Football All Star XV as we're down to the last 12

[bandage]

Football All Star XV thus far:

1. Gary Connaughton (Westmeath): Really struggled for a keeper. Have given it to him purely for his comical chin and ginger beard on The Sunday Game last night and for stating that Westmeath could now set their sights on an All Ireland semi final or final after beating Sligo. How we all laughed.
2. Karl Lacey (Donegal): Attacked strongly for 2 smashing points against Derry and held Stevie McDonnell very well in the Ulster Final.
3. Barry Owens (Fermanagh): A master of all he surveys.
4. Kevin McCloy (Derry): Nothing gets past this guy. Absolutely nothing.
5. Aaron Kernan (Armagh): The archetypal modern day wing back. Covers in defence, attacks relentlessly, excellent distribution and capable of popping over scores.
6 Ger Spillane (Cork): Immense in both games against Kerry and outplayed numerous different challengers.
7.Karol Slattery (Offaly): Another superb attacking wing back. Not as prominent yesterday but excellent in their 3 previous games in Leinster.
8. Ciarán Whelan (Dublin): A powerhouse in all Dublin’s games and the dominant midfielder in each too.
9. Ronan McGarrity (Mayo): Battered the Galway midfield into submission in the Connacht Final and improving year by year into a top class player.
10. Rory Kavanagh (Donegal): The find of the championship. Unplayable against Down and Derry but stifled moreso by Armagh though did well all the same.
11. Kieran McDonald (Mayo): Played very deep yesterday and orchestrated everything – the best passer in the game. Imagine him feeding the other forwards.
12. Alan Brogan (Dublin): Score taker and score maker. Always on the move, always available and always probing and causing danger.
13. James Masters (Cork): Excellent scoring return from both play and frees. Wonderful long range points against Limerick and the replay yesterday.
14. Ronan Clarke (Armagh): Their best forward this year making vital contributions against Monaghan and Fermanagh and a critical scoring haul against Donegal.
15. Matty Forde (Wexford): 1-25 from 3 games. Top scorer in the country by a distance with long and short range scores with either foot. Other controversy is irrelevant.

Unlucky to miss out:

Duffy, McKeever, McGrane (Armagh)
Griffin, Cullen, Keaney, Sherlock, Quinn (Dublin)
Gardiner, Heaney (Mayo)
Canty, Murphy (Cork)
Munnelly (Laois)
Dunnion (Donegal)
Maguire, Goan (Fermanagh)
McNamee x2, Deehan (Offaly)
Bradley x2 (Derry)
Donnellan (Galway)
Nobody (Kerry)

[iamthelaw]

bandage said:

comical chin and ginger beard on The Sunday Game last night

Between Connaughton and Kieran McDonald, it was as if the Sunday Game were only interviewing lads with dodgy haircuts. Surprised that Wexford lad with the mohawk didn't make the cut.

[humbug]

Agree with most of what you are saying here Bandage. I think that chap Prout from Cork deserves a mention...typical eager corner-back, nothing fancy, just gets the hand in.

Ciaran Whelan was first class again yesterday. Every time I watch the Dubs I keep a close eye on him. Last year he was immense. I despair when people say that he drifts in and out of games. I think it is the very essence of gaelic football that players and teams drift in and out of matches. It is a game of momentum, much like darts! The RTE chaps in particular have become very fond of the following statement..."County X are really on top now and County Y have not scored for fifteen minutes". This scenario happens in virtually every single game. Even if you absolutely destroy another team there is going to be a 15-20 minute period when you don't happen to score.

It's the same kind of thing with Whelan. If he plays well a midfielder will get around 10 possessions of the ball in a game which is around one possession every seven minutes. When you think of it in these terms it is easy to see why Whelan, or any other player for that matter, has the appearance of drifting in and out of a game. Have great admiration for the guy and the displays he puts in...