SAM NEW FACES ON THE WAY
League has thrown up some top new talent to keep an eye out for
THE Allianz League is as much about harvesting talent as it is about collecting points. It is the blank canvas for management teams to find that elusive missing piece or two of the jigsaw that they will seek to ensure that they are better equipped for the challenge that the summer will present.
As the League resumes this Sunday after last week’s unintended break, we trawl the football League’s top tier for the rookie talent most likely to light up the summer.
1 SEÁN ANDY Ó CEALLAIGH (GALWAY)
He may still have some rough edges in need of smoothing, but he is delivering on the promise of last year’s All-Ireland Under 21 campaign, which included an impressive man-marking job on Con O’Callaghan in the final.
Full-back has proved a problematic position for Kevin Walsh to fill — never more evident than in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final when his gamble to start David Walsh on Kieran Donaghy backfired horribly.
But Ó Ceallaigh brings both the physical presence associated with the position traditionally along with the speed — evident in that solo burst which saw him create a goal chance against Kerry — that is an essential part of any firefighter’s arsenal in the modern game. He is a sure thing to start in the Championship.
2 BRIAN HOWARD (DUBLIN)
Strictly not a rookie given that he made his Championship debut last year, but Jim Gavin has decided that this is the season he will be given his head. He has started all of Dublin’s games to date, and has already convinced that physically — he is an excellent ball winner and hard runner — he is up to this level.
He has impressed to the point that he is a live option to start in either the half-forward line or midfield come the summer.
3 SEAN O’SHEA (KERRY)
His prominence — he has played every minute thus far — is not just an indicator of his near certainty to become a permanent fixture on the starting team, but as an orthodox centre-forward could provide Kerry with the play-making guile which has been absent in recent seasons.
His kicking skills are excellent — he has nailed 0-19 in his opening four games, including 0-6 from open play, but it’s his courage in getting on the ball and setting up plays that has underlined the expectation that he is in for a long reign as the Kingdom’s No11.
4 SEAN KELLY (GALWAY)
Another of last year’s U21 team, but his form may have flown a little under the radar.
The Moycullen man grabbed the eye in pre-season where he made such an impression that he has started in all four games.
More than that, he has become absolutely key to Galway’s ability to counter attack — while he wears the number 10 shirt he effectively plays as a wing-back — where he utilises his pace to lethal effect.
The faith that Walsh has shown in him suggests he will be a permanent fixture come the summer.
5 COLM BASQUEL (DUBLIN)
His emergence this spring is timely given the loss of Bernard Brogan for the season and while he has some way to go before he fills those boots he has made an impressive start.
He has pace, trickery and accuracy — all vital weapons in a strike forward’s arsenal — and has racked up 10 points thus far, eight from open play.
He is another reason why the heat will remain turned up for places on the Dublin team.
6 PETER COOKE (GALWAY)
Another to suggest that last year’s U21 team — the currently injured Michael Daly is another graduate — might be the most productive losing under-age team the county has produced since eight of the 1994 AllIreland minor team went onto become senior All-Ireland winners.
Ever since current manager Kevin Walsh hung up his intercounty boots, midfield has been an issue but Cooke, big and athletic, has started in every game this spring and has formed a partnership with Paul Conroy that has a long-term feel about it.
7 DAVID CLIFFORD (KERRY)
Hard not to empathise with the teenage superstar, such was the hype that accompanied his stepup, which was impossible to live up to. So it has proved, but the fact that he has featured in every game has put to bed any notion that Éamonn Fitzmaurice will farm him out to the U20s this summer. He has shown flashes of that genius in racking up 0-11. The best is yet to come.
8 NIALL KEARNS (MONAGHAN)
With the attraction of playing either of the Hughes brothers, Darren or Kieran, at full-forward, the impressive Kearns has provided Malachy O’Rourke with some welcome midfield options.
He is not just a ball winner, marking his debut against Mayo by stinging for two points, and if he does not make the starting cut, he will play a big part.
9 STEPHEN McMENAMIN (DONEGAL)
The faith which Declan Bonner has shown in the Red Hugh’s clubman has been repaid.
He would have started in all four games but for illness forcing him out of the Dublin game. He has found his feet in the full-back line and will ensure that when Neil McGee and Paddy McGrath return that there will be genuine competition in the fullback line.
10 BARRY KERR (MONAGHAN)
Would be much higher up this list if disciplinary issues were not such a concern. He saw a straight red card for a strike on David Clifford already, but if he could control that aggression he has all the makings of a top class dog-of-war corner back.