2018 Cavan Club Football Allstars
1. Paddy Galligan (Killygarry)
In a year in which his team flattered to deceive, Galligan was a stand-out performer in between the sticks.
Produced arguably the save of the year in his team’s final group game against Cootehill to deny Sean O’Connor’s rocket from finding the net from five metres.
The 35-year old Garda was a rock in his side’s shock SFC first round victory (3-11 to 1-16) over Cavan Gaels with his positional sense key to helping his defenders close down the champions’ marquee forwards.
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2. Sean O’Connor (Cootehill Celtic)
O’Connor had his best year yet in a Cootehill shirt.
Overlooked at minor level, his promotion to the county U21 team last year was well merited and his call-up to the current Cavan seniors by Mickey Graham not unexpected.
Formerly an elusive attacker at underage level, O’Connor has great powers of recovery and good feet.
Self-belief and confidence are key to his progress to date.
3. Fergal Reilly (Castlerahan)
Is there a player with a better engine in Cavan?
The erstwhile senior countyman could run for Ireland and his ability to gallop up the field and split the posts proved pivotal in Castlerahan’s historic journey to the summit in 2018.
For such a lean machine, Reilly is as strong as an ox.
Aggressive to the point of playing on the edge, he’s a forward’s nightmare, nibbling away at their heels. Concentration levels always tip-top.
4. Stephen Cooney (Castlerahan)
One of Castlerahan’s unheralded players in 2018.
The 26-yearold glue-like defender consistently punched above his weight on his team’s odyssey to the Elysian Field.
Neat and tidy and seldom ever caught in possession, Cooney’s coolness and calmness regularly got Castlerahan out of sticky situations, especially in the dregs of tightly-contested games.
Was one of his team’s star performers in Ulster.
5. Mark Stuart (Crosserlough)
A surprise packet in the 2018 championship season.
His penchant for scoring during the SFC was one of the most important tools in Crosserlough’s armoury.
He followed his penalty conversion in the quarter-finals against Ramor Utd by splitting the posts to cap one of the best moves of the championship during the ‘lough’s semi-final replay win over Gowna while his two second half points during the second half of the final helped put his side on the cusp of victory.
6. Chris Conroy (Lavey)
The notion that a good forward can play anywhere gained some traction this year with the displays of Conroy as the lynchpin of his team’s defence in 2018.
Some Lavey supporters might have been fearful of Conroy’s relocation this year but his superb reading of games, kick-passing ability and free-taking expertise soon allayed their concerns.
The erstwhile forward revelled in his new surroundings and his form was instrumental in propelling the SFC surprise packets into the semi-finals.
7. Enda Flanagan (Castlerahan)
It could be argued that countyman Flanagan kept his best wine ‘till last, leaving Crosserlough punch drunk in the county final.
The versatile 24-year-old helped himself to three points from open play in the decider and was many people’s man-of-the-match.
One of the best sweepers in Cavan, his versatility means it won’t be a major surprise if he reprises his U21 days as an attacker for Cavan seniors in the coming year.
8. Conor Brady (Gowna)
Son of club legend Laurence, Brady the Younger came of age in 2018. Managers love scoring midfielders and the strapping county underage star was a regular scorer during the past season with his wonderful third quarter point in the drawn semi-final against Crosserlough a real gem.
Still only 20, he has been likened to 1997 Cavan hero Stephen King.
On the evidence of the 2018 SFC, could be the heartbeat of the Longford-border club for many years to come.
9. Thomas Galligan (Lacken Celtic)
If Lacken’s attack possessed half of Galligan’s work-rate and craft, the Celts would have went further than the quarter-finals this year.
The Sky Blues rely far too much on the former St Pat’s College McRory Cup medallist and, at just 22, he needs his team-mates to share some of the heavy lifting in the coming year.
Running directly at the opposition defence is his speciality.
His display, in that regard, in the group game against Cootehill was textbook stuff.
10. Shane McSweeney (Castlerahan)
One of Castlerahan’s unsung heroes this year. Would the maroon and whites have broken their duck in the SFC last month had they been without the services of their adopted Kerryman?
One wonders.
Certainly McSweeney’s eager-beaver style of play, his aggression at close quarters and his leadership ability proved huge assets to a team that would win both the premier championship and league titles in 2018.
Sadly, his three excellent points from play couldn’t prevent Castlerahan from going under to Coleraine last weekend.
11. Pierce Smith (Crosserlough)
Smith was arguably Crosserlough’s most influential player on their road to the SFC final this year.
A manager’s player if ever there was one, his five points in the county decider – three from play – almost got his side over the line. In scoring 0-6 (five frees) in his side’s semi-final (replay) win over Gowna, Smith showed a degree of leadership beyond his 22 years.
With an engine to die for, Smith’s ability to cover every blade of grass will always get him noticed.
12. Ronan Flanagan (Castlerahan)
The 31 year former long-time countyman finally got his day in the sun as captain of the SFC-winning Castlerahan side.
His steadying influence, leadership skills and old school foot passing were key pieces in his team’s award-winning jigsaw. Must have covered every inch of grass in this year’s county decider.
His composure and intelligence on the ball in the nervy, dying minutes of the final must have had Crosserlough’s mentors pulling their hair out.
13. Shane Tierney (Lavey)
Tierney’s star continues to be on the rise and he played a significant role in his Division Two side’s success in upsetting the odds to reach the SFC semi-finals.
Sure-footed, slick on the ball and blessed with a great football brain, he possesses the sort of class that deserves a higher stage and it may be that Tierney will make the breakthrough at intercounty level this year.
Has the rare ability to get bums off seats.
14 Paul O’Connor (Cavan Gaels)
One of the very few players to line out this year for the 2017 SFC winners to at least maintain their reputation.
The all-action O’Connor’s hat-trick of goals which helped sink Lacken at the group stages and seal the Gaels’ place in the quarter-finals was typical of his opportunism.
Injury has disrupted his career over the last three years but Cavan’s lack of target-men in the full-forward line could see him getting a shout from club mate and current Cavan boss Mickey Graham.
15. James Smith (Crosserlough)
Crosserlough’s use of the long ball at times saw the six foot plus youngster in his element. Definitely one for the future although a berth in the engine room might be his natural home.
A graduate of Crosserlough’s all-conquering minor teams of the last couple of years, he had the distinction of firing home the opening goal of this year’s blue riband final which heightened hopes, albeit brief ones, of the cup returning to Kilnaleck for the first time in 46 years.
