Every county has a forward you overlook at your peril.
They all have their devastating hitmen but some of those guys don’t get recognised playing in a weaker team. More so, some of these counties’ most effective and most important attackers don’t get the credit they deserve because they’re in the shadow of someone else.
They’re not alone either.
Always overlooked https://t.co/FVlEDOZHhP #GAA
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 26, 2016
But as much as defenders need to be given credit, it’s the attackers who win games and here are some who should be highlighted more than they are – but no doubt they are already marked men in opposition changing rooms.
1. Martin McElhinney (Donegal)
Lines out at midfield a lot of the time, lines out at half forward a lot of the time. Wherever he plays, whether it’s in the middle, the front six, or coming off the bench, he has been absolutely crucial to their success over the last five seasons.
In Jim McGuinness’ first two Ulster triumphs with the county, McElhinney was used as a sub in both finals and, each time, his introduction had a major influence on proceedings.
He’s been the utility man and the reliable man and he’s been the heartbeat to many lung-bursting attack. He can play it long, he can run and, if you neglect to mark him, he’ll kick two or three scores in as many minutes without anyone even noticing.
2. Enda Lynn (Derry)
Plenty of talented players have come up the Derry conveyor belt and never got national recognition because the county generally flattered to deceive in too many seasons.
Enda Lynn has been one of the most important footballers for the Oak Leafers in recent years.
Whereas Mark Lynch has taken the plaudits and rightly so, when James Kielt’s boomer scores have stolen headlines, it has been Lynn’s endless effect that has carried them through on so many occasions. He’s a razor sharp forward that could spread any defender on toast but, as the game changed, he adapted with it and became one of the most trustworthy and exciting wing forwards that could translate defence into exhilarating attacks in a matter of seconds.
3. Brian Kavanagh (Longford)
Longford’s scalps down through the years haven’t come from nowhere.
Any team that has come face to face with those blue and yellow jerseys will know too well the destructive threat of Brian Kavanagh in the full forward line.
Any ball in his direction is a terrifying prospect and how he holds full backs off in what feels like powerfully chaotic plays is just menacing.
A puncher always has a chance and, with someone like Brian Kavanagh looking after your attacks, you’re never out of the fight.
4. Niall McNamee (Offaly)
If he was playing in another county, he’d have cleaned up the awards by now.
His dominance with Rhode every winter tells its own story but even when Offaly are struggling, McNamee is a frightening forward that you’d do well to keep muted in any way.
He’s got all the tools to be one of the greats but the sad reality is that he just doesn’t have the platform to show it off.
5. Conor Sweeney (Tipperary)
The closest thing to Paul Geaney that you’re going to find, Conor Sweeney is almost unmarkable.
In the last three years, he’s really come to the fore for Tipperary and he led them the whole way to the last four in 2016.
Michael Quinlivan took the All-Star at the end of the season but it was Sweeney’s five from play against Derry and 2-2 in the quarter-final against Galway that did the real damage for them and the fact that he was winning every kind of ball and kicking every type of score just showed off the trouble he was causing.
He became a leader in 2016. He became one of the most dangerous forwards in the country.
6. Adrian Marren (Sligo)
Free kick takers are often overrated but not in this case, not when they offer so much more.
Marren’s accuracy has been vital for Sligo down through the years but his playmaking abilities have been more important.
He’s as strong as a bull, he can win his own ball and the scariest thing is that he can do anything with it when he wants to. He’ll run at you, he’ll shoot or he’ll pick a glorious pass to his inside forwards before you’ve even thought about getting a hand on him.
Any team could use this man. Any team would use every one of these forwards.
