Trevor Alcorn had a long and fruitful senior career with Termon, and represented his club with distinction for twenty years.
He made his debut in 1995, and played senior until 2015. He continued to feature at reserve level after that, and has also been making a name for himself as a GAA coach.
Alcorn has faced some top quality players over the course of his career and has this week picked the best fifteen he has faced, with honourable mentions for Christy Toye (St Michael’s), Kevin Cassidy (Gaoth Dobhair), and Frank McGlynn (Glenfin).
Paul Durcan (Four Masters)
‘Papa’ was a serious goalkeeper and is still playing down in Sligo. He was deceivingly agile and a hard man to beat with a shot. He had the added pressure of Michael Boyle putting him under pressure at county level and that probably made him a better ‘keeper.
Paul Durcan
Damien Diver (Ardara)
Damien came from an era before there was huge focus on systems and tactics, and he was technically a very good player. He had a great engine and was able to mix it if needed.
Neil McGee (Gaoth Dobhair)
You might have got out in front of Neil the odd time before the McGuinness era, but you wouldn’t have even seen the ball after that. I don’t know how Neil manages roundabouts because he is as direct as they come, and only knows one way and that is straight ahead. A great defender with immense pace and power.
John Cunningham (Killybegs)
I made my senior debut against Killybegs and was marked by John Cunningham. There was no taking it easy on the young fella and it wasn’t long before I was dumped on the ground. It was a real welcome to senior football. Cunningham was a good player.
John Cunningham
Martin Shovlin (Naomh Ultan)
I used to think Martin soloed the ball high just so he could cream men as they tried to tackle him. He was as hard as a goat’s knee and it wasn’t easy keeping up with him. They don’t make them like Shovlin anymore.
Martin Gavigan (Ardara)
‘Rambo’ was one of the strongest men I came across playing football. He was an animal on the field and a gentleman off it. He would get a nose bleed if he went up to the opposition’s ’45’, but he always looked after the house and the middle.
Paddy McConigley
Paddy McConigley (Gaeil Fhánada)
I would have played against ‘Connie’ the whole way up from underage to senior. He had serious technical ability and never shied away from anything on the field.
Neil Gallagher (Glenswilly)
Big Neil was a great player for Glenswilly down through the years. He was great in the air but also a very smart player as well. I don’t know how many times I’d see him coming and tighten up for the hit, and he would just reach around and pop the ball out. One of the best midfielders we have ever seen in Donegal.
Neil Gallagher, Glenswilly in action against Gary Wilson, MacCumhaills. Photo: Donna El Assaad
Mickey McGlynn (Glenfin)
Mickey McGlynn was a tough opponent on the field. He had great presence, could field the ball, and orchestrate the play. He was a cool customer and I never saw him angry.
Colm Anthony McFadden (St Michael’s)
Colm has a wand of a left foot and he was unstoppable when he was in the mood. He had a good mixture of power and ability, with a wee tinge of red mist thrown in there too!
Michael Hegarty (Kilcar)
Talk about a football brain. Michael Hegarty was always three moves ahead. He was never standing still, always on the move, and he could change gear and direction very quickly.
Michael Hegarty on the ball
Michael Murphy (Glenswilly)
No team is complete without Michael Murphy. An unbelievable footballer. A wild chatter though – never shuts up!
John Paul Gallagher (Cloughaneely)
The nicest footballer I played with or against, and for me, the best left foot in the business. John Paul moved stealthily across the field and he was hard to pick up. He rarely missed when he got the ball. Injury deprived us of seeing more of John Paul at his best.
John Paul Gallagher
Tony Boyle (Dungloe)
Tony Boyle was a fantastic full-forward and he was ahead of his time. His patience and timing made him unmarkable. He was a natural number 14 which is something you don’t really see anymore.
Seamie ‘Coshia’ Friel
Seamie ‘Coshia’ Friel (Gaeil Fhánada)
Seamie probably didn’t fulfill his potential but he was still a class player down through the years for Fanad. He had power and pace, and could score off either foot. He could also play the killer pass, on the rare occasion that he didn’t shoot himself!
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