RYAN FERRY selects his team of the 2023 Donegal Senior Football Championship
1. Stephen McGrath (Naomh Conaill)
McGrath kept four clean sheets in his seven games, and has really pushed his game on to a new level. His kick-outs are vastly improved, and Naomh Conaill had great joy from his long restarts, while he is also competent at going short. McGrath is very much able to play the modern goalkeeping role and is comfortable taking the ball out of defence and carrying it up the field.
Stephen McGrath.
2. Jason Campbell (Naomh Conaill)
Campbell is Naomh Conaill’s go-to man-marker and he really stepped up to the plate, particularly in the knock-out stages. He nullified Patrick McBrearty’s threat in the quarter-final and then had a good battle with St Eunan’s Eoin McGeehin in the semi. The defender also had a solid outing in the final, and his management team have a lot of faith in the 31 year-old soldier.
3. Conor Morrison (St Eunan’s)
It has been a long road back for Conor Morrison after picking up a serious injury in 2020 but he was at home in the ‘Eunan’s defence this year and had a very steady championship. Strong and combative, no forward gets it easy against Morrison who is always up for the battle. He also scored a great point in the semi-final against Naomh Conaill when his team needed inspiration.
4. Ultan Doherty (Naomh Conaill)
Doherty missed the full Donegal SFC campaign in 2022 with a cruciate injury but he was a huge part of Naomh Conaill’s success this time around. The 25-year-old has got himself into brilliant shape and he excelled in a series of man-marking jobs during the championship. He had Stephen McBrearty for company against Kilcar, while he shadowed Niall O’Donnell against St Eunan’s, and marshalled Daire Ó Baoill in the final, and performed well in all games.
Ultan Doherty.
5. Aidan Breathnach (Gaoth Dobhair)
Breathnach has caught the eye at underage level for Gaoth Dobhair but he really established himself as a nailed-on starter this season. The 21-year-old student is a quick and brave player, and whether he was in the full-back line or half-back line, he got on with his task with minimum fuss. He picked up in-form players in Conor Coyle (Cloughaneely), Daire Gallagher (Dungloe) and Jamie Keegan (MacCumhaill’s) and impressed on them all. Gaoth Dobhair were poor in the county final, but Breathnach worked hard out the field.
6. Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill)
Naomh Conaill nursed Thompson through the league but when Championship time came he was ready. He has always been a good reader of the game and is still in great physical condition for a 37-year-old. He wasn’t always noted for his shooting ability, but scored important points against Glenswilly, St Eunan’s (2) and Gaoth Dobhair. His experience and know-how is vital to the Naomh Conaill machine.
7. Ethan O’Donnell (Naomh Conaill)
O’Donnell wasn’t involved with Donegal in 2023 but his performance levels remained very high for Naomh Conaill throughout the campaign. His stylish runs from the half-back line have become a real feature for Naomh Conaill down through the years, and he is a serious attacking weapon for his team. He scored the leveller against ‘Eunan’s in Glenties, and while he missed most of the quarter-final, he still had a big say in the last two matches.
8. Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill)
McLoone had a disrupted championship campaign last year and only came on for the closing minutes of the county final. However, he has got himself into great condition this year and helped Naomh Conaill dominate games from the middle of the field. The 2012 All-Ireland winner is always willing to accept possession while he also scored 1-6 throughout the championship.
Leo McLoone.
9. Ciaran Thompson (Naomh Conaill)
Ciaran Thompson is the beating heart of the Naomh Conaill team. They have a strong collective but Thompson is their most important player. He’s vital as a free-taker and a long-range scorer of points, while he is the target for most of their kick-outs. The 27-year-old also brings huge workrate in the tackle and often sets the tone for his team with his endeavour around the field.
10. Micheal Roarty (Gaoth Dobhair)
Gaoth Dobhair had a number of strong performers throughout the championship but no-one was more consistent than Roarty. He brings real pace and athleticism to their team, and always empty the tank for his side. The final didn’t go to plan but Roarty did kick a point and tried to turn the tide in the first half when Naomh Conaill were in command.
11. Jeaic Mac Ceallbhuí (Naomh Conaill)
Mac Ceallbhuí went into the championship off the back of an underwhelming campaign with Donegal, but he showed his class with a series of impressive displays in the blue and white jersey. He’s an important ball-carrier for his team and he gets through a lot of work in the middle of the field. Mac Ceallbhuí scored eight points during the championship, including two in the decider.
Jeaic Mac Ceallbhuí.
12. Odhran Doherty (Naomh Conaill)
Doherty broke onto the scene as a defender but he’s used in the half-forward line for Naomh Conaill. He brings huge physicality and power to the middle third and puts himself about, while he is usually the man supplying long balls into the full-forward line. Doherty registered a goal against Kilcar and carried on that form in the last two matches.
13. Karl Joseph Molloy (Ardara)
The find of the Championship. Karl Joseph Molloy impressed for the county minors last year, but his performances in his year of adult football were brilliant. He provided a real x-factor for Ardara this season and excelled in their wins over Glenfin, Milford, and Cloughaneely, while he also bagged 1-4 in the defeat against Gaoth Dobhair. Molloy finished with a tally of 4-25 for the year.
14. Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar)
It wasn’t the championship that McBrearty or Kilcar envisaged, but the county captain did look fresh and sharp after missing a chunk of the summer through injury. He was hugely influential in the four group games as Kilcar picked up seven points from a possible eight, and he really carried the Towney men who never sparked. McBrearty was well-marshalled in the quarter-final defeat, but a total of 1-32 from five matches is still hugely impressive.
Patrick McBrearty.
15. Oisin Gallen (Sean MacCumhaill’s)
Gallen was the outstanding player in this year’s Senior Championship with a string of awesome performances. He was often marked by two men but that didn’t deter the sharpshooter. Gallen was man-of-the-match in six of the seven games he played for MacCumhaill’s and showed huge leadership throughout. The ace attacker finished the championship with 1-56 to his name and is the best forward in the county at present.
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