Stars of the football world
We pick our shining lights
WICKLOW’S Senior club football championship of 2017 was a memorable one to be sure with the Village returning to the summit after a brief spell away thanks to a county final victory over Blessington and a championship campaign fueled by an impressive passion that surged through the team upon the return of Harry Murphy as manager.
Blessington’s reaching of the final and their second half display was a real high point of the championship year as was Avondale’s journey and Annacurra’s battles with Rathnew.
Harry Murphy’s men would go on to showcase the Garden County in a fine manner with their performances in Leinster with their fully deserved victory over St Vincent’s being a really memorable day in Joule Park, Aughrim, in terms of Wicklow football.
Éire Óg Greystones showed they are still knocking at the door and felt aggrieved at the fixtures pile up which seen them forced to play a Senior football quarter-final and Senior hurling championship semi-final within 22 hours of each other with a number of dual players affected.
Selecting a team of the year from the Senior football championship is never an easy task and 2017 is no different. However, we will give it go and stress that this is just an opinion.
Goalkeeper
Mark Jackson (Baltinglass): The Baltinglass netminder was hugely influential in the championship, contributing massively to the score tally of Paul Garrigan’s men and standing strong on the line throughout. Jackson will feature for Wicklow for many years to come all going well and rightly so. Contender: Peter Dignam Left corner-back
Paul Merrigan (Rathnew): Some have said that the Rathnew defender is the most under-rated footballer in the county and they certainly have a point. The corner-back was exceptional in the club championship for Harry Murphy’s side and deservedly takes his place on our team of the year. Full-back
Damien Power (Rathnew): In fairness, the Village rock has to get it. Any day Diarmuid Connolly leaves Aughrim frustrated and defeated is a good day and the man who caused that frustration and who helped wreck the championship dreams of a multitude of full-forwards from club teams in Wicklow warrants the number three jersey.
Right-corner back
Steven Bohan (Blessington): A super man marker, Bohan nullifies the threat of danger men. Has plenty of pace. Good at attacking the ball and was a shining light for Blessington in 2017.
Left half-back
Warren Kavanagh (Rathnew): A superb year in both codes for Kavanagh. Tenacious and determined and fully deserves his spot in the team of the year.
Centre half-back
Paul McLoughlin (Blessington): A defensive tower for Blessington, McLoughlin showed real quality in 2017 and his and his brothers’ absence from the county squad will be felt in 2018.
Right half-back
David Baker (Avondale): Serious pedigree here and would be a massive addition to the county panel. Had a great year for the Dales.
Contenders for the backs: Kevin Hanlon (Blessington), Saoirse Kearon (Avondale), Jamie Snell (Rathnew), Martin O’Brien (Annacurra), Paudge McWalter (St Pat’s), Ross O’Brien (Rathnew), Eugene Dunne (Avondale) Midfield
James Stafford (Rathnew): Quality, pure and simple. Can singlehandedly drag his side over the line. Stafford is a born leader.
Eoin Keogh (Blessington): The Blessington midfielder was a revelation in 2017. Battled hard and drove his team on in what was a memorable season for the Blessington side.
Left half-forward
Daniel Keane (Éire Óg Greystones): A real star of his side in the championship and will no doubt feature in 2018 when the Greystones men look to right a wrong on the field of play and go all the way to the decider. Centre half-forward Leighton Glynn (Rathnew): The conductor of the Rathnew orchestra and a sublime footballer. Torments defences and pulls all the strings up and down the field of play.
Right half-forward
Conor Byrne (Avondale): Was sorely missed in the early stages of the semi-final. Byrne is one of the brightest lights in the attacking world of Wicklow club football. Impressing with IT Tralee at the moment and getting a chance with the Wicklow Senior footballers under John Evans.
Left corner-forward
Nicky Mernagh (Rathnew): His performance in the county final is what secures Mernagh his berth in the full-forward line. Injury robbed him of featuring in the magical Leinster journey but he was vital in the capture of Miley. Full-forward
Philip Healy (AGB): The AGB attacker was simply stunning in front of the posts for the Arklow men in the Senior championship. Right corner-forward Gearoid Murphy (Annacurra): Big scores are scored by big players and Annacurra’s Gearoid Murphy proved he has the potential to be one of the biggest and brightest in Wicklow club football with his performances in 2017.
Contenders for the forwards: Eddie Doyle (Rathnew), Darren Hayden (Éire Óg Greystones), Dan Kelly (Baltinglass), Patrick O’Connor (Blesington), Danny Woods (Éire Óg Greystones), Kevin Hanlon (Blessington).