against Antrim in 2001. That year he put in some impressive performances in Derry's run to the 2001 All-Ireland semi-final, where they lost out to Galway. He was awarded the Bass Ulster Monthly Merit Award for August 2001, for his performances against Tyrone and Galway that month. He along with brother Gareth was nominated for an All Star in 2001. Doherty was again nominated for All Stars in 2004 and 2007.

He had instrumental in the 2008 National League, which Derry won, defeating Kerry in the final. He scored a vital goal in the match and was awarded man of the match. He received the Vodafone All Stars Footballer of the Month award for April 2008 for key performances against Tyrone, Donegal and Kerry en route to Derry's National League success. Doherty was Derry's lone All Star nominee in 2008, his fourth in total.

He was appointed Derry captain for the 2009 season. Doherty and Derry again reached the National League final in 2009, but were defeated by Kerry.

He left the county panel for four years, returning in 2014 then retiring from inter-county football in 2015.

Club

Among his club awards Doherty has won the Derry Championship in 1999??, 2000 and 2005. In 2000 the club also went on to win the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship. He has also won the All-Ireland Kilmacud Sevens in 2002 and the 2002 Castlewellan Sevens with the club.

Honours

Inter-county

• National Football League:
  • Winner (1): 2008
  • Runner-up: 2009
• Dr McKenna Cup:
  • Runner up: 2005, 2008, more?

Club

• All-Ireland Kilmacud Crokes Sevens Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2002
• Castlewellan Sevens:
  • Winner (at least 1): 2002, more?
  • Runner up: 2003
• Ulster Senior Club Football Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2000
  • Runner up: 2005
• Derry Senior Football Championship:
  • Winner (2?/3?): 1999??, 2000, 2005
  • Runner up: 2001, 2004, 2007
• Derry Senior Football League:
  • Winner (2/3/4??): 1998??, 1999??, 2000, 2004
• Underage competitions

Individual

• All Star:
  • Nominated (runner up): 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008
• Irish News Ulster GAA All-Star: – Winner (?): 2007, more?
• Ulster Tennent's Merit Award – Winner (1): August 2001
• National Football League Final man of the match: – 2008

Note: The above lists may be incomplete. Please add any other honours you know of.

References

1. ^ "Derry player profiles 2008". Official Derry GAA website. 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
2. 35 Championship appearances as per following source, has since played two additional games bringing total to 37. – Bogue, Declan (16 May 2008). "McGrane set for '60'". Gaelic Life.
3. ^ Heaney, Paddy (31 May 2008). "Donegal vs Derry Ulster Senior Football Championship 2008 quarter-final preview – Man of the moment... Fergal Doherty". The Irish News.
4. McCann, Chris (8 August 2008). "Bradley's sparkling seven-up sees off Tyrone". County Derry Post.
5. "Aaron Law death: Fergal Doherty charged with manslaughter". BBC News. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
6. Heaney, Paddy; Brendan Crossan (5 June 2008). "Derry may appeal Doc ban". The Irish News.
7. "Derry's new look". BBC. 30 May 2001. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
8. "Fergal earns monthly honour". BBC News. 7 September 2001. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
9. "Tohill left out of All Star nominations". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
10. "Ernemen's seven All Star chances". BBC. 19 October 2004. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
11. "Ulster 11 in All Star nominations". BBC. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
12. "Derry 2–13 Kerry 2-09 2008 National League Final report". RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
13. "Derry 2–13 Kerry 2-09 2008 National League Final report – Derry GAA website". Derry GAA website. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
14. "Doherty and McGrath named as Players of the Month". 7 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
15. "Champions Tyrone top All-Stars nominations". RTÉ Sport. 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 25 September 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
16. Heaney, Paddy (27 January 2009). "Doherty the new Oak Leaf skipper". The Irish News. p. 54.
17. Heaney, Paddy (1 May 2009). "No substitute to winning for the Kingdom". The Irish News. p. 62.
18. "Fergal Doherty retires from Derry football duty". BBC Sport. 1 October 2015.
19. McDermot, Gerry (11 October 1999). "Wexford shock as Martin's triumph". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
20. "Too good to struggle". 31 December 2002. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
21. "Bellaghy win 2002 Castlewellan and Kilmacud Sevens". Archived from the original on 23 December 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
22. "Derry line-ups 2005". Derry GAA website. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.

External links

• Cul4kidz interview
• Player profiles on Official Derry GAA website

• 1981 births
• Living people
• Bellaghy Gaelic footballers
• Derry inter-county Gaelic footballers