1. Denis Daly (St Mary’s, Cahirciveen – Kerry)
2015 was a landmark year for St Mary’s player Denis Daly, who scored 1-3 for St Mary’s in their Munster IFC final victory over Carrigaline in December.
He played U21 football for Kerry, won an All-Ireland junior title with the county and also claimed county medals in the senior and intermediate grades.
Daly was a member of the South Kerry side that saw off Killarney Legion in the senior final replay and he claimed intermediate glory with St Mary’s before Maurice Fitzgerald’s men landed the Munster crown, with national glory now very much in their sights.
2. Stephen Coen (Hollymount-Carramore – Mayo)
Stephen Coen is a player with a bright future ahead of him for club and county.
Captain of the Mayo minors that won the 2013 All-Ireland crown, Coen appeared as a sub for the seniors in last year’s semi-final replay defeat against Dublin.
Now very much focused on club duty, Coen was one of the standout performers in last year’s county championship, and Hollymount-Carramore have kicked on from there to reach Croke Park.
3. Bryan Sheehan (St Mary’s)
Newly-installed as Kerry senior football team captain for the 2016 campaign, Sheehan has some club business to attend to before linking up with Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s charges.
A tower of strength for St Mary’s and South Kerry (as captain) in their surges to county glory in the senior and intermediate ranks last year, Sheehan’s hectic year was prolonged as St Mary’s advanced to claim Munster intermediate glory and a spot in the All-Ireland final.
Deadly from placed balls and general play, 30-year-old Sheehan is taking over the Kerry senior armband from Kieran Donaghy.
4. Conor Keane (Hollymount-Carramore)
Former Mayo minor Conor Keane scored a brilliant point in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Loughlinisland to help book Hollymount-Carramore’s safe passage to GAA HQ.
Keane also posted a point in the Connacht semi-final victory over Melvin Gaels, before later receiving a red card.
Darren Coen is renowned as Hollymount’s leading marksman but Keane is also capable of chipping in with vital scores.
5. Shane Timlin (Ardnaree Sarsfields – Mayo)
Defender Shane Timlin is one of the key men for Ardnaree Sarsfields as they chase All-Ireland junior football glory against Kerry outfit Templenoe.
The Mayo men may be rank outsiders with the bookies to claim glory at Croke Park but Ardnaree have some cracking players in their own right and attacking half-back Timlin is one of them.
Timlin was one of Ardnaree’s best players in their All-Ireland semi-final victory over Rockcorry and is well capable of surging forward to take a score.
6. Adrian Spillane (Templenoe – Kerry)
A former Kerry minor and a member of last year’s extended U21 squad, Adrian Spillane is a versatile, hard-running player operating at midfield for Templenoe.
Son of Kingdom legend Tom, and a nephew of Pat, is joined on the starting line-up by brother Killian and cousin John.
The new generation of Spillanes are hellbent on claiming All-Ireland junior club glory at GAA HQ.
7. Ronan Doherty (Ardnaree Sarsfields)
Renowned as one of the quickest players on the Ardnaree team, Doherty is a player that Templenoe will need to keep a close eye on.
Man of the match in the 2015 Mayo junior final, Doherty carried that good form into the provincial campaign and he scored a crucial goal in the Connacht final victory over Clifden.
Doherty was also prominent in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Rockcorry, scoring four points, including three from play.
8. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
Morley is one of four Templenoe players who featured on the Kerry team that won last year’s All-Ireland junior crown, along with Killian Spillane and Gavin and Brian Crowley.
Captain of Templenoe, Morley represented Kerry at minor and U21 level and is regarded as an extremely versatile player.
During his time as a Kerry minor, Morley made the transition from the forward line to full-back, where he’s now stationed with the club.
