First featuring for his county's Gaelic football team under the management of Rory Gallagher, McGinley joined the senior team for the first time in 2015.[3] He was among thirteen new members of the panel announced in late 2014 for Gallagher's first time in charge; others included Ciaran McGinley and Eoin McHugh.[4] He served as a substitute for the All-Ireland winner Paul Durcan, following Michael Boyle's transfer to Boston before the Ulster Senior Football Championship semi-final against Derry; Durcan then transferred to Qatar, leaving the way clear for McGinley to become Donegal's goalkeeper.[5]
McGinley's Championship debut came in the 2016 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final victory over Fermanagh; in goal from the start, he notably saved a Seán Quigley penalty which Neil McGee conceded during first half stoppage time.[14] McGinley retained his place in goal for the semi-final against Monaghan — which Donegal won after a replay, also featuring McGinley in goal.[15][16] McGinley played in the Ulster final, a narrow two-point loss to Tyrone,[17] the subsequent All-Ireland qualifier defeat of Cork at Croke Park,[18] and the All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Dublin at Croke Park.[19]
2017
McGinley started in goal during many games of Donegal's 2017 National Football League campaign, including Kerry,[20] the draw against Dublin,[21] Monaghan[22] and Mayo — the last of these in which he conceded a penalty which was dispatched by Cillian O'Connor, helping Mayo to a two-point victory.[23]
Under new manager Declan Bonner, McGinley started in goal during Donegal's opening fixture of the 2018 National Football League campaign against Kerry, only to be injured in the seventeenth minute; Peter Boyle was sent onto the field of play in his place.[29] He then lost his place as first Peter Boyle, and then Shaun Patton, started games in the league.[2][30][31][32][33][34]
Return to Association Football
In February 2019, McGinley — by then neglected by the Donegal Gaelic football team and with no place in the side — signed for League of Ireland Premier Division side Finn Harps (under the management of Ollie Horgan, whom McGinley knew from his time with Fanad United).[3] In March 2019, McGinley announced his departure from the Donegal Gaelic football team.[3] He did so after Bonner opted for Patton as his first choice goalkeeper for the league fixture on the weekend of Saint Patrick's Day.[35]
Meanwhile, Harps goalkeeper Ciaran Gallagher sustained a long-term injury while playing against Dundalk, which — McGinley later confirmed — had led to Horgan contacting him.[35]
"I was actually away. It was Easter time and I was in New York. I missed the call. My dad got onto me saying that Ollie had rang him wondering if I had changed my number or what. I wasn't expecting it, but I was delighted to get it, and it was something I was interested in. Soccer up until I joined the Donegal panel was always number one for me. It was an easy enough decision to make".[35]
In April 2019, McGinley featured in his first Finn Harps squad for a league fixture against Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds.[3] Playing for them by May, against Derry City, McGinley made some critical saves in the first half to keep Finn Harps in the game; however, they lost what was a cup tie after extra-time.[36]
McGinley went on to keep 9 clean sheets for the rest of the 2019 season[37] as he cemented his place as the Finn Harps number one choice, and subsequently signed a new contract for 2020 League of Ireland Premier Division season, as Harps remained in the top division following a victory in the play-off over Drogheda United.[38] He was voted Finn Harps Player of the Season in 2019.[39]
Harps further maintained their Premier Division status in a shortened 2020 season, finishing 8th position in the table, with McGinley playing all 21 league and cup games, as Harps reached the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup in the process.[40] It was Shamrock Rovers knocked the club out of the FAI Cup, McGinley later saying: "We deservingly found ourselves two up… I've been playing football a long time, since I was six years old. And that was the biggest injustice I've felt on a pitch in all my time. It was that bad, for the third penalty, the linesman was in the earpiece of the referee telling him it was no foul. He said it was a dive. He then told the referee the same thing to his face but for whatever reason, he still awarded it… It's something we've always had to contend with here. But it was a really obvious one that night".[39] McGinley helped Harps pick up seven points from a possible nine in October 2020, meaning the club steered clear of the relegation play-offs and finished in their best highest top flight for two decades, McGinley finishing runner-up in the SSE Airtricity League Player of the Month vote and receiving Sports Personality of the Month from the Donegal News.[39] He was also voted Finn Harps Player of the Season for the second consecutive year.[39]
McGinley again committed to Harps for his third season, by signing a new one-year deal in December 2020, ahead of the 2021 League of Ireland Premier Division season.[41]
^ abMcLaughlin, Gerry (8 March 2018). "Mark Anthony McGinley return a boost for Donegal". The Irish News. Retrieved 8 March 2018. Number one keeper McGinley was forced out through injury during the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup… Boyle quit the panel after the match against Kildare in Ballyshannon after former Sligo Rovers 'keeper Shaun Patton replaced him for that match.
^Keys, Colm (11 August 2015). "Durcan's Donegal future in doubt as he plans move abroad". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 August 2015. Durcan … didn't play in all of Donegal's league games after picking up an injury against Dublin and Michael Boyle was a very accomplished replacement. But Boyle opted to travel to Boston for the summer prior to the Ulster semi-final against Derry and Mark McGinley stepped up to become the reserve goalkeeper.
