FOUR TEAMS LEFT in the race.
Dublin, Kerry, Mayo and Tipperary are the counties still in with a chance of claiming the Sam Maguire Cup.
That likely means those four counties will win the majority of the 2016 All-Star awards.
When we picked the side at this stage last year, it ended up featuring nine players from eventual selection. That was a much better strike-rate than our 2014 team, when four players were eventually named in the selection confirmed later in the year.
There’s still three (at least) major showdowns that will have a big bearing on the ultimate outfit that will be honoured in November.
And for all those who won’t agree with this side, the comments section is a place where you can argue and vent.
Goalkeeper
1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
Four games to date and just three goals conceded by Cluxton – two of those in the opening fixture against Laois at Nowlan Park. The Dublin shot-stopper still remains the best in the business at this level and his kick-outs remain an integral part of how the team launch attacks.
Honourable mentions go to…
Tipperary’s Evan Comerford is surely in line for a nomination at least after an impressive season to date. An excellent shot-stopper, his kick-out strategy was from the Cluxton handbook against Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Mayo’s David Clarke has shown good form too after regaining his place in the team following the Connacht semi-final loss to Galway, and made a vital save against Tyrone from Conor McAliskey. Kerry’s Brian Kelly probably hasn’t been tested enough yet to force himself into the reckoning.
Full-Back Line
2. Johnny Cooper (Dublin)
3. Mark Griffin (Kerry)
4. Cathal McCarron (Tyrone)
Cooper is enjoying an outstanding campaign for Dublin and helping to plug the hole left by Rory O’Carroll’s departure. Mark Griffin has emerged from the underage ranks to nail down a position that’s proven problematic for Kerry in recent times but he faces a stern test in the All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin, while Cathal McCarron was one of Tyrone’s stand-out performers in defence en route to Ulster glory.
Honourable mentions go to…
Tipperary’s Colm O’Shaughnessy was one of our young players to watch in 2016 and he hasn’t disappointed. Mayo’s Keith Higgins is improving as the season progresses while Galway’s Declan Kyne can be pleased with his debut season. Tipp’s Ireland International Rules player Ciarán McDonald is another who gets about his business with minimum fuss. Paddy McGrath had a decent season for Donegal.
Half-back line
5. Ryan McHugh (Donegal)
6. Cian O’Sullivan (Dublin)
7. Colm Boyle (Mayo)
Ryan McHugh was a beacon for Donegal throughout their championship season, shining when the chips were down. Cian O’Sullivan is playing the sweeper role to near perfection for Dublin and gets the nod to anchor the centre of this line and while Lee Keegan has shown improved form for Mayo recently, with those two massive points helping to sink Tyrone, Colm Boyle is arguably their most consistent defender all year and even in defeat to Galway in Connacht, he played well.
Honourable mentions go to…
James McCarthy’s injury hampered his progress but on form, he’s one of the finest wing-backs in the country, if not the best. John Small has impressed too for the Dubs while the aforementioned Keegan is one of Mayo’s key players. Peter Crowley remains a vital cog in the Kerry wheel, the experienced head alongside young guns Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Tadhg Morley, while Tipp duo Bill Maher and Robbie Kiely have been hugely influential in the Premier County’s march to the last four.
Midfield
8. Peter Acheson (Tipperary)
9. Matthew Donnelly (Tyrone)
Captain Peter Acheson can play in a variety of positions for Tipp but he’s been excellent at midfield. His centre-field partner on our selection is Tyrone’s Mattie Donnelly, who lost nothing in defeat to Mayo, kicking three points.
Honourable mentions go to…
Brian Fenton is a current All-Star and the Dublin midfielder is one of the most consistent players in the game. Clare’s Gary Brennan was in with a big shout but Clare underperformed against Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final, while Galway’s collapse to Tipperary knocks Paul Conroy and Tom Flynn out of the running. Donegal’s Odhran Mac Niallais had some good moments while Mayo’s Seamus O’Shea seems to be building up a head of steam along with his team-mates through the back door.
Half-Forward Line
10. Peter Harte (Tyrone)
11. Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin)
12. Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin)
The highly-competitive nature of the half-back line means that we’ve positioned Tyrone dynamo Peter Harte at wing-forward. While nominally a defender, Harte did most of his best work in an attacking sense this summer and who’ll forget that late peach against Donegal in the Ulster final? Diarmuid Connolly remains arguably the best pound-for-pound footballer in the country, even if the the red mist can descend on occasion, while Ciaran Kilkenny has been Dublin’s most consistent forward all summer.
Honourable mentions go to…
Aidan O’Shea has been used in a number of positions for Mayo – midfield, centre forward and full-forward – and that may affect his chances of winning an All-Star. His team-mate Diarmuid O’Connor can’t be discounted in the final selection while Kerry pair Darran O’Sullivan and Donnchadh Walsh have impressed in patches. Kevin O’Halloran is a free-scoring Tipperary forward with a peach of a left boot from placed balls while Brian Fox played the sweeper role to perfection against Galway but is a player renowned more as a half-forward.
Full-Forward Line
13. Cillian O’Connor (Mayo)
14. Michael Quinlivan (Tipperary)
15. Paul Geaney (Kerry)
Probably the most competitive line in our team but we’ve gone with Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor as his form has improved incrementally as the season progressed, Tipp talisman Michael Quinlivan and lethal Kerry hit-man Paul Geaney.
Honourable mentions go to…
Dublin’s Dean Rock is the championship’s top scorer and unlucky to miss out, while side-kick Bernard Brogan has been very good for the Sky Blues too, bar that quarter-final against Donegal. Danny Cummins and Damien Comer enjoyed good moments for Galway and throughout the summer, the same applies to the likes of Conor McManus (Monaghan), Paddy McBrearty (Donegal) and Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone). Tipperary’s Conor Sweeney could be in with a real shout if he performs well against Mayo on Sunday, having scored 2-7 from play in his last two games, while Fermanagh’s Tomás Corrigan, Clare’s David Tubridy and Down’s Donal O’Hare were on song for their respective counties.
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