McConville played as forward. He was one of the game's best point-scorers and an expert free-taker.[1] He was consistently a high scorer for Armagh and is the all-time top Ulster scorer in Championship football[2] with a tally of 11–197 (230). He is widely considered one of Armagh's best ever players.[3] In 2009 to mark the 125th anniversary of the Gaelic Athletic Association he was named by The Irish News as one of the all-time best 125 footballers from Ulster.[1]
Despite his success on the field, McConville's personal life has been plagued by gambling problems.[4] He now works as an addiction counsellor.[5]
Background
McConville was born in Crossmaglen, South Armagh. His uncle Gene Morgan played for Armagh and played in the 1953 All-Ireland final.[3] McConville's brother Jim is also regarded as one of Armagh's best ever footballers.[3] He also appeared in a New Year's Eve Celebrity Jigs n' Reels special.
Playing career
Inter-county
McConville made his Armagh Senior debut in the Dr McKenna Cup final at Clones on 25 September 1994.
He played in the half forward line for Armagh in their 2002 All-Ireland winning year. In the 2002 All Ireland Final against Kerry, he overcame the setback of having his first half penalty saved, to step up and score the vital second half goal that was instrumental in Armagh winning a tight contest. As well as his All Ireland Senior medal, McConville holds two All Star awards (2000 and 2002), seven Ulster Senior Championship medals (1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008) and a National League Winners medal (2005). He also holds the record for the highest individual score in an Ulster Final, when he notched 2-07 against Down in the 1999 Ulster Final. He has also won Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, Minor League and Championship, and two U-21 Championships. During his schooldays at Abbey CBS in Newry, he won D'Alton, Corn na nÓg, and Rannafast Cups, and was a MacRory Cup runner up whilst at Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh.
He won six All-Ireland Club titles with Crossmaglen in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2011 and 2012, and was top scorer in four of those years.
McConville retired from inter-county football after the 2008 season.
Club
McConville was part of the Crossmaglen team that won 13 Armagh Senior Football Championships in a row between 1996 and 2008.[6] This equalled the national record for consecutive county football championships set by Ballina Stephenites of Mayo between 1904 and 1916. He also won the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship seven times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008), and the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship six times (1997, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2011 and 2012) with the club. McConville, along with Paul Hearty, John McEntee, Tony McEntee, Francie Bellew and Cathal Short is one of six Cross players to have shared in all these successes since 1996.[6] When McConville missed the 2009 Armagh Championship semi-final against Armagh Harps through injury, it ended a run of 103 consecutive Championship games for Crossmaglen.
McConville announced his retirement from Crossmaglen Rangers after their All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final defeat to St Brigid's on 16 February 2013.
