Only one vote for Dubliner to be named Footballer of the Year for 2017

In the last seven seasons, four different Dublin men have been crowned as Footballer of the Year.

They’ve also come in the shape of a defender, a midfielder, and two forwards.

Stephen Cluxton can probably count himself unlucky every single season not to receive the gong. It seems incredible that a man who has not only led the way for 16 years as the best ‘keeper in the country but completely redefined the position would never finish with the award that honours the top footballer in Ireland.

2010 – Bernard Brogan (Dublin)
2011 – Alan Brogan (Dublin)
2012 – Karl Lacey (Donegal)
2013 – Michael Darragh MacAuley (Dublin)
2014 – James O’Donoghue (Kerry)
2015 – Jack McCaffrey (Dublin)
2016 – Lee Keegan (Mayo)

Just twice in the last 13 years has the Footballer of the Year gong gone to a county that did not finish as All-Ireland champions.

The 15 best footballers of the National Football League https://t.co/Dy0z2PaP97

— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 11, 2017

However, in a special GAA Hour episode where the pundits made their predictions for the 2017 championship, each of Cian Ward, Steven McDonnell, and Colm Parkinson opted for Kerry man David Moran to walk away with the title this season.

Footballer of the Year

Colm Parkinson – David Moran (Kerry)
Steven McDonnell – David Moran (Kerry)
Cian Ward – David Moran (Kerry)
Conán Doherty – Philly McMahon (Dublin)

You can get Philly McMahon at 40/1.

Betting odds for 2017 Footballer of the Year

Paul Geaney (Kerry) – 8/1
Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin) – 10/1
Brian Fenton (Dublin) – 12/1
Lee Keegan (Mayo) – 14/1
Peter Harte (Tyrone) – 16/1
Cillian O’Connor (Mayo) – 16/1
David Moran (Kerry) – 16/1

There wasn’t much diversity in The GAA Hour selections though.

Wooly: “I’m going for David Moran. Kerry are going to make the final, they’ll be pipped in a classic (against Dublin), Jack Barry is a brilliant foil for him – he’ll take care of the Fentons and let David Moran dominate and there’s not a better dominating, classy, Rolls Royce of a player in the country.”

Steven McDonnell: “I agree. I think he’s a classy midfielder – probably the most outstanding midfielder in the country. What a footballer.”

Cian Ward: “This is boring. David Moran.”

Conán Doherty: “Philly McMahon – I think he’s been the best player in the league. I think he’s the best full back in the country at the minute and I think that will come in very handy in a championship that Dublin will win. And he’ll probably score five points along the way too.”

Listen to all the predictions below – from provincial champions to biggest disappointments – at 45:10.

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10