McKaigue was vice-captain of the Derry Minor team that were runners-up in both the Ulster Minor Championship and All-Ireland Minor Championship in 2007. Earlier that year he won the Ulster Minor Football League with the county, and lifted the cup as captain.
Later in 2008 he was drafted into the Derry Senior panel before the Championship meeting with Monaghan.[2] He came on as a substitute in that game to make his Derry Senior debut and scored a point. He was involved from the start of the 2009 season - named in the Dr McKenna Cup,[3]National League[4] and Championship[5] panels. Derry reached that year's National League final, but were defeated by Kerry.
2022
In 2022, he won his first Ulster Senior Football Championship and Derry's first since 1998. They went on to reach the All-Ireland semi final that year, losing out to Galway. McKaigue, aged 33, won an All Star, becoming one of the oldest first time winners of that award.[6]
In September 2009, it was announced that Australian Football League side Sydney Swans had signed McKaigue as an international rookie.[9] It was anticipated he would play as an attacking defender.[9]
