Another weekend bites the dust.
What a time of the year it is. Here’s the best of the weekend’s performers.
1 Stephen Corcoran (Coolderry, Offaly)
How can you argue against the goalkeeper who scored five points and saved a penalty?
Corcoran boomed over the long-range frees from all angles and distances. His puck-outs were delivered like heat-seeking missiles and he kept on denying the Mount Leinster Rangers lads like a sticky bouncer.
Check out the full-time highlights between Coolderry (Offaly) v Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow)! pic.twitter.com/HBlkx7IAXu
— The GAA (@officialgaa) November 4, 2018
2 Gary McFadden (Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal)
The best man-marker in Donegal. He was on Cargin’s main man in Corrigan Park, Cargin’s main man didn’t score from play.
3 Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
Safe as a house, as per usual.
4 Barry Daly (Eoghan Rua, Coleraine, Derry)
The galloping gazelle of a corner back set up the second goal that killed off Castlerahan but he also stuck to his defensive duties stoically in Kingscourt.
5 Sharon Courtney (Donaghmoyne, Monaghan)
The Monaghan ladies star was in flying form at wing back, kicking a point as her side booked their place in an All-Ireland semi-final again.
6 Jack Browne (Ballyea, Clare)
Hurled more balls than most hurlers would in a wall-ball session. Tough as nails, skilful as they come. He’s some man to win the ball when everybody else wants it.
7 Philip Mahony (Ballygunner, Waterford)
Did this when Ballygunner were dead.
GOAL for Ballygunner’s Philip Mahony to level the game and bring it to extra time! pic.twitter.com/3ZTqi9yU0l
— The GAA (@officialgaa) November 4, 2018
8 Padraig Doyle (Naomh Eanna, Gorey)
Hurled the field in the first half of this Leinster club quarter final. Scored nine points, three from open play. Did similar in Wexford final and he’s knocking on Davy Fitzgerald’s door now.
9 Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville, Cork)
Scored five from play. Left the pitch to a standing ovation. The pride of Charleville.
Great call from Cork legend Ben O'Connor to take him off, the people of @CHARLEVILLEGAA enjoyed that moment https://t.co/EldbCqfTbD
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 4, 2018
10 Niall Deasy (Ballyea, Clare)
Kept Ballyea in that thriller of a Munster semi-final for large parts. Scored two huge goals and even though he won’t get the credit for that free in the last puck of extra-time anymore, it shows what he’s made of.
11 Rian O’Neill (Crossmaglen, Armagh)
Scored four points from play in a game where scores were very hard to come by. Crossmaglen keep producing, this is the new kid on the block.
He was under-21 last year
12 Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner, Waterford)
Scored 13 points, five from play. Came up with the big scores everytime Ballygunner needed them.
13 Cian Mulligan (Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal)
Scored 1-1, set-up another goal and absolutely tormented Cargin all day long.
14 Jarlath Mannion (Cappataggle, Galway)
A truly magical inside forward. Cappy were heartbreakingly beaten for the second year in a row, by the same opponents – Liam Mellows and by the same margin – one point.
Mannion did everything he could, scoring five from play and by the end of it, they were dubbing him the Galway hurlers’ missing ingredient.
15 Louise Ward (Kilkerrin/Clonberne, Galway)
The Kilkerrin/Clonberne captain led by example when they defeated the giants of Carnacon. She scored a crucial goal that now sends them through to an All-Ireland semi-final.
