MARTIN BREHENY
After a year dominated by the Dubs, how many of them make it into the Top 50 footballers of 2018?
1. CIARAN KILKENNY (DUBLIN)
Brian Fenton won the players’ vote as Footballer of the Year, but Kilkenny is my choice. Apart from his pivotal role as the revolving door in the Dublin attack, directing moves into the scoring zone while tempting defenders into no-man’s land, his scoring rate was also impressive. He returned 2-22 – all from play – in the championship, having earlier scored 2-18 in the Allianz League. Oddly enough, his 0-3 against Tyrone in September was the first time he had scored in an All-Ireland final, having drawn a blank in his previous four. His average Irish Independent match rating in League and Championship was eight out of 10.
2. BRIAN FENTON (DUBLIN)
Having never experienced a championship defeat since making his debut in 2015, he is in unique territory. And it could continue next year when Dublin bid for the game’s first five-in-a-row. Now targeted by opposition as a power generator that must be short-circuited if Dublin are to be really challenged, he has coped well with the pressure.
Apart from his ball-winning skills, his forward surges are perfectly timed, enabling him to score 1-11 in this year’s championship. His average Irish Independent match rating between League and Championship was 7.6.
3. JACK McCAFFREY (DUBLIN)
Opinions were divided whether he or Ciaran Kilkenny should get the man-ofthe-match award after this year’s All-Ireland final. McCaffrey’s return from a serious knee injury was another major plus for Dublin this season as his sprinter’s pace brought an added dimension to their breaks out of defence.
4. CONOR McMANUS (MONAGHAN)
When opposition managements sit down to plan for games against Monaghan, the first item on their agenda is how to deal with McManus. There can be scarcely be any greater tribute to a player, but it brings added pressure too as he attempts to figure a way to play through the tight security cordons. In many cases the practitioners have spend hours reading the black arts manual. Despite that, McManus almost always delivers.
5. JONNY COOPER (DUBLIN)
Defenders generally find it harder to pick up individual awards than the rest of their colleagues, especially the likes of Cooper whose abrasive style is more effective than eye-pleasing. He remains central to Dublin’s defensive set-up, however. A real leader, he thrives in the trenches as he showed again this year.
6. DAVID CLIFFORD (KERRY)
In an era where the game is more sanitised than a specialist hospital unit, players who bring something different should be treasured. Clifford at just 19, is the latest of that ilk to emerge from Kerry, having made the transition from minor to senior every bit as easily as most observers expected. Kerry failed to reach the All-Ireland semi-final for only the third time in this Millennium but it certainly wasn’t the fault of Clifford, who scored a total of 3-12 from play against Galway, Monaghan and Kildare in the ‘Super 8s.’
7. STEPHEN CLUXTON (DUBLIN)
And so to the great debate...Cluxton v Rory Beggan. Don’t forget Graham Brody (Laois) and Ruairi Lavelle (Galway), two other goalkeepers, who also had excellent seasons. Beggan (below right) got the All-Stars’ nod, prompting the usual nonsense from conspiracy theorists that the selectors have something against Cluxton. If that were the case, how has he won five awards.? If a vote were held among all football fans around the country, the margin between Cluxton and Beggan would have been marginal either way. I’m with the Cluxton marginals this year.
8. RORY BEGGAN (MONAGHAN)
His consistent accuracy from long-distance place kicks was a major plus for Monaghan this year as he scored no less than 18 points in the championship. Impressive kicking skills alone wouldn’t make him a top class goalkeeper, but Monaghan have no worries over his shot-stopping talents either. A modern goalkeeper in every sense.
9. COLM CAVANAGH (TYRONE)
And for now something different! If David Clifford scores heavily on style and artistic merit, Cavanagh’s impact range is at the other end of the spectrum. Of course it’s equally important in an overall team context. Cavanagh’s remarkable workrate, as evidenced by his usually successful attempts to close the latest gap that opens up somewhere, was central to Tyrone’s progress to the All-Ireland final.
10. SHANE WALSH (GALWAY)
Unlucky to lose out on winning an All-Star, the Kilkerrin-Clonberne man’s contribution to Galway’s best year since 2001 was immense. His creative instincts are more suited to a time when football didn’t have neg- The 2018 All-Stars have been selected, recognising the best players in all lines and positions but how did the top stars rate against each other on an individual basis? Were GPA members correct to choose Brian Fenton as Footballer of the Year?
