When Andy McGovern was nine years old he moved to Ireland with his family and began playing soccer. He grew up playing in , LetterkennyCounty Donegal and won back to back national championships while in high school. McGovern was recruited by Mercy College men’s soccer coach Paul Wilson while he was playing for the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad. Wilson, who was born in Dublin, convinced him to come to Mercy College, where there was a growing contingent of Irish student-athletes. McGovern would feel even more at home as the 1987 team had 10 student-athletes from Ireland.
McGovern manned the net in every game from 1986 to 1989 for the men's soccer team, setting program marks for career saves and shutouts. He became known for playing through pain and injuries, and was certainly the Ironman while at Mercy College. His coaches were always impressed with his work ethic, athleticism and agility, and he was respected as a team leader.
As a sophomore in 1987, he recorded nine shutouts as the Flyers finished 13-6-3 and advanced to the finals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament. He allowed a paltry 1.18 goals per game.
He became co-captain with Michael Gregg during his junior year and carried that distinction into his final season at Mercy College. During his senior campaign in 1989 he earned First Team All-New York Collegiate Athletic Conference, All-American, and Academic All-American honors, and was selected to participate in the Senior Bowl, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Posting six shutouts along the way, he helped Mercy to the program's first NYCAC Championship and the team advanced to the NCAA Regional finals. At one point during the season, McGovern registered 321 consecutive scoreless minutes.
The Flyers stayed unbeaten through their first 14 games, going 11-0-3, and were ranked as high as sixth in the nation. The squad finished 12-2-3 overall and was ranked number seven in the nation at season's end. The Flyers dominated the competition throughout the campaign and outscored opponents 42-22 on the strength of a high-powered offense and a stingy defense headed by McGovern.
A true scholar-athlete, McGovern graduated with a 3.93 grade point average and received the Gold Medal for highest GPA among accounting graduates. He was known among his teammates for having strong study habits and was always willing to help out. He could often be seen at campus events and was a fixture on the Dobbs Ferry campus.
After graduating he worked with KPMG in Stamford, Connecticut from 1990 to 1993 before returning to Ireland. During his tenure there he qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in 1992. McGovern then worked in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Department of Finance in Ireland. Since 1998, he has been a financial manager with Letterkenny Institute of Technology in Donegal, Ireland.
McGovern has been married to his wife, Anne, for ten years and has remained active in soccer by competing in Northern Ireland in a semi-professional league.
