Football All Stars 2014

keane2097 · 01-09-2014 4:59pm #1

I know the final will decide an awful lot WRT these but might be fun to start putting some selections together now.

I won't put in a full team but will take a stab at a few positions I think are locks and see if anyone disagrees and/or wants to fill in their own effort.

Durcan

CB

FB

CB

WHB

CHB

WHB

Moran

MF

Flynn

CHF

WHF

James O'Donoghue ---- FF

Cillian O'Connor

I don't want to put in any more without thinking about it as I'd have Kerry players more in mind than would be probably correct, but other names that come to mind are Diarmuid Connolly, James McCarthy, Michael Murphy, MacNiallais, Paul Murphy, Keith Higgins, Ryan McHugh.

From counties outside of the SFs there aren't too many jumping out at me. Don't think Cork have anyone to put forward this year, maybe Walsh from Galway, Walshe from Monaghan, Dyas from Armagh maybe?

Those all seem like reaches to be honest, wouldn't view it askance if the all stars all came from the SF teams.

Fowler87 · 01-09-2014 5:06pm

As long as my 13/8 punt on COC comes in, I'm happy. Long awaited and long overdue for Cillian. Boyler and Skippy deserve awards too

realweirdo · 01-09-2014 5:08pm

Full forward will be interesting. Donaghy or Murphy...the final could decide everything. Andy Moran an outside bet but like Donaghy was more an impact player throughout championship.

Aidan O'Shea or Shane Walsh in the running for CHF.

Possibly Seamus O'Shea for midfield. I know he plays in patches but they are brillant patches.

Pinesky · 01-09-2014 5:11pm

Higgins , m murphy , connolly would be my additions based on the year so far.
Donaghy may yet upset all calculations as he did in 2006.

corny · 01-09-2014 5:37pm

Seamus O' Shea was outplayed by Moran and the forgotten man Anthony Maher in the semi. I'd have the Kerry midfielders not to mention Neil Gallagher.

Aidan O Shea played well in snatches and judging by last year that'll probably be good enough to win an AS.

Connolly was poor in the provincial series but these things are decided on the latter stages so his very good quarter and semi will probably be enough.

Tony Kernan played well for Armagh.

Fr Tod Umptious · 01-09-2014 5:45pm

Pinesky wrote: »

Higgins , m murphy , connolly would be my additions based on the year so far.
Donaghy may yet upset all calculations as he did in 2006.

Donaghey only gets one if he has an influence on the final

Fireball07 · 01-09-2014 5:57pm

I would be shocked if MacNiallais and Ryan McHugh weren't both included, as well as Michael Murphy. Where they get to them is possibly up for grabs.

A good final for Donaghy could get him one.

I reckon Paddy McGrath is in with a good shout, Keith Higgins did a pretty good job on JOD and is always consistent, both McGees will be there or thereabouts, Paul Murphy has had a strong season.

manofwisdom · 01-09-2014 6:06pm

I think Donegal will win the AI and from it they should have the most All-Stars.

Could change my mind yet but here's my stab at a team anyway.

1. P Durcan (Donegal)
2. A Mallon (Armagh)
3. N McGee (Donegal)
4. K Higgins (Mayo)
5. R McHugh (Donegal)
6. C Boyle (Mayo)
7. F McGlynn (Donegal)
8. N Gallagher (Donegal)
9. D Moran (Kerry)
10. D Walsh (Kerry)
11. P Flynn (Dublin)
12. D Connolly (Dublin)
13. C O Connor (Mayo)
14. M Murphy (Donegal)
15. J O Donoghue (Kerry)

Player of the year - J O Donoghue (Kerry)

Young player of the year - R McHugh (Donegal)

castletownman · 01-09-2014 6:06pm

Durcan

K.Higgins
N.McGee
A.Mallon

P.Murphy
C.Boyle
F.McGlynn

N.Gallagher
A.Maher

P.Flynn
D.Connolly
R.McHugh (could be included in backs either. MOM in Ulster ifnal)

C.O'Connor
M.Murphy/K.Donaghy (depending on influence and result in final)
J.O'Donoghue

Think full back line, Boyle and McGlynn are certs, along with Gallagher, Flynn, Connolly, O'Connor, O'Donoghue. Final spots between McHugh,Moran/Maher,Walsh, Murphy and Donaghy

keane2097 · 01-09-2014 6:21pm

Maher getting one ahead of Moran seems somewhat unlikely Castletownman

realweirdo · 01-09-2014 6:23pm

corny wrote: »

Seamus O' Shea was outplayed by Moran and the forgotten man Anthony Maher in the semi. I'd have the Kerry midfielders not to mention Neil Gallagher.

