Laurence McMullan has had a long and fruitful career with his club St Mary’s Convoy and is still going strong as player-manager.

He has come up against some top quality players during the last two decades, and has this week picked the best fifteen he has faced.

Caolan McGettigan (Milford)

The best two goalkeepers that I would have come across were Liam Mailey from my own club and Caolan McGettigan from Milford. Both were very good and had stints up with the county. Caolan was always a very solid ‘keeper when we came up against him.

Marcus Curran (Robert Emmets)

Myself and Marcus would have fought it out on the pitch on numerous occasions. He’s a good lad and a tight marker. Robert Emmets would have had good times and bad, but he always stood out for them.

Stephen McMenamin (Red Hughs)

Stephen is a brilliant defender. I came up against him a few years ago when he was still Under 21 and he ran me all over the pitch. I must have run 10k trying to keep up with him. A strong tough back with a good attitude.

Stephen McMenamin, Red Hugh’s

Joe Dunnion (Sean MacCumhaills)

I would have come up against Joe a lot when we were younger and he was always one of MacCumhaills’ best players. He went on to play a long time for their seniors and was versatile.

Lorney Crossan (Naomh Padraig, Lifford)

Lifford were very competitive in Division 4 and the Junior Championship for a few years and Lorney was one of their main men. He had all the attributes of a top player, and he had a bit of bite too.

Paddy Peoples (Milford)

Paddy was another man I came up against a good bit. He was always a very steady player and a good reader of the game, and moved all the way up the divisions with Milford.

Paddy Peoples

Kevin Cassidy (Sligo IT)

I got a run with the county Under 21s and we went to play Sligo IT in a challenge game and I looked down to see who was number seven for them and it was Kevin Cassidy. He was just after winning the All Star and I was like a lamb to the slaughter against him. I also played against Kevin in the Divisional competition that John Joe Doherty set up.

Neil Gallagher (Glenswilly)

We would have come up against Glenswilly at underage a lot. We were a very small team so I had to go midfield against Neil Gallagher and you can imagine how that went. A class act who always led by example.

Neil Gallagher, Glenswilly in action against Gary Wilson, MacCumhaills. Photo: Donna El Assaad

Malachy is a great footballer and a great athlete. He’s a good soccer player and also got a run with the county under Rory Gallagher. When he was going well, Moville usually were too. An excellent free-taker as well.

Damien Browne (Red Hughs)

I would have come up against Red Hughs plenty of times down through the years, and Damien Browne would always get four or five points a match. Through good times and bad for his club, he was always a mainstay and a man you had to mark every game.

David Walsh (Naomh Brid)

When David came back from England, Naomh Brid were in Division 4. He helped to move them up to Division 3. Walsh was a very clever footballer and there was no dirt in him either.

Willie Gillespie (Naomh Colmcille)

Willie is another man who leads for his team. He was up with the Under 21s for three years and was up with the senior team for a bit, and when he was up at that level, nobody could handle him in the league.

Naomh Colmcille’s Willie Gillespie

Conor McBrearty (Letterkenny Gaels)

Conor has really helped to push Letterkenny Gaels on over the last six or seven years. If he is on the field, they are a completely different proposition with his speed and scoring ability. He’s still only in his mid-twenties so the best is still to come if he can stay injury free.

Alan Lyons (Naomh Ultan)

It’s never easy going up to Dunkineely, and Lyons is always a handful. He has been very unlucky with knee injuries and if it wasn’t for that, he would probably be in the Donegal senior panel right now. When fit and available, he always plays and is a leader for Naomh Ultan.

Alan Lyons

Alan Friel (Urris)

I think Alan has decided to retire now, and a lot of clubs will be happy to hear that. He was a very good player for Urris and helped them win a couple of Junior Championships. He was great at scoring goals and setting them up.

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