Karl Lacey

Karl Lacey (born 10 September 1984) is an Irish sportsperson who plays inter-county Gaelic football for Donegal. A much decorated individual, he has won four All Star awards—in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2012— and the 2012 All Stars Footballer of the Year. His other accolades include an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, 3 Ulster Senior Football Championships, a National Football League title, a Dr. McKenna Cup, a Donegal Senior Football Championship and 3 Sigerson Cups.

Known as a versatile defender and one of the best half-backs in Ireland, Lacey is able to play anywhere in the back six. He is a consistent performer and never far away from another All Star nomination. However, his doctor has complained that Lacey is "flogged to the point of breakdown".

Considered very influential by many young footballers, Lacey is usually to be spotted zipping around the field in his trademark white boots and white thermal shorts, and also dedicates time to voluntary work in aid of charitable organisations. Lacey's choice of shorts has been known to cause puzzlement among fans.

Lacey put together a run of 41 consecutive championship appearances between the 2004 Ulster semi-final against Tyrone and 2013 Ulster quarter-final against Tyrone before injury broke his run.

Inter-county

Early years: 2003 – 2006

Much of Lacey's inter-county success came in his middle and later years. He was first called up to the senior team by Brian McEniff for winter training in 2003.

Lacey played in the 2006 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final at Croke Park.

Middle years: 2007 – 2010 (NFL success)

Lacey was part of the Donegal team that won its first National League title in 2007 in the final against Mayo.

Later years: 2011 – present (All-Ireland success)

2011 season

The 2011 season began Donegal's renaissance under Jim McGuinness, an era for Lacey which coincided with his late career. Not only did he receive an All Star award and Ulster Championship medal in 2011, but Lacey also put in a number of great displays and usually kept each opponents danger man quiet while collecting a few scores himself. In the semi-final of the Ulster Championship, Lacey was deployed on Tyrone's in-form player, Brian McGuigan. Lacey excelled and kept McGuigan from having any real say in the game. Not only did he display his defensive qualities but he also showed his attacking side when he provided an assist for Colm McFadden's goal through a surging run from deep. He also set up the winning goal coming from Dermot Molloy which left the final score at 2–06 to 0–09. In the final they faced a strong Derry side, on-form after a huge win over Armagh. This time Lacey was deployed on another danger man, Mark Lynch. Donegal lifted their first Ulster Championship title in a number of years. Lacery received an All Star award and the Ulster Footballer of The Year Award.

2012 season (Footballer of the Year)

By kitting out for the 2012 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final, which his team won, Lacey made his 37th successive appearance for Donegal, beating the previous record set by Michael Hegarty.

On 5 August 2012, Lacey surged up the pitch and scored the point that sealed Donegal's comprehensive victory over Kerry in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final at Croke Park.

On 23 September 2012, he delivered a high ball towards team captain Michael Murphy who smashed the ball into the Mayo net after three minutes of the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. He was also in possession at the final whistle and sent the ball clattering into the crowd with glee.

Told he would be awarded the 2012 All Stars Footballer of the Year, he was in his car and nearly crashed. Then Arsène Wenger sent him a personal letter "on behalf of all the players and staff" at Highbury House who wanted to "take this opportunity to send our congratulations on recently winning the All-Ireland football championship." Then he had a hip operation and put his feet up at home for the Christmas.

Tyrone spitting incident

Following a league game on 3 March 2013, footballer of the year Lacey was hit by some spit from the mouth of a Tyrone fan. Lacey was targeted as he left the pitch via the tunnel at Healy Park in Omagh. He had not been playing in the game due to a hip injury.

President O'Neill condemned the action against Lacey, "I have always said that any behaviour that makes anyone feel less good about themselves or about being involved in Gaelic games is abhorrent to me. I wouldn't condone that type of behaviour and to spit at anyone is disgraceful behaviour. I really cannot understand the behaviour of anybody who insults or demeans anyone. It has no part in Gaelic games. My message to those people is 'we don't need you'. I don't want them in our organisation and I don't want them going to our games. I would appeal to them to go and leave our games to people who want to come and enjoy themselves."

2013 season

Following "spitgate" (see above), Lacey returned to training for Donegal on 30 April 2013 after attending a wedding in Malta. He declared his fitness ahead of Donegal's opening Ulster Championship clash with Tyrone, though he did not start the game; instead Jim McGuinness sprung him from the bench in the latter stages of Donegal's victory. Lacey then had keyhole knee surgery ahead of the Ulster semi-final against Down. He missed the match, ending a run of 41 consecutive championship appearances stretching back to 2004.

2014 season

2014 brought Lacey a third Ulster title in four seasons. In the All-Ireland quarter-final against Armagh at Croke Park, Lacey was subjected to a vicious attack. During the same exchange the Donegal team doctor, Kevin Moran, was sent flying through the air, spiking a major reaction from national and social media.

2015 season

Injured for the game against Galway, Lacey returned against Mayo.

Club, college, internationals

With his club The Four Masters, Lacey won the 2003 Donegal Senior Football Championship. He scored two-second half points in the final against Termon. To date, he has collected one SFC, one U21FC and two MFC medals with his club. He went off injured at half-time in the 2012 Donegal Senior Football Championship semi-final against Naomh Conaill—and Four Masters lost. In 2015 relegated to division 2 of the Donegal league in a play off lost to the mighty Realt Na Mara. Lacey captained Donegal to the 2002 All-Ireland Vocational Schools Football Championship, overcoming Kerry in the final. He won a Railway Cup medal with Ulster. At college level, he won three Sigerson Cup medals, one with UUJ and two with Sligo IT.

Lacey has lined out for Ireland against Australia in the International Rules Series. He did so in 2006 and in 2011.

Lacey has participated in a marketing campaign for Ireland West Airport Knock. He says, "When the airport approached me about the ambassadorial role, I had no hesitation in accepting. As a frequent user of the airport I can see first hand the importance and invaluable role the airport plays for the region and it's a great asset for people living in Donegal and the North West region, providing employment, connectivity to over 25 destinations and so convenient, only a little over an hour down the road. I'm delighted to play my part in supporting the airport in this regard." He graduated from the University of Limerick (UL) with a master's in sports performance.

Inter-county

• 1 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (2012)
• 3 Ulster Senior Football Championship (2011, 2012, 2014)
• 1 National Football League Division 1 (2007)
• 1 National Football League Division 2 (2011)
• 1 Dr. McKenna Cup (2010)

International

• 1 International Rules Series (2011)

University

• 3 Sigerson Cups

Club

• 1 Donegal Senior Football Championship (2003)

Individual

• 1 All Stars Footballer of the Year (2012)
• 4 All Stars (2006, 2009, 2011, 2012)
• 3 Irish News Ulster All-Stars (2006, 2011, 2012)
• 1 The Sunday Game Player of the Year Award (2012)
• 1 The Sunday Game Team of the Year (2012)
• 1 Donegal Sports Star of the Year Award (2013)