Aidan O Shea played well in snatches and judging by last year that'll probably be good enough to win an AS.

Connolly was poor in the provincial series but these things are decided on the latter stages so his very good quarter and semi will probably be enough.

Tony Kernan played well for Armagh.

Anthony Maher was taken off in the first game after Kerry were cleaned out for most of the second half and I can't remember him doing much in the replay.

keane2097 · 01-09-2014 6:32pm

realweirdo wrote: »

Anthony Maher was taken off in the first game after Kerry were cleaned out for most of the second half and I can't remember him doing much in the replay.

He was very good in the replay but that was his first really good game all year.

Mr. Incognito · 01-09-2014 6:35pm

Moran, Crowley and JOD should be locked in at this stage for Kerry.

C O Connor for Mayo and M Murphy for Donegal are the other two guaranteed

Crowley has been immense all year and getting very little praise for it.

BonnieSituation · 01-09-2014 6:37pm

keane2097 wrote: »

I know the final will decide an awful lot WRT these but might be fun to start putting some selections together now.

I won't put in a full team but will take a stab at a few positions I think are locks and see if anyone disagrees and/or wants to fill in their own effort.
Durcan

CB
FB
CB

WHB
CHB
WHB
Moran
MF

Flynn
CHF
WHF

James O'Donoghue ---- FF
Cillian O'Connor

I don't want to put in any more without thinking about it as I'd have Kerry players more in mind than would be probably correct, but other names that come to mind are Diarmuid Connolly, James McCarthy, Michael Murphy, MacNiallais, Paul Murphy, Keith Higgins, Ryan McHugh.

From counties outside of the SFs there aren't too many jumping out at me. Don't think Cork have anyone to put forward this year, maybe Walsh from Galway, Walshe from Monaghan, Dyas from Armagh maybe?

Those all seem like reaches to be honest, wouldn't view it askance if the all stars all came from the SF teams.

Out of what you left I would say Connolly as a maybe.

Michael Murphy and R McHugh as certs especially if Donegal win.

Keith Higgins, no question. Was absolutely remarkable fover the last two weeks.

corny · 01-09-2014 6:59pm

realweirdo wrote: »

Anthony Maher was taken off in the first game after Kerry were cleaned out for most of the second half and I can't remember him doing much in the replay.

Got very tired and was replaced in the first game. Wouldn't hold it against him that he went out of the game either. Kerry, as a team, struggled during that period.

He was excellent in the replay.

seligehgit · 01-09-2014 7:13pm

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Moran, Crowley and JOD should be locked in at this stage for Kerry.

C O Connor for Mayo and M Murphy for Donegal are the other two guaranteed

Crowley has been immense all year and getting very little praise for it.

Keith Higgins is surely a lockdown?

Redsoxfan · 01-09-2014 7:19pm

Ugh. Hate these discussions until the Final is over.

But anyway.

I think based on the three semi final games, Paul Durcan is nearly guaranteed to be goalkeeper.
I think Neil McGee and Keith Higgins will get the nod in the full back line.
James O'Donoghue and Cillian O'Connor for full forward line.
One if not both of Paul Flynn and Diarmuid Connolly.

Outsiders mention in first post:
Colin Walshe - no, not enough to keep out others who played in semi final.
Shane Walsh - probably not, I don't think he showed enough against Kerry
Kevin Dyas - no, I don't think he did enough against Donegal.

From Armagh, I guess Andy Mallon and maybe even Stefan Campbell might get nominated.

All in all, I think there are too many good players among the four semi finalists to ensure no other players get awards.

seligehgit · 01-09-2014 7:30pm

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Ugh. Hate these discussions until the Final is over.

