mcdonagh was one of the most influential players in the galway teams of the 1960s. after galway had been beaten by dublin in the 1963 all-ireland final where gerry davey scored the controversial winning goal, the county under the stewardship of john dunne, was to embark on their greatest ever run of success, winning three all-ireland titles, beating kerry in the first two and meath in 66 to complete the three in a row, where mattie mcdonagh will be forever remembered in firing home ’left footed’ the only goal of the match in a 1–10 to 0–7 victory.