Who has stood out for you in the 2016 Championship so far?
History tells us that the All-Ireland Final tends to play a huge part in determining the make-up of the Gaelic Football All-Star team every year, but if it was selected now, who would make the cut?
The 2016 edition of the All-Ireland senior football championship hasn’t exactly been a vintage one, but it’s still had its fair share of surprises, exciting games and individual performances that have caught the eye.
It was a tough task, but we’ve compiled a list of who we believe have been the outstanding individuals to date and want you to select who you feel deserves recognition in every line of the pitch.
Formations might be redundant in Gaelic Football these days, but like the All-Star team itself we’ve opted for a traditional line-up, so make your choices accordingly below.
All-Star nominations
Goalkeeper
Stephen Cluxton’s difficulties in the semi-final (for 10 minutes in an otherwise fine performance) have opened up a position between the sticks.
Evan Comerford’s laser-like accuracy was the starting point of many a Tipperary attack, while veteran Joe Hayes was a big presence in Clare’s run to the quarter-finals.
Mayo’s David Clarke, meanwhile, has been solid as a rock and kept a clean sheet in the quarter-final and semi-final.
Full-back line
To be a defender nowadays requires being comfortable on the ball and not getting a nose bleed once crossing the halfway line, but there are plenty of traditional backs who love defending amongst our nominations for the full-back line.
The form of Philly McMahon and Jonny Cooper has rendered the absence of Rory O’Carroll irrelevant, while Keith Higgins has looked more at home since returning to the Mayo defence.
Alongside him, Brendan Harrison has been very assured in his first full year as a starter and, like Tyrone’s Cathal McCarron and Tipperary’s Ciaran McDonald, he has handled direct opponents with aplomb.
In Mark Griffin, Kerry might have finally found a full-back who’s a natural in the position and Shane Enright’s display against Bernard Brogan in the All-Ireland semi-final highlighted his man-marking capabilities.
Half-back line
Possibly the strongest line on the pitch, with a handful of the nominees entering ‘Footballer of the Year’ territory at some point in the season.
For Mayo duo Lee Keegan and Colm Boyle and Dublin’s Cian O’Sullivan, it’s been a case of sustaining the excellence that has earned the trio multiple All-Stars in recent years.
Ryan McHugh and Peter Harte wore 5 and 7 on their backs respectively but popped up all over the pitch and were the most important players in Donegal and Tyrone’s run to the quarter-finals.
James Dolan, meanwhile, scored goals against Kildare and Mayo and did a decent job of eh, ‘ruffling’ Diarmuid Connolly’s feathers against the Dubs.
Midfield
This was a tough position to call, a with a limit of five nominees leading to the exclusion of the likes of Seamus O’Shea, Michael Darragh McCauley and David Moran despite strong performances in the All-Ireland series.
We don’t think anyone, however, will dispute the inclusions of Clare’s Gary Brennan and Tipperary’s Peter Acheson, while Mattie Donnelly and Colm Cavanagh perfectly complemented one another in the Tyrone engine room.
Half-forward line
Another collection of blue-chip performers here, led by the magnificent Diarmuid Connolly and his partner-in-crime, the versatile Ciaran Kilkenny.
Aidan O’Shea has been increasingly prominent the longer the year has gone on and Diarmuid O’Connor was Mayo’s shining light before injury dulled his impact against Tyrone.
Darran O’Sullivan and Donnchadh Walsh both made significant impacts against Dublin and previously in the Championship, while Niall Sludden was one of a number of Tyrone players devastating on the counter-attack in the Red Handers run to the quarter-finals.
Full-forward line
We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to firepower in the last line of the pitch
Tipp duo Michael Quinlivan and Conor Sweeney would have made any team in the country with their scoring prowess throughout the season and Andy Moran has been rolling back the years since being installed on the edge of the Mayo square.
There's no substitute for Andy Moran https://t.co/Cir3NfpOi7
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 31, 2016
Kevin McManamon has arguably been Dublin’s best forward (and that’s saying something) and beside him, Dean Rock has been metronomic with his frees while still contributing from play.
Comfortable off both feet and with an eye for goal, Paul Geaney has established himself as Kerry’s go-to forward, while Paddy McBrearty’s ten-point haul against Cork, as well as some good showings in Ulster, makes him worthy of a nomination.
The new GAA Hour football podcast is here. Listen to Colm Parkinson, Senan Connell, and Barry Cahill dissect a classic between Dublin and Kerry. Subscribe here on iTunes.