But anyway.

I think based on the three semi final games, Paul Durcan is nearly guaranteed to be goalkeeper.
I think Neil McGee and Keith Higgins will get the nod in the full back line.
James O'Donoghue and Cillian O'Connor for full forward line.
One if not both of Paul Flynn and Diarmuid Connolly.

Outsiders mention in first post:
Colin Walshe - no, not enough to keep out others who played in semi final.
Shane Walsh - probably not, I don't think he showed enough against Kerry
Kevin Dyas - no, I don't think he did enough against Donegal.

From Armagh, I guess Andy Mallon and maybe even Stefan Campbell might get nominated.

All in all, I think there are too many good players among the four semi finalists to ensure no other players get awards.

+1
Can't see any footballer outside of the semi finalists having a snowball's chance of getting an all star.

SeanJ09 · 01-09-2014 8:23pm

For me so far:
1. Durcan
2. Higgins
3.McGee
4.McGee
5.P. Murphy
6.C.Boyle
7.F. McGlynn
8.Gallagher
9.Moran
10.P.Flynn
11. A' O Shea
12.R.Mchugh
13.O'Connor
14.M Murphy
15.James O'D

As for Donaghy, he will have the best full back in the game on him and a sweeper for company in the final, rather than Ger Cafferkey so can't see him within an asses roar of an All-Star.

Mr. Incognito · 01-09-2014 8:53pm

seligehgit wrote: »

Keith Higgins is surely a lockdown?

JOD scored 3 9 over the two games off him.

I dont think so

realweirdo · 01-09-2014 9:03pm

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

JOD scored 3 9 over the two games off him.

I dont think so

You cannot seriously blame Keith Higgins for the 2 penalties he scored...quite aside from the fact neither of them would have been awarded by a competent ref.

blowitupref · 01-09-2014 9:07pm

seligehgit wrote: »

+1
Can't see any footballer outside of the semi finalists having a snowball's chance of getting an all star.

Armagh reached the AI quarter final beating Tyrone away on route and only lost by one point to Donegal. They deserve at least one all-star with Mallon looking the most likely.

Gael85 · 01-09-2014 9:11pm

Paul Durcan

Paddy McGrath
Neil McGee
Keith Higgins

Paul Murphy
Colm Boyle
Frank McGlynn

David Moran
Odhran MacNiallas

Paul Flynn
Ryan McHugh
Diarmuid Connolly

Cillian O'Connor
Michael Murphy
James O'Donoghue

Mr. Incognito · 01-09-2014 10:04pm

realweirdo wrote: »

You cannot seriously blame Keith Higgins for the 2 penalties he scored...quite aside from the fact neither of them would have been awarded by a competent ref.

Paidi o shea gave up one point to his marker from play in ten all ireland finals.

K. higgins gave up 1 9 from play in two games. You can take away the penalties, fine. They were both stonewall penalties btw, and that leaves 1 9 mostly from play. Thats not all star material. You are totally blinkered. Jod waltzed through in the first game and put one wide and one over he would normally bury. K higgins is over rated

realweirdo · 01-09-2014 10:13pm

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Paidi o shea gave up one point to his marker from play in ten all ireland finals.

K. higgins gave up 1 9 from play in two games. You can take away the penalties, fine. They were both stonewall penalties btw, and that leaves 1 9 mostly from play. Thats not all star material. You are totally blinkered. Jod waltzed through in the first game and put one wide and one over he would normally bury. K higgins is over rated

What on earth are you talking about? JOD only scored 4 points off Higgins from play in the replay. He scored 2-2 from frees and penalties.

Care to withdraw your "over-rated" remark now?

In any case, like I said the two penos wouldn't have been awarded by a competent ref, and in the first game, Donaghy put the goal on a plate for JOD.

If we were to follow your rationale, I could say JOD is over-rated, but I'm not like you thankfully.

Keith Higgins is far from over-rated. He was a top class footballer before anyone had ever heard of JOD.

keane2097 · 01-09-2014 10:16pm

I think Higgins is excellent but do think he's gotten too much praise over the two games.

Maybe people expect JOD to score every time he gets the ball or something. He did actually win the two pens he scored don't forget.

Tbf Higgins was a driving force when Mayo did have the ball ok.

realweirdo · 01-09-2014 10:23pm

keane2097 wrote: »

I think Higgins is excellent but do think he's gotten too much praise over the two games.

Maybe people expect JOD to score every time he gets the ball or something. He did actually win the two pens he scored don't forget.

Tbf Higgins was a driving force when Mayo did have the ball ok.

I hate to repeat this, but JOD wouldn't win those penos in any other game. He was well marshalled in the first game until Donaghy put the goal on a plate.

He missed a couple of easy chances in both games and a certain goal in the first game. If we were to take a critical approach we'd say his finishing let him down on occassions.

Make no mistake, JOD is a good player, a great player and footballer of the year in my book. And Higgins did an outstanding job on him. Higgins has been the most consistant and outstanding player for Mayo over the last 5 or 6 years and in the country for that matter. Anyone says he's over-rated is having a laugh and doesn't know what they are talking about. Kerry and Mayo have both made it to the same number of AI finals in recent years, 2 each. So far this Kerry team's record is no better than Mayo's in recent years.

And there's one thing reaching a final, winning one is another matter totally. We will see how great this Kerry team are when it really counts.

keane2097 · 01-09-2014 10:34pm

Even if you granted that he wouldn't get either penalty, which very few people seem to think, Higgins still let him out of his sight for what, four clear goal chances? On top of 1-7 from play and however many scorable frees he won over the two games.

Higgins is the best CB in the country IMO but I wonder how much JOD would have had to do for people to say Higgins was decorated. Not that he was decorated but he was nowhere near breaking even.

realweirdo · 01-09-2014 10:40pm

keane2097 wrote: »

Even if you granted that he wouldn't get either penalty, which very few people seem to think, Higgins still let him out of his sight for what, four clear goal chances? On top of 1-7 from play and however many scorable frees he won over the two games.

Higgins is the best CB in the country IMO but I wonder how much JOD would have had to do for people to say Higgins was decorated. Not that he was decorated but he was nowhere near breaking even.

Part of Higgins role is to start attacks from deep. He almost plays two games at once, defence and attack. JOD wouldn't know how to defend and only has to worry about one thing, getting past Higgins. So hardly surprising Higgins will get turned on occassion. The job Higgins gets asked to do in most games is almost impossible. He's up and down the field like a hare. And never seems to get subbed. He's far from over-rated, he's been central to Mayo success the last few years.

So far this year no defender in the country has been able to contain JOD. Higgins has probably done the best, but have to remember that was two games and a 6 day turnaround and Higgins probably ran more than anyone in the first game.

keane2097 · 01-09-2014 10:43pm

realweirdo wrote: »

Part of Higgins role is to start attacks from deep. He almost plays two games at once, defence and attack. JOD wouldn't know how to defend and only has to worry about one thing, getting past Higgins. So hardly surprising Higgins will get turned on occassion. The job Higgins gets asked to do in most games is almost impossible. He's up and down the field like a hare. And never seems to get subbed. He's far from over-rated, he's been central to Mayo success the last few years.

So far this year no defender in the country has been able to contain JOD. Higgins has probably done the best, but have to remember that was two games and a 6 day turnaround and Higgins probably ran more than anyone in the first game.

I don't disagree with any of that really. Higgins did better than anyone this year head to head and def was involved in driving Mayo from the back as I mentioned earlier. He's brill at that.

At the moment I would be picking him for an All Star alright.

BonnieSituation · 01-09-2014 10:56pm

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Paidi o shea gave up one point to his marker from play in ten all ireland finals.

K. higgins gave up 1 9 from play in two games. You can take away the penalties, fine. They were both stonewall penalties btw, and that leaves 1 9 mostly from play. Thats not all star material. You are totally blinkered. Jod waltzed through in the first game and put one wide and one over he would normally bury. K higgins is over rated

And if if Páidí was still playing would he still have only given up that amount?

The game is a completely different beast now.

It's like comparing apples and oranges. Bizarre comment.

Football All Stars 2014

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