By Michael McMullan

KILCOO goalkeeper Niall Kane has backed Armagh number one Blaine Hughes to pick up an All-Star after his performances on the Orchard County’s march to Sam Maguire.

Speaking on the Gaelic Lives podcast this week, Kane hailed Hughes’ consistency. Alongside Gaelic Life columnist Patrick Morrison, he discussed how the Armagh ’keeper played the biggest game of his life, the All-Ireland final win over Galway, despite sustaining a serious leg injury in the warm-up.

“For the year he had, it would’ve been very disappointing to see him going off because, for me, I think he is a shoo in for an All-Star,” Kane said.

“From McKenna Cup, right through the league I thought he was brilliant. Come the championship, in my opinion, he was the best ‘keeper in Ireland this year. There are other boys who are pushing him pretty but, overall, he has been super.”

Morrison, a former Armagh ‘keeper now a goalkeeper coach, also gave his take on the best goalkeepers in the game.

“At the minute, you’d probably argue that Niall Morgan is probably up there at the very top but the way Blaine Hughes has played all year, it is very close at the top of the tree,” Morrison said, listing many of the other top ‘keepers. When pushed for the best ‘keeper, he went for Hughes.

“It is very hard to single one out as the best of the best….I am going to be biased and say Blaine Hughes.”

Listen to this week’s Gaelic Lives podcast below: