THIS AWARD WAS little more of a surprise tonight than the actual announcement of this year’s football Allstar team, which was of course revealed midweek.
James O’Donoghue was odds-on for the award as soon as he smashed 10 points against Cork in this year’s Munster final, and the Legion attacker continued his form throughout the summer.
Far from a one-, two-, or three-trick pony the attacker demonstrated pace, power and no shortage of skill, edging him ahead of fellow contenders Neil McGee of Donegal and Dublin and St Vincent’s Diarmuid Connolly for tonight’s award.
Talking in receipt of the award, O’Donoghue said that this year’s success has whet the appetite for further glory in the Kingdom.
“The competition for the football is crazy. The Dubs are always going to be tough but I think there are six or seven teams who can win it, but we got the bit of luck this year.
It does whet the appetite when you win one as the success does taste pretty sweet and hopefully we can win another one in the next few years.
Meanwhile Ryan McHugh continued the trend of picking up the Young Footballer of the Year award without having been selected as an Allstar. The last to win both awards was Cork’s Aidan Walsh back in 2010.
The versatile and supremely talented Donegal half forward beat team mate Paddy McBrearty and Galway’s Shane Walsh to the award.
