Considered very influential by many young footballers, Lacey was often spotted zipping around the field in his trademark white boots and white thermal shorts, and also dedicated time to voluntary work in aid of charitable organisations. Lacey's choice of shorts has been known to cause puzzlement among fans.[9]
Known as a versatile defender and one of the best half-backs in Ireland, Lacey was able to play anywhere in the back six until his retirement from Donegal in 2017. He was a consistent performer and never far away from another All Star nomination. However, his doctor complained that Lacey was "flogged to the point of breakdown".[10] 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.[11] He made a total of 148 inter-county appearances.[3] 65 were Championship appearances, a record he shares with Donegal teammate Christy Toye.[4][5]
Lacey captained Donegal to the 2002 All-Ireland Vocational Schools Football Championship, overcoming Kerry in the final. At college level, he won three Sigerson Cup medals, one with UUJ[14] and two with Sligo IT.
Inter-county
2003–2006: Early years
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.[15]
A substitute appearance against Antrim brought him his debut in 2004 under the management of McEniff.[4][5]
Lacey played in the 2006 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final at Croke Park.[16]
2007–2011: NFL and Ulster success
Lacey was part of the Donegal team that won its first National League title in 2007 in the final against Mayo.[17][18]
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 and All-Ireland success
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.[20]
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.[21]
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.[22] He was also in possession at the final whistle and sent the ball clattering into the crowd with glee.[23]
Told he would be awarded the 2012 GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year, he was in his car and nearly crashed.[24] 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."[25][26] Then he attended the Football Tour of New York.[27] Then he had a hip operation and put his feet up at home for the Christmas.[28]
2013–2017: Spitgate and decline
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."[29][30]
Post-spitgate
Following "spitgate", Lacey returned to training for Donegal on 30 April 2013 after attending a wedding in Malta.[31] 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.[32][33] Lacey then had keyhole knee surgery ahead of the Ulster semi-final against Down.[34][35] He missed the match, ending a run of 41 consecutive championship appearances stretching back to 2004.[11]
2014 brought Lacey a third Ulster title in four seasons.[36] 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.[37]
Injured for the game against Galway in 2015, Lacey returned against Mayo.
This section needs expansion with: The player's involvement in the 2016 season. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021)
He retired from inter-county football at the end of the season. He said he would continue to play with his club Four Masters.[4]
Before retiring from inter-county football, Lacey was a strength and conditioning coach with the county under-age development squads.[4] When Declan Bonner was reappointed manager of the Donegal senior team in 2017, and having recently retired from playing inter-county football, Lacey was included as part of Bonner's backroom team.[5] Lacey departed after one year for family reasons and Stephen Rochford was appointed in his place.[39] But Lacey actually carried on as part of the management team until the end of 2020, at which point he left having been involved since 2017.[2]
Three weeks later, on 25 January 2021, he was announced as Donegal's GAA new Head of Academy Development.[40][41] In February 2023, he announced his departure from this role.[42]
Lacey married Ciara McGroarty in the village of Cacela Velha on the Algarve in September 2017, shortly after announcing his retirement from inter-county football. The reception was held at the Praia Verde Boutique Hotel. The couple have a son, Noah, born in 2015.[44] Lacey is a brother-in-law of Barry Dunnion.[43]
Lacey has participated in a marketing campaign for Ireland West Airport. He said, "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".[45] He graduated from the University of Limerick (UL) with a master's in sports performance.[46]
In May 2012, the Irish Independent named him in its selection of Donegal's "greatest team" spanning the previous 50 years, one of only two players representing the county at that time to be included.[52]
In October 2019, Colm Keys named him as part of his "Football Team of the Decade" in the Irish Independent; Donegal's sole other inclusion was Michael Murphy.[53]
^"Molloy helps Naomh Conaill book a final date with St Eunan's". The Irish Times. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012. At that stage they led by 0–6 to 0–4, but they had lost the inspirational Donegal county star Karl Lacey to injury at half-time and Conor Rooney within five minutes of the restart… But once they lost talisman Lacey, the Four Masters challenge seemed to dissipate and they were never a force in the game thereafter.
^"Ulster Football Championship: Donegal 2–10 0–10 Tyrone". BBC Sport. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013. By that stage, Donegal were emptying their bench with Lacey and Wherity among the arrivals and the latter was to score the second goal in the 49th minute which ultimately deflated the Red Hands.
^McNulty, Chris (4 December 2012). "Ulster GAA Writers to hold landmark bash in Donegal". Donegal News. Retrieved 4 December 2012. Current All-Stars Karl Lacey, the 2012 Footballer of the Year, and Michael Murphy have been short-listed, as have 1992 All-Ireland winners Martin McHugh, Anthony Molloy, Matt Gallagher and Tony Boyle.
^McNulty, Chris (12 December 2012). "Donegal take the top writers' awards". Donegal News. Retrieved 12 December 2012. Lacey, meanwhile, was named on the UGAAWA Jubilee Team, a selection which caused widespread debate, with some surprise in Donegal that neither of Martin McHugh or Tony Boyle were named.
Above is the Donegal team that defeated Derry in the Ulster SFC final.
The 2011 Donegal football team progressed to the 2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-finals, where they lost narrowly to eventual title-winners Dublin. Donegal defeated Kildare after extra-time in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
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