Who was the top player outside of Dublin’s four-in-a-row team?
Who from Divisions 2,3 and 4 overcame the handicap of not being involved in the glamour games, yet still made a lasting impression? Which players were unlucky not to make the All-Star team and, in other cases, the 45 nominees. MARTIN BREHENY selects his Top 50 footballers of 2018 ativity as such a core principle but he has adapted cleverly, especially this year. As with Clifford, the public pay to watch players like Walsh. They should be treasured.
11. PADRAIG HAMPSEY (TYRONE)
His consistency ratings were high all year and, as the season progressed, his tight marking became increasingly important for Tyrone as they rebuilt their All-Ireland adventure after losing to Monaghan in the Ulster quarter-final. Excellent in the return clash against Monaghan in the All-Ireland semi-final, Hampsey was also Tyrone’s best performer against Dublin in the final.
12. KARL O’CONNELL (MONAGHAN)
An impressive sight in full flow out of defence, his versatility enables him to be equally effective anywhere in the middle third of the pitch. Kildare felt the full force of his all-round talents in the ‘Super 8s’.
13. BRIAN HOWARD (DUBLIN)
His rate of progress this year was phenomenal. Comfortable and efficient anywhere from No.5 to No.12, he would probably do well in the full-back line too if the occasion demanded. Still only 21 years old and with such a versatile skill range, he would be one of the most valuable players in the game if
a transfer market applied.
14. DAMIEN COMER (GALWAY)
He scored 3-12 from open play in the championship despite being targeted for specialist nullifying tactics in every game. Unusually for forwards in the modern game, he trades in some traditional values like high fetching and direct running at opponents.
15. PAUL MANNION (DUBLIN)
Easy on the eye when in full attacking flow, he’s also a very good tackler and is willing to track anywhere to execute it. Indeed, this is one aspect of his game that has improved immeasurably in recent years but pace in attack is still his most lethal weapon.
16. RYAN McHUGH (DONEGAL)
Equally at home in either defence or attack – and often both in the same game – he made a massive contribution to Donegal’s return to the Ulster summit. And if Paddy McBrearty hadn’t been injured in the final, who knows how much more the season might have yielded for Donegal.
17. IAN BURKE (GALWAY)
Corofin’s All-Ireland winning run took him out of the county scene in the Allianz League, but he made up for it in the championship. Improving with every game, he was especially enterprising against Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.
18. JAMES McCARTHY (DUBLIN)
There’s a solidity about everything he does that makes him such an essential part of the Dublin set-up. Gets the basics right and the rest looks after itself. A powerful warhorse when the heaviest lifting is required.
19. MICHAEL MURPHY (DONEGAL)
Still only 29 years old, he has completed his 12th championship season and judging by his performances this year, there’s still plenty more to come.
20. NIALL SLUDDEN (TYRONE)
His shooting let him down in the All-Ireland final, but he had a solid year up to then in both League and Championship, scoring 3-13 in the latter.
21. MATTIE DONNELLY (TYRONE)
Much is expected of him in a variety of roles, which sometimes creates the impression that he’s not even sure what his primary function is.
22. DEAN ROCK (DUBLIN)
He has long since buried the myth that he’s a free-taker only. His general game is good too, often in the biggest tests as he showed when scoring 0-3 from play against Tyrone in the All-Ireland Final.
23. DANIEL FLYNN (KILDARE)
He recently expressed doubts about his availability for inter-county action next year. He would be a massive loss in a Lilywhite forward line where reliable finishers are scarce.
24. PADDY McBREARTY (DONEGAL)
Overlooked for an All-Star nomination, which was unfortunate for him. His season ended when he suffered a serious injury in the Ulster final but up to then, he had been excellent in League and Championship.
25. CON O’CALLAGHAN (DUBLIN)
By comparison with 2017, he wasn’t as explosive but he deserves to be judged on what he did this year. It was quite substantial too, especially in the All-Ireland semi-final and final.
26. EOGHAN BÁN GALLAGHER (DONEGAL)
Considered by many to be unlucky to have missed out on an All-Star in the full-back line, he grew rapidly with a season where Donegal made impressive progress.
