It’s time for the tuxedos for the Donegal players this Friday as they attend the RDS for the All Stars ceremony.
Ten Donegal players have made the list of nominations which is a great achievement in itself.
Of course, they would have preferred to have won an All-Ireland medal but it wasn’t to be despite their best efforts.
However, it is still fantastic recognition to be awarded an All Star.
The players selected join an illustrious group and it is good going to be acknowledged as one of the best 15 players of the season that’s just been.
Michael Murphy is one of three nominees for Footballer of the Year while Finnbarr Roarty is contention for Young Footballer of the Year.
It is incredible that Michael is in the mix for the top prize.
It was this day last year that it was confirmed that he was returning to the Donegal panel, and it was hard to know what to expect.
He had been out of intercounty football for two seasons but made a great impact in the green and gold jersey.
He got himself into great shape and put in a string of fantastic performances.
It was almost the perfect fairytale but Michael and Donegal just didn’t quite get the happy ending. Maybe there’s another chapter to be written yet!
He had a few knocks and niggles and had surgery a couple of months ago, but it looks like he’s going to give it another season which is welcome news for all Donegal fans.
There’s no doubt he’s up against it in the battle for Footballer of the Year because David Clifford had such a super season, but Michael will pick up a richly deserved fourth All Star.
Finnbarr is another man who has had a remarkable 12 months.
It’s unusual these days for a player to be given a chance when they are still a teenager but Finnbarr grabbed his opportunity.
He brought huge energy and drive to the Donegal team and became a real fan favourite. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get the nod for Young Football of the Year and I think he will get an All Star as well.
In terms of where the All Stars might come from, Michael Langan had a great season and I’d imagine he will be selected at midfield with Joe O’Connor.
Langan was named as the Donegal Inter-county Footballer of the Year last week and he had a super season for the team.
He had a lot of big displays throughout the campaign and scored one of the goals of the year against Monaghan in the quarter-final.
Brendan McCole had a fabulous season and took up all the best attackers. He should have got an All Star last year and I really hope he isn’t over-looked once again.
I think we will be in with a good shout of getting a second award in the forward line as well.
Shane O’Donnell and Conor O’Donnell are in with a strong shout depending on what the judging committee are looking for, and both men were outstanding.
Peadar Mogan, Ryan McHugh, Ciaran Moore, and Ciaran Thompson are also nominated and were all excellent for the team.
Kerry were worthy champions and they will get at least seven, if not eight.
The Clifford brothers, Joe O’Connor, Shane Ryan, Jason Foley, Gavin White and Seanie O’Shea will all probably make it, and Brian Ó Beaglaíoch will be in the mix as well.
It will be interesting to see how much weight is put on the provincial championships now we have a new structure.
Louth ending their Leinster drought was a big story and I think Sam Mulroy might squeeze in. Oisin Conaty had a great year but might lose out to Mulroy.
The beaten semi-finalists usually get the nod and I think Sean Rafferty from Meath will be included while Tyrone’s Kieran McGeary had a good year as well.
I’d love for Donegal come away with six All Stars but we will settle for five as long as Finnbarr wins the Young Footballer award.
NAOMH CONAILL
It will be another busy weekend for Finnbarr as he plays for Naomh Conaill in the Ulster Club Championship on Sunday against Scotstown.
There’s no doubt that it is a tough draw for Naomh Conaill.
They are a seasoned team who have had a lot of success down through the years.
They haven’t quite managed to win Ulster and that’s what they will be chasing this year.
Darren and Kieran Hughes are still going strong, and you have Conor McCarthy, Ryan O’Toole, Rory Beggan, Micheal McCarville, Gavin McPhillips, and Jack McCarron who were all on the Monaghan senior panel this year.
Their minor team was strong last year as well and pushed Four Masters hard so they have a bit of youth breaking in as well.
It’s a tough ask but Naomh Conaill have battled hard all year and they won’t lack for effort.
It’s four weeks since their county final, and they will have time to get the bodies right and get a good look at Scotstown.
They’re not an easy team to beat or put pressure on, especially when they have such a quality goalkeeper in Beggan.
But Martin Regan and his backroom team will have a plan.
Naomh Conaill haven’t had the success they would like in Ulster either, and if they can get over this game, they might feel things will open up for them.
As always, they will be proud to fly the Donegal flag, and we wish them well in Clones.
From my own perspective, I’m really looking forward to managing Erne Gaels in the Ulster Club against Kingscourt from Cavan.
It’s a great competition and everyone goes into it with such enthusiasm.
Kingscourt are backboned by Cavan stalwart Padraig Faulkner and they have Meath forward Jordan Morris who will take a bit of watching.
Naomh Columba are out in the Ulster Intermediate on Saturday when they take on Carrickmacross in Inniskeen.
Glen are a seasoned side and I think they could do well in this competition.
I know Ryan Gillespie has headed away again and that’s a blow but Naomh Columba have a lot of good players.
The big question is can they contain Monaghan star Stephen O’Hanlon?
It’s a long trek to Inniskeen but you can be sure that Naomh Columba will have great support at the match, and I think they stand a good chance of advancing.
Nudie
I was very sad to hear of the death of Eugene ‘Nudie’ Hughes this week.
Nudie will go down as one of Monaghan’s greatest ever players and I lined out against him a couple of times.
He won three All Stars – one at corner-back and two at corner-forward and there aren’t many who had that kind of versatility.
Nudie worked on the road with Tennants Ireland for a long time, and I would have been covering Cavan and Monaghan for my own work, and would have met him regularly.
There was no better man to tell a yarn. Even when he was struggling with his health in recent years, he was always in good spirits.
I’d like to pass on my condolences to his family and friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
