Team of the Junior Championship

It was a busy Junior Championship.

Carndonagh came out on top in the final against Letterkenny Gaels.

Ryan Ferry selects the players that stood out.

1. Daniel McDaid(Carndonagh)

McDaid lined out at corner-back for Carn last season but his switch into goals helped the team. The Donegal U20 panellist had a fie campaign between the sticks.

2. Danny Monagle
(Carndonagh)

Monagle has been playing senior football for over ten seasons for Carn now and he plays an important role in the full-back line, and he was excellent during the pressure games in the knock-out stages.

3. Bryan McNamee
(St Mary’s, Convoy)

McNamee is a consistent defender who always holds his own for St Mary’s. He managed to keep a good grip on Conor O’Donnell in the semi-final in Burt.

4. Donal Gallagher
(Naomh Bríd)

The former county minor has become a key player for Naomh Brid despite still being a teenager. He was a force going forward for his team but looked after his defensive duties as well, and fared as goodl as anyone did on Ronan Frain throughout the campaign.

5. Brian Diver
(Letterkenny Gaels)

It was a super championship for Brian Diver, who was magnificent at right half-back for Letterkenny Gaels. He was man-of-the-match against Naomh Ultan, then posted 1-2 in the semi with Naomh Bríd, while he was one of the best performers in the county final.

6. James Monagle (Carndonagh)

Monagle was rock solid at the heart of the Carndonagh defence and plays an important role at number six. He excelled against Convoy and drove his team forward on the big day against Gaels.

7. Will Quinn
(Carndonagh)

Quinn has played mostly at midfield for Carndonagh in recent seasons but the switch to wing-back worked a treat this year. He was man-of-the-match in their semi-final with Convoy while he had a strong showing in the decider as well.

8. Ryan Kelly
(Carndonagh)

Central to his team’s success this season was their size and power in midfield and Kelly formed a strong partnership with young Sean O’Carroll. The experienced Kelly has given great service to his club down through the years and deserves a crack at intermediate football.

9. Pauric Gordon
(St Mary’s, Convoy)

Convoy battled hard in the championship and nobody summed up their effort more than Pauric Gordon. The whole-hearted midfielder competes well in the air and empties the tank going up and down the field, while he’s always good for a score off his left foot.

10. Ronan Frain
(Letterkenny Gaels)

Frain transformed Letterkenny Gaels’ season when he returned home from spending the summer in Chicago.

He was super against Carn, Moville and Naomh Ultan in the group stages and was his team’s best player in the final defeat when he led by example for his club.

11. Eoin Rush
(Naomh Bríd)

It was a strong championship from Rush, who showed good leadership for his side. He scored five points against Urris and three in the win over Convoy, while he posted 1-7 in the semi-final defeat against Letterkenny Gaels and really didn’t deserve to be on the losing team that day.

12. Conor O’Donnell
(Carndonagh)

O’Donnell came into the championship in brilliant form after the intercounty season and he played his part in Carn’s road through to the final with good displays against Letterkenny Gaels, Moville and Naomh Ultan, while he got the crucial goal against Convoy. O’Donnell was then magnificent in the final.

13. Cian Doherty
(Carndonagh)

Doherty wasn’t at his best in the final but he was probably Carn’s most influential player up until that point, scoring 1-5 in the win over Letterkenny Gaels in the group, 2-2 against Moville, and six points in the sem-final with St Mary’s, Convoy.

14. Conor McBrearty
(Letterkenny Gaels)

McBrearty had another fine championship for Letterkenny Gaels this season. He was excellent against Naomh Ultan and Robert Emmets and then had arguably the best individual display of the championship when he posted 3-4 against Naomh Brid. The final didn’t go to plan but he still scored six frees.

15. Shay
Doherty
(Letterkenny Gaels)

Doherty can be proud of his performances this season and he was a handful for defenders. He had a string of good displays scoring 1-4 against Naomh Colmcille, 0-3 in the win over Carn and 2-3 in the clash with Naomh Ultan. He also nabbed majors in the semi-final and decider.