Anto Finnegan

Anto Finnegan

Personal information
Sport	Gaelic football
Position	Centre-back
Born	1973 Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died	18 September 2021 (aged 48) Belfast, Northern Ireland
Nickname	Anto
Club(s)
Years	Club
	St Paul's
Club titles
Antrim titles	3
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
1994–2005	Antrim
Inter-county titles
Ulster titles	0
All-Irelands	0
NFL	0
All Stars	0

Anthony Finnegan (c. 1973^[1] – 18 September 2021) was a Gaelic footballer who played for the St Paul's club and also at senior level for the Antrim county team. Finnegan usually lined out as a defender.

Playing career

Finnegan first came to Gaelic football prominence at juvenile and underage levels with the St Paul's club in Belfast. He eventually progressed onto the club's senior team and won three County Championship titles. Finnegan lined out with the Antrim senior football team for over a decade, the highlights of which were an All-Ireland B Championship win over Fermanagh in 1999 when he was captain and an Ulster Championship win over Down the following year.^[2]

Personal life and death

Finnegan was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in August 2012 and raised awareness around the disease through campaigning and charity work.^[3] He died on 18 September 2021, aged 48.^[4][5]

Honours

St Paul's

• Antrim Senior Football Championship: 1994, 1996, 1997

Antrim

• All-Ireland Senior B Football Championship: 1999 (c)

References

1. "Former Antrim footballer Anto Finnegan dies aged 48". Irish Times. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
2. Keys, Colm (19 September 2021). "Brian Fenton and Philly McMahon lead tributes after death of inspiring MND campaigner Anto Finnegan (48)". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
3. "Antrim GAA hero Anto Finnegan has motor neurone disease". BBC Sport. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
4. "Former Antrim captain and campaigner Anto Finnegan has died, aged 48". RTÉ News. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
5. McGovern, Eimear (18 September 2021). "Tributes paid after death of 'inspirational' Antrim footballer Anto Finnegan". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 19 September 2021.