The Last Donegal Team To Lift Sam Maguire: Where Are They Now?

Donegal will return to the All-Ireland final this weekend, hoping to get their hands on the Sam Maguire for the first time since 2012 when they take on Kerry.

Jim McGuinness will be aiming to lead the county to just their third ever All-Ireland triumph, having also been in charge of the victorious side 13 years ago.

That team featured a number of well-known names, all but two of which no longer play for Donegal. As the county hope to produce some new All-Ireland winning heroes, here is where the stars of that all conquering 2012 side are now.

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Paul Durcan would win the first of his two All-Stars in 2012, playing a huge role in Donegal's All-Ireland triumph. He would remain in the inter-county setup until 2015.

The goalkeeper continued his club career long after that point, transferring from home team Four Masters to Dublin giants Ballyboden St Enda's in 2015 and winning All-Ireland honours at the club.

Durcan would then move to Sligo club Drumcliffe–Rosses Point, having worked in the area as a quantity surveyor. He has also made steps in the world of coaching, spending time in both the Donegal and Sligo inter-county setups.

Paddy McGrath would soldier on in Donegal colours until 2012, ending his inter-county career with five Ulster medals to go along with the Celtic cross he won in 2012.

He has kept a relatively low profile since then, although McGrath would take up a coaching position earlier this year. He has been involved with the Donegal U16 side, acting in the backroom team of his of his former teammates (who we will discuss shortly).

Another player who had a decade of inter-county football ahead of him after this All-Ireland win, Neil McGee would retire as one of the finest full-backs of the modern era.

He did not spend too long away from the Donegal setup. He was one of the first names added to Jim McGuinness' backroom team after he returned to the manager's role, with McGee still part of the camp ahead of this weekend's All-Ireland final.

Frank McGlynn would win his only All-Star in 2012, although he would experience plenty of team success up until his Donegal retirement in 2019.

The defender has continued to soldier on with his club Glenfin since then. Now 39-years old, he moved into a play-manager role with the club ahead of the 2025 season.

In terms of his life away from football, McGlynn works as a teacher.

The second of the McGee siblings to win an All-Ireland that season, Eamon was key player in the Donegal side that year.

He would finish his inter-county career in 2016, although the now 41-year old has remained committed to Gaoith Dobhair.

McGee has spent time in the Donegal coaching tree in recent years, acting as a coach on a number of the county's U20 sides. He also spent time as a coach with Buncrana at club level. He also writes a GAA column for the Belfast Telegraph.

He was the subject of an excellent episode of Laorchra Gael earlier this year, during which he opened up about the alcohol addiction issues that affected his time with Donegal.

Winner of the Footballer of the Year award in 2012, Karl Lacey was in supreme form throughout that season. While he would struggle to his those heights in the seasons that followed, he remained a valuable contributor in the Donegal side up until his retirement in 2015.

Lacey has since forged a successful coaching career. Having been brought into the Donegal backroom team by Declan Bonner, he would also spend two years as the county's Head of Academy Development.

The Four Masters man would be appointed as manager of Down club Kilcoo in 2023, leading them to a county title victory in his only full season in charge.

He has since been appointed as the Donegal U16 manager, bringing former teammates Paddy McGrath and Neil Gallagher into his backroom team.

Anthony Thompson may have left the Donegal setup in 2018, but he has continued to dominate the club scene in the county over the years that followed. He was won seven senior titles with Naomh Connaill, four of which have come since the end of his inter-county career.

Speaking back in 2023, he said that he hoped to leave a lasting legacy for the next generation when his time at club level did eventually come to a close:

You are doing it for the young boys, to set them up, to get them to the level hopefully. We're hoping to set a benchmark for them and that's what my job is there.

A two-time All-Star, Neil Gallagher would retire from inter-county duties in 2017, although he would continue with club team Glenswilly over the years that followed.

He has since began his coaching career, leading his club to a county U21 final in 2024. He would go on to link up with the Donegal U16 side last year.

Along with club and county teammate Michael Murphy, Gallagher was a co-founder of the Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure in Letterkenny back in 2014. The store has proven to be a massive success and still operates to this day.

Rory Kavanagh would play four more seasons with Donegal after the All-Ireland triumph, hanging up his boots in 2017.

He would go on to amass an impressive coaching CV in the years that followed. Having coached the Donegal U15 side, he would later be appointed as manager of club side St Eunan's in 2020. He would help the club to their first county title in seven years in his first season in charge.

Kavanagh would take the manager's role at reigning All-Ireland champions Watty Grahams at the end of the 2024, replacing Malachy O'Rourke at the Derry side.

He also teaches at Scoil Colmcille in Letterkenny.

Still just 34-years old, Mark McHugh would make the shock decision to step away from the Donegal team while in the midst of his prime back in 2018.

While he has continued to play with club Kilcar, McHugh has also spent time as coach in recent seasons. Having linked up with the Donegal Ladies team, he has since been part of the backroom teams with both Roscommon and Westmeath in the men's game.

The former All-Star is also known for his work as a pundit on both television and radio.

Leo McLoone would decide to quite inter-county football ahead of the 2020 season, doing so while still in his early 30s.

He has continued to feature for club side Naomh Connaill, winning the most recent of his seven senior county titles in 2023. McLoone was previously part of the Donegal U20 management team in 2021.

He works as a teacher and career guidance councillor in Abbey Vocational School.

Ryan Bradley would play just one more season with Donegal after the 2012 All-Ireland win, opting to move to Abu Dhabi in the autumn of 2013.

The Buncrana man would spend a number of years in the UAE, returning to Croke Park in 2016 to captain the Middle East team to victory in the GAA World Games Mens Football Irish Cup Final.

Bradley has largely stayed out of the limelight since then, although he does make occasional appearances as a pundit on Highland Radio.

Earlier this year, Jim McGuinness would credit Ryan Bradley with paving the way for other players from Inishowen to become inter-county footballers.

One of only two members of the 2012 side that are still playing inter-county football, Patrick McBrearty is now on of the elder statesmen in the Donegal dressing room.

Despite this, he is still just 31-years old. The Kilcar man has struggled with injuries in recent times but is still a key operator under Jim McGuinness.

After two seasons away from the Donegal setup, Michael Murphy would make a dramatic return to the team for the 2025 campaign.

It has proven to be a massively successful move, with the Glenswilly star immediately becoming perhaps the most important player in the side. His Ulster triumph earlier this year was the sixth of his career, while he also looks nailed on for a fourth All-Star nod.

The 35-year old continues to operate Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure alongside Neil Gallagher.

Colm McFadden had the finest season of his long Donegal career in 2012, winning what would prove to be his only All-Star. He would retire in 2016.

He would make his first steps into inter-county coaching in 2022, joining Sligo as a forwards coach. He would go on to return to the Donegal fold when Jim McGuinness brought him into his backroom team for the 2024 season, continuing in the role this season.

McFadden has been part of the staff at old alma mater St Eunan's College for a number of year, being appointed as deputy principal in 2019. He has also previously coached the school's football teams on a number of occasions.

David Walsh was a key contributor off the bench throughout the 2012 season, winning three provincial titles under Jim McGuinness prior to his retirement in 2016.

He was somewhat of a late bloomer, only making his inter-county debut at the age of 25. Having played for a junior club in the form of Naomh Bríd, he found it difficult to make the breakthrough at the highest level.

Walsh continues to contribute at his local club, joining their management team in 2024.

While he would never quite nail down a consistent spot in the starting XV, Martin McElhinney continued to be an important member of the Donegal panel up until his retirement in 2019.

McElhinney has continued to play for club side St Michael's in the years that followed, being appointed as join player/manager of the side for the 2025 season.

Away from sport, McElhinney works in the insurance sector.

Christy Toye would bring his inter-county career to an end in 2016, ending what would be a 14-year association with the Donegal team.

He has kept a low profile in the years that followed, with his most recent interview reflecting on the All-Ireland win coming in 2022.

Dermot Molloy's inter-county career would turn out to be much shorter than many expected, with his final game for Donegal coming in the Dr McKenna Cup at the start of 2015. He was aged just 24 at the time.

He has continued to star for club Naomh Connaill in the years that followed, with the most recent of his six county titles coming in 2023.