Northern Ireland Euro '16 heroes' GAA pedigree
June 23, 2016
Northern Ireland's Michael McGovern and Niall McGinn
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Michael McGovern and winger Niall McGinn have strong GAA roots.
Enniskillen man McGovern's magnificent display against Germany on Tuesday - when he pulled off a string of remarkable saves and restricted the World Cup winners to just a single goal - was instrumental in seeing Northern Ireland through to the last sixteen at Euro 2016.
According to The Irish News, McGovern captained the victorious St Michael's College Corn na nOg team at Casement Park in 1999 and also togged out at underage level with Coa O'Dwyers, mostly at midfield or centre forward.
Aberdeen winger, McGinn, meanwhile, who netted Northern Ireland's second goal against Urkaine last Thursday, represented Tyrone at minor and U21 levels (playing alongside Colm Cavanagh, Ronan McNabb and Cathal McCarron) and turned down an invitation from senior manager Mickey Harte to represent the Red Hands against Dublin in the first floodlit match at Croke Park in 2007.
He played his gaelic football for Donaghmore and won All-Ireland Vocational Schools medals.
McGovern and McGinn's international manager Michael O'Neill is a son of former St Gall's, Antrim and Ulster hurler Des O'Neill.