27. DREW WYLIE (MONAGHAN)
A powerhouse defender, who would have prospered in any era, he has refined his game to suit the more flexible approach required nowadays.
28. SEAN ANDY Ó CEALLAIGH (GALWAY)
A key man in the re-design of the Galway defence into a meaner, tighter outfit, he was also quite happy to get forward when the flow allowed. Still learning the full-back trade but it’s happening quickly.
29. PETER HARTE (TYRONE)
Asked to fill various roles, depending on the needs of the day, which makes it much harder to be consistently effective. He needs more positional stability.
30. GRAHAM BRODY (LAOIS)
His resistance against Monaghan in the Round 4 qualifier was probably the standout goalkeeping performance of a season in which he was very good overall.
31. TOM FLYNN (GALWAY)
His best year in the maroon-and-white senior jersey, he played with the look of man who was confident in himself and and in what he had to do.
32. NIALL KEARNS (MONAGHAN)
If the prospects of a newcomer making the grade are judged by how he fares against top opposition, Kearns came through very well, up to and including the All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone.
33. NIALL SCULLY (DUBLIN)
Operating among several higher-profile colleagues, but his contribution should not be underestimated. He added 3-8 to Dublin’s championship total.
34. DIARMUID MURTAGH (ROSCOMMON)
Unlucky to miss out on an All Star nomination. His strike rate in League and Championship did much to drive Roscommon back into Division 1 and the ‘Super 8s’.
35. EOGHAN KERIN (GALWAY)
The type of corner-back forwards dread. Kerin believes in being close-up and personal, an approach that played a big part in Galway’s improved security this year.
36. EOIN MURCHAN (DUBLIN)
A senior championship newcomer, he had a solid campaign apart from the All-Ireland semi-final where Ian Burke stretched him. Murchan did much better in the final.
37. PAUL CRIBBIN (KILDARE)
He finished off a productive season by scoring 1-5 against Kerry in Kildare’s last ‘Super 8’ outing.
38. RYAN WYLIE (MONAGHAN)
Like his brother, Drew, he was a fiercely committed defensive presence as Monaghan worked their way to a Top 4 finish in League and Championship.
39. PAUL BRODERICK (CARLOW)
Carlow’s first All-Star nominee since Colm Hayden in 1994, Broderick was a hugely influential presence on a team that grafted its way out of Division 4 before beating Kildare in the Leinster championship.
40. GAVIN WHITE (KERRY)
Notwithstanding a sixth successive Munster final success, it was a disappointing season for Kerry. Still, Gavin can be satisfied with most of his contributions.
41. RUAIRI LAVELLE (GALWAY)
Galway conceded only six goals in 13 League and Championship games. It couldn’t have happened without a reliable goalkeeper.
42. CONOR McALISKEY (TYRONE)
Unlucky not to get an All-Star nomination, he was Tyrone’s top championship scorer on 2-41, of which 2-16 came from open play.
43. CIARAN MURTAGH (ROSCOMMON)
Like his brother, Diarmuid, he is the real deal in an attack that can stretch any opposition on a given day. Unfortunately for Roscommon, their defence often gets stretched even more.
44. RYAN McANESPIE (MONAGHAN)
A progressive season gathered pace in the ‘Super 8s’ where he played very well against Kerry and Galway.
45. SEAN KELLY (GALWAY)
A hard worker, he rose with the maroonand-white tide in a manner which suggests there’s more to come.
46. TIERNAN McCANN (TYRONE)
A steady, reliable performer, which is why he was assigned to mark Ciaran Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. That was always going to be a difficult assignment, not one on which to judge McCann’s overall season.
47. JAMIE MALONE (CLARE)
His team-mate Eoin Cleary is also a strong Top 50 contender but Malone gets the nod after another solid Banner season where finishing third in Division 2 was encouraging.
48. MICHAEL McKERNAN (TYRONE)
For a 20-year-old in his first season he did well. Looks set for a lengthy stint in the Tyrone’s defence.
49. EOIN DOYLE (KILDARE)
Played intelligently at the heart of the Lilywhite defence in a turbulent year.
50. MICHAEL QUINN (LONGFORD)
Another solid season for a man whose talents would steer him into most teams in the country over the years.