With the All-Star awards always a topic for conversation, Michael McMullan sifted back through the Sam Maguire race to make his selection

1 Niall Morgan (Tyrone)

THE Tyrone stopper had an excellent season in every facet of the game and offered his side plenty on the front foot. From early on, the Edendork man impressed and gave confidence to the players playing in front of him. He gets the nod ahead of the very consistent Blaine Hughes. That in itself tells a lot about Morgan’s input.

2 -Johnny McGrath (Galway)

McGRATH had another excellent season in Galway’s defence and was one of their best performers during a league campaign when they missed many of their experienced heads. He has now made a name for himself as one of the game’s best markers. His battle with Cormac Costello played
a big part in the win over Dublin. Was also useful at ferrying the ball forward.

3 Barry McCambridge (Armagh)

THE Clann Éireann defender was one of the reasons why Sam Maguire will spend the winter in Armagh. When he broke back into the team, he was handed many of the major marking roles including Kerry ace David Clifford. He hammered to the net against Roscommon, punched the game changing goal against Kerry and tagged on a point in the final. Very, very close to player of the year.

4 Peadar Mogan (Donegal)

THE St Naul’s man was nailed on from early on with a litany of impressive performances. He was like another forward, punching holes in teams from his deep role on the left side of Donegal’s defence. When Donegal hosted Tyrone, Mogan kicked 0-3 from play while doing a marking job on Darren McCurry.

5 – Dylan McHugh (Galway)

BUT for the width of a post, the Corofin wing back could’ve forced the All-Ireland final to extra time. He was excellent all the way through and very much in the player of the year conversation. When Donegal looked to have Galway’s number, it was McHugh’s perfectly timed runs from the wing to nick points on the overlap that summed up his input.

6 Aidan Forker (Armagh)

THE Armagh skipper’s emotional return to his club Maghery capped off a magical year. He was a left field – but much justified – choice to pick up Galway ace Damien Comer in the final. It was his leadership qualities that stood out. No more than in the Down game when he landed two vital points on a day when Armagh struggled for scores.

7 – Craig Lennon (Louth)

PERHAPS a left field shout here but Lennon was awesome for Louth as they made their way to the last eight of the All-Ireland race. Much of the Wee County’s plan was about the collective, but it was Lennon’s pace and eye for goal that left him in the conversation to nick a place. His 4-7 from wing back across the championship and electricity make it impossible to leave him out.

8 – Paul Conroy (Galway) – Player of the Year

THE 2007 minor All-Ireland winning captain edges the player of the year award ahead of Barry McCambridge. Conroy was one of the mainstays in taking Galway back to the final and kicked three monster points on the season’s biggest day. When Connor Gleeson was forced to go long, he was a target in an impressive Galway middle third. Aside from his 2-16 from play – joint second with Conor Turbitt – it was the scores he made that capped off a fine season.

9 – Ben Crealey (Armagh)

THE Maghery man formed a formidable partnership with Niall Grimley and was a regular in their run to the All-Ireland title. He was an option for Hughes at midfield, he had the workrate to work both ways and would always keep the scoreboard ticking over. He kicked two points in the Ulster final and backed it up with two boomers in the All-Ireland final. Didn’t get near enough credit for Armagh’s success.

10 – Stefan Campbell (Armagh)

THE biggest impact man of the season. It will raise eyebrows in that he started the biggest games on the bench but, without him, Armagh would never have got the job done. He bagged 1-2 in the opener against Fermanagh but it was his fisted point to earn a draw in Galway that was the start of his super sub role. He scored 0-2 when coming in the All-Ireland quarter and semi-finals. Seconds after coming into the final, he made the winning goal for Aaron McKay.

11 – John Maher (Galway)

EVERYONE would love a John Maher in their team. A battler. A fielder. A tackler. A passer and can chip in with scores. He was absolutely immense in a middle third that also had Cillian McDaid, Céin D’Arcy and Paul Conroy. He was a man of the match contender in the final and popped up with some very important plays during the season. A nailed on inclusion here.

12 – Michael Langan (Donegal)

I BROKE the rules here to get Michael Langan in. He even continued his season to drag his club St Michael’s to four wins in the Donegal Championship. That’s not why he is in. He was massive in everything Donegal did and how they could counteract teams in the middle third. He single-handedly almost dragged Donegal to an All-Ireland final. His four points against Galway, they were all inspirational.

13 – Oisin Conaty (Armagh) – Young Player of the Year

WHEN Kieran McGeeney sent Ciaran McKeever with a shopping list as county minor manager, Conaty was one of the players he came back with. A pacey scorer who gave Armagh a different dimension to their game. He was able to do two roles. He curbed Ryan McHugh in the Ulster final but his All-Ireland performance was the stuff of dreams. Tore Galway asunder on his way to three points that set the tone and clinched man of the match.

14 – Oisín Gallen (Donegal)

THE star attacker as Jim McGuinness got to work at lifting Donegal back to the cutting edge. Some of the scores he kicked were sensational with a 1-18 tally from play across the championship. The one blot was a missed free that could’ve pushed Galway over the edge in the semi-final but it would just be picking holes in a brilliant season.

15 – Conor Turbitt (Armagh)

WHEN Kerry battled back in the semi-final, it was ‘Turbo’ who came back in off the bench to produce a starring performance to pull Armagh over the line. Before that, he made a tackle to overturn Roscommon’s kick-out that led to an All-Ireland quarter-final goal. Over the championship, he scored 3-13 out of his 3-21 tally from open play.