Gerry McDonagh

[DeLorean]

Irish U17 international (http://www.fai.ie/ireland/player/888841331) made his debut for Nottingham Forest today, coming on with ten minutes to go in their 2-1 home defeat to Cardiff.

Twitter (https://twitter.com/GerryMcDonagh64/status/637670274209587200)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Has joined National League team Wrexham on loan.

http://www.nottinghampost.com/nottingham-forest-striker-gerry-mcdonagh-signs-for-wrexham/story-29565037-detail/story.html

[samhaydenjr]

Has joined National League team Wrexham on loan.

http://www.nottinghampost.com/nottingham-forest-striker-gerry-mcdonagh-signs-for-wrexham/story-29565037-detail/story.html

A bit disappointing that his first loan is so far down, and he was an unused sub today. Hopefully he can get a few games and impress in his month there as he has a good goalscoring record at U-21 level for Forest (I think on their site they said he got 6 goals in 8 games last season)

[samhaydenjr]

...and off the mark for Wrexham - came on as a sub and got their second goal against Guiseley. On a side-note, Wayne Rooney's brother, John, got Wrexham's first: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36949522

[samhaydenjr]

In the debate over our current Post-Keane and near-future post-Walters/Murphy/Doyle striking options, McDonagh may be in the frame. His Under-21 record for Forest has been pretty good (I believe it was 6 goals in 8 games) and he's now got the third goal of his loan period at Wrexham with a classy take-down and finish from a deep cross: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAaCBTZ_UbU

I know it is National League level and three in 15 appearances isn't prolific, but he's still only 18 and it's encouraging that he's made the step-up to adult-level professional football with a bit of success so far - might be worth watching what he does next season.

[samhaydenjr]

Two goals for McDonagh today against table toppers Forest Green Rovers, making it 3 goals in two games and 5 overall in his loan spell - starting to become one to watch for the future, hopefully the near future if he continues this rate of progress. I could be wrong, but it feels like there's a bunch of young Irish players who appear on the verge of a breakthrough in their careers, which bodes well for the future, even if the number of Irish Premier League players is quite low at the moment (and even that doesn't seem to be stopping us from being competitive). Are we starting to see the fruits of recent efforts by the FAI to discover and develop youngsters?

[samhaydenjr]

As noted on the transfers thread, McDonagh has just gone to Cambridge on loan after returning to Forest from Wrexham, whose manager referred to him as "outstanding". He came on today as a second-half sub in their defeat to Mansfield. He's still not yet nineteen and of five teenage strikers that seem to be progressing through their respective clubs' systems (McDonagh, Ronan Hale, Shane McLoughlin, Glen McAuley and Michael Obafemi), he seems to be closest to breaking through, so this loan spell could well be worth watching closely.

[samhaydenjr]

Another first for teenage striker McDonagh as he gets his first League goal in Cambridge's 1-1 draw against Colchester - that's six for the season for him: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39086530

[samhaydenjr]

On top of all the youngsters getting a run-out in the League Cup tonight, Gerry McDonagh kicked off his season for Nottingham Forest's U-23s with the equalising goal as they defeated Bristol City 2-1. Stephen Henderson played in goal while Liam Bossin was on the bench: https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2017/august/under-23s-forest-2-1-bristol-city/

[liamoo11]

On top of all the youngsters getting a run-out in the League Cup tonight, Gerry McDonagh kicked off his season for Nottingham Forest's U-23s with the equalising goal as they defeated Bristol City 2-1. Stephen Henderson played in goal while Liam Bossin was on the bench: https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2017/august/under-23s-forest-2-1-bristol-city/

Thats great. Nice to see henderson back. Ne -neyah seems to be going well for forest. I think he was under 17 last season but wasnt involved for us another attackibg option

[Olé Olé]

Thats great. Nice to see henderson back. Ne -neyah seems to be going well for forest. I think he was under 17 last season but wasnt involved for us another attackibg option

Had never heard of that lad before: https://dublingazette.com/sport/corduffs-yassine-latest-to-sign-terms/
I assume 'Johnny' Poame is Jean-Yves Poame in the picture!

[CraftyToePoke]

The Nottingham Post loves him - http://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/match-reports/gerry-mcdonagh-striking-ben-brereton-365843

[samhaydenjr]

Having also scored as Forest U-23s beat Crystal Palace 2-1 (https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/matches/fixtures/u23-team/201718/august/crystal-palace-u23-vs-nottingham-forest-u23-on-29-aug-17/#), McDonagh notched up his third in three games for the Forest U23s this season as they shared the spoils in an eight-goal thriller against a Coventry City side that included Darragh Leahy (https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/matches/fixtures/u23-team/201718/september/nottingham-forest-u23-vs-coventry-city-u23-on-01-sep-17/#)

[samhaydenjr]

Video of Forest U23s' 5-2 win over Colchester here, with McDonagh grabbing a brace - one a spin and low shot to the bottom corner from the edge of the box, the second a penalty. I think he seems to have grown a couple of inches since the last game - at this rate he'll be seven feet tall by the end of the season! This is starting to change from a goalscoring streak to an actual run of good form. If he keeps this up, you'd hope he might get brought up to the first team and not just for garbage time. Of the numerous teenage strikers we've been talking about recently on Foot.ie, right now you'd have to say that McDonagh is the one who's closest to a breakthrough


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyw5oAvsVNw

[samhaydenjr]

Didn't see McDonagh on Forest U-23's team sheet for the last couple of games and was wondering what was happening with him - he's been sent on a one-month loan to Tranmere: https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2017/october/mcdonagh-makes-loan-move/ - made his debut for them last week, coming on as a sup and having one chance: https://tranmererovers.co.uk/news/report-tranmere-rovers-0-0-chester-fc/ - the first article mentions that Tranmere have been given permission to play him against Halifax in an FA Cup tie this weekend, which could be an indication that Forest have no plans to give him a run-out in the Cup themselves, as he'd be cup-tied then. Bit of a disappointment on that level, but at least he's gaining more first team experience