{"id":639736,"date":"2026-08-16T06:26:44","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T06:26:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/639736\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T06:26:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T06:26:44","slug":"gaa-star-wins-nfl-kicking-competition-and-will-feature-at-aviva-stadium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/639736\/","title":{"rendered":"GAA star wins NFL kicking competition and will feature at Aviva Stadium"},"content":{"rendered":"

A teenage GAA star from West Donegal landed a 50m field goal<\/a> that means he’ll kick in front of 52,000 fans at the Aviva Stadium later this month.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Patrick Bonner from Meenmore, Dungloe landed a sensational field goal at the home of Ulster Rugby on Friday night.<\/p>\n

He was competing in the Ireland’s ‘Kicking King’ competition that is held by Leader Kicking.<\/p>\n

Bonner won the Belfast version of the event, and has now booked his place in the Grand Final.<\/p>\n

\"\"Dungloe GAA star Paddy Bonner will now compete at the Aviva Stadium in front of 52,000 fans on August 29<\/strong><\/p>\n

The final will take place at half-time in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic that takes place at the Aviva Stadium on August 29th.<\/p>\n

TCU Horned Frogs and the North Carolina Tar Heels will face off in front of a sellout 52,000 crowd.<\/p>\n

Bonner will be joined by the winners of the Tyrone, Down, Dublin, Mayo, Galway, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Cork Kicking King events.<\/p>\n

Bonner plays minor football for Dungloe GAA club, and has also appeared for Keadue Rovers 1st team in the Donegal League Premier Division.<\/p>\n

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He only decided to go along at the last minute, following a request by Donegal GAA Minor goalkeeper Ronan O’Donnell, who also took part at the event in Belfast last night.<\/p>\n

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What makes Bonner’s achievement even more remarkable is the fact that he had never kicked an American football before the event last night.<\/p>\n

“Ronan texted me to come along for the craic, and it was open for those between the age of 16-24, so I threw the name down and just did it to see how I got on.<\/p>\n

“I’ve never even watched American Football before, and I never kicked an American football in my life, but I just trusted my own technique and they kept flying over.”<\/p>\n

Bonner is a skilled free-taker in the GAA, and his technique honed on the pitch of Dungloe GAA club has now given him the opportunity of a lifetime.<\/p>\n

“I didn’t overthink it. I just focused on the way I’d normally strike a football, and as I say they kept going over, and to end up winning it is surreal to be honest,” said Bonner.<\/p>\n

Bonner will now compete against all the other winners in a fortnights time at the Aviva.<\/p>\n

If he wins the Grand Final, then he’ll be off to the US.<\/p>\n

“The winner of the competition in Ireland last year, is playing in this year’s Aer Lingus College Classic, so if I do win it outright, then I’ll be going to America to participate in a competition held at The Ryan Field in Chicago. It’s going to be a great experience at the Aviva Stadium, and I’m just going to go and enjoy it,” said Bonner.<\/p>\n

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