Gavin Donoghue

Gavin Donoghue (born 3 March 1989 in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish footballer. He plays as a central defender for Sunderland in the Premier League.

He has played organised football since 1994, when he was five years old. He played previously for the Ratcoole Boys Club and Cherry Orchard; Sunderland's former manager (Mick McCarthy) brought him to the team. He was part of the Sunderland U18 team that played in the F.A. Premier Academy U18 in 2007, and has also played for Ireland at the junior level, as well as having played Gaelic football in Ireland.

Early career

Donoghue began playing with the Rathcoole Boys Club, a schoolboy team, at the age of five (1994). He continued with the team for five seasons before moving to Cherry Orchard in Ballyfermot, Dublin.

He played with Cherry Orchard beginning at the under-nine level and finishing at the under-16 level. He was also part of the 2001 DDSL (Dublin and District School Boys League) Kennedy Cup team and has played for Ireland at the junior level, including playing as captain.

Donoghue is also a Gaelic football player. He played with Round Tower GAA Club and St. Judes GAA Club whilst in his early teens. At one stage, he turned out for both the under-13 Dublin Gaelic team and the under-13 DDSL team.

Following trials with Leeds United, Manchester City, Charlton Athletic, and Preston North End, he decided to move to Wearside in favor of Premier League clubs, and signed on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) contract with Sunderland in 2004.

Donoghue was nominated for the Under-16 FAI/Eircom player of the year for the 2006–07 season.

Sunderland

Following his first season at Sunderland—he played regularly for the under-18 and reserve team sides—he broke his fifth metatarsal on his left foot while playing in a reserve match against Newcastle United in 2006. Following his recovery, he broke this bone again in early November 2006 and was sidelined for eight months, eventually needing a bone graft and metal pins to repair the damage.

Donoghue's hard work and determination were rewarded by Roy Keane, who extended his YTS contract with the club until December 2007 to prove his worth. He was included in the 2007 first team tour of Ireland, and played in a 4–0 friendly win against Galway United and was an unused substitute in the 1–0 win over Bohemian F.C.

Donoghue has been playing regular reserve team football during the 2007–08 season for Sunderland and has scored two goals to date—a header against Newcastle United, and a 25 yard shot against Wearside League Division Premier team Wolviston, in the Newton Moor Durham County Challenge Cup.

Donoghue uses both his aerial ability with a classic approach to playing central defence, his reading, patience, and excellent long range passing being his best assets. He wears squad number 36 for Sunderland.

Donoghue is currently in the Sunderland first team squad but is likely to remain on the fringes of the first team, and most of his football will mostly come in the Sunderland U18s and reserves teams.

Donoghue made his debut for Sunderland in the 3–0 defeat to Luton coming on as a substitute for Dickson Etuhu in the 62nd minute, on 28 August, 2007 at Kenilworth Road.

Sunderland under-18s

Donoghue was part of the Sunderland U18s that reached the F.A. Premier Academy U18 final, against Leicester City in front of 5,000 supporters on 20 May 2007 at the Stadium of Light. Leicester's Max Gradel opened the scoring, Jordan Henderson equalised for Sunderland in the next minute, after sneaking in a corner in the far post. Sunderland went into the half–time break trailing after Billy McKay had scored to make it 2–1, Sunderland came from behind again to equalise after Robbie Weir slotted the ball home to make it 2–2, the match stayed at 2–2 and went on to extra time; the match remained level after pressing from both teams. Jack Colback missed the opening penalty to put Sunderland on the back foot, Leicester scored their next two penalties to make it 2–1, Donoghue then missed his penalty to make it extremey unlikely that Sunderland would go on to win it, Lycett missed a penalty for Leicester but, still went on the win the match 4–3.

International career

Donoghue has represented his country at the under-15, under-17, and under-19 levels, making his debut for the under-17 team in a 2–0 win over England under-17 team on 7 August 2005 at the Laugardalsvöllur stadium in Reykjavik in the under-17 nordic tournament. He also played in a 1–0 win over Holland under-17 team in the Algarve tournament on 1 March 2007 with Cillian Sheridan scoring the only goal. He also featured in both 2–1 defeats against Chile under-19 team, the first match being on 7 August 2007 at Athlone Towns's Lissywoolen Stadium, and the second match was played on 9 August 2007, also at the Lissywoolen Stadium.