RTE Sunday Game Team of the Year

kmart6

1. S.Cluxton (Dublin)
2. M. Ó Sé (Kerry)
3. N. McGee (Donegal)
4. R. O'Carrol (Dublin)
5. K. Cassidy (Donegal)
6. K. Lacey (Donegal)
7. K. Nolan (Dublin)
8. B. Sheehan (Kerry)
9. J. Doyle (Kildare)
10. Darren O'Sullivan (Kerry)
11. A. Brogan (Dublin)
12. P. Flynn (Dublin)
13. C. Cooper (Kerry)
14. A. Moran (Mayo)
15. B. Brogan (Dublin)

6 Dublin
4 Kerry
3 Donegal
1 Kildare
1 Mayo

So what do people think...?!

starlit

I think its fair, surprised not to see any Cork player there they might get an all star though.

eigrod

doovdela wrote: »

I think its fair, surprised not to see any Cork player there they might get an all star though.

No chance.

And I'm from Cork.

cgpg5

Flynn in, and Declan O'Sullivan not? Granted O'Sullivan faded a bit in the latter stages, but he's still one of, if not the best footballer in the country on his day. Thought Mark O'Se wasn't great, roasted in AI semi, Ben Brosnan can count himself unlucky also. Bryan Sheahan? Would give MD McAuley or Alan O'connor this spot. Thought Johnny Doyle had a poor year by his standards. Surely Bolton deserved it ahead of Kevin Nolan? All a matter of opinion I suppose.

It must be noted that I said all this before I heard man of the match and the nominees!!!

bruschi

cgpg5 wrote: »

Flynn in, and Declan O'Sullivan not? Granted O'Sullivan faded a bit in the latter stages, but he's still one of, if not the best footballer in the country on his day. Thought Mark O'Se wasn't great, roasted in AI semi, Ben Brosnan can count himself unlucky also. Bryan Sheahan? Would give MD McAuley or Alan O'connor this spot. Thought Johnny Doyle had a poor year by his standards. Surely Bolton deserved it ahead of Kevin Nolan? All a matter of opinion I suppose.

would agree with all that, bar Sheehan. in fairness to him, I thought he had a decent year. not many midfielders stood out. but would completley disagree with Doyle on it. was poor in a lot of games I thought. Bolton I would have in too at half back.

Cill Dara Abu

Mick Foley has to be in it, Marc O' se was average

sportzstar

Graeme Molloy in the full back line. O'Sé didn't have great year.

Mr. Incognito

Nolan doesn't deserve to be there- Dublin were cleaned out in Midfield all year- It's why they target the short kickouts.

Sheehan is only there because of his place kicking ability- there are better midfielders out there

corny

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Nolan doesn't deserve to be there- Dublin were cleaned out in Midfield all year- It's why they target the short kickouts.

Even if that bit were true, which it isn't, Kevin Nolan wasn't selected at midfield

aidan24326

I would disagree with Marc O'Se and John Doyle.

Marc O'Se has always been a bit overrated. He's a skilful footballer but his defending is always a bit suspect imo. I'd play him further out the field, as he's been cleaned out so many times by the best forwards. Played ok yesterday though.

As for John Doyle, I don't see what he did to be in the team of the year. Seems to be some kind of hero round here. Great heart but kicks too many wides for my liking.

Cluxton deserves player of the year. Did his goalkeeping duties perfectly and massively embellished that with his placekicking, topped off by a superb kick under massive pressure to win the All-Ireland.

Stoner

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Nolan doesn't deserve to be there- Dublin were cleaned out in Midfield all year- It's why they target the short kickouts.

LOL, here we go.

If I was to give one to Kildare I'd give it to Bolton too (I think he deserves one). I think that these places are a difficult call. Howeve if it's a close call I think that the player from the team that progressed furtherest in the Championship should get the place, this is not a reflection on the players but something to throw in for a difficult call, say a 50-50 situation.

On that basis (tight calls etc.) I think that beating the then AI champions and winning their Provincial Title that Mayo deserve more than say Kildare and certainly not two fewer than Donegal. I thought the Bolton was very good this year and that Doyle though a fine player was played out of position. I think that with all the support that Donegal had in their defensive line that securing three places is too generous, Dublin were also helped out in defence by other players. I would be more inclined to give it to one of the isolated Donegal forwards who had a very difficult time of it IMHO.

I would also have Declan O'Sullivan in there, had Flynn been fully fit and played well yesterday I would have him there as I though he played some smart football this year and picked out some nice passes along with very hard work, but he did not and Declan played very well yesterday, that said I think that Cian O'Sullivan for Dublin should be there he played very well yesterday when he was switched with Brennan and had a good season IMO.

I thought that Sheehan had tanked with 15 min to do yesterday but he came back and had IMO a good game overall, I think he is a fine player he was involved in some good defensive work too, midfield is a difficult call this year and is getting more and more difficult as the game evolves.

largepants

aidan24326 wrote: »

I would disagree with Marc O'Se and John Doyle.

Marc O'Se has always been a bit overrated. He's a skilful footballer but his defending is always a bit suspect imo. I'd play him further out the field, as he's been cleaned out so many times by the best forwards. Played ok yesterday though.

As for John Doyle, I don't see what he did to be in the team of the year. Seems to be some kind of hero round here. Great heart but kicks too many wides for my liking.

Cluxton deserves player of the year. Did his goalkeeping duties perfectly and massively embellished that with his placekicking, topped off by a superb kick under massive pressure to win the All-Ireland.

Obviously you didn't watch any of Kildares games this year so. Doyle was immense all year. In fairness he was subdued enough in the Donegal game but prior to that he caught a massive amount of ball and covered an awful lot of ground and all this despite him not playing in his natural intercounty position.

aidan24326

largepants wrote: »

Obviously you didn't watch any of Kildares games this year so. Doyle was immense all year. In fairness he was subdued enough in the Donegal game but prior to that he caught a massive amount of ball and covered an awful lot of ground and all this despite him not playing in his natural intercounty position.

Don't get me wrong I think Doyle is a marvellous battler and a guy who will always give you 200%, I wish we had a few like him on the Galway team. Just didn't think he had a 'team-of-the-year' kind of season, but I'm open to correction. I suppose he was as good as alot of others. In fairness it was a year where not many players stood out that much. Last year Bernard Brogan was a shoe-in for player of the year, this year it's not so obvious.

Stoner

largepants wrote: »

Obviously you didn't watch any of Kildares games this year so. Doyle was immense all year. In fairness he was subdued enough in the Donegal game but prior to that he caught a massive amount of ball and covered an awful lot of ground and all this despite him not playing in his natural intercounty position.

no i saw the games, and I do think he is a fine player, IMO he is a great fielder of the ball and kicks great scores and is a top class forward, I thought that physically that he took some big hits in the Dublin game was was not really as effective overall in the position he was selected to play in compared to say Bolton who I though played consistently well in the championship.

This is not a get Kildare thing but at the end of the day they were beaten twice in the championship (very very close against Dublin agreed) and I think two places for them is too much if say Mayo only get one as Mayo did beat Cork the AI champions and are provincial champions, while Kildare did not win either of their two big games and that should be noted.
Honestly this is not a get J Doyle situation, I think he is a credit to the game, but Kildare did not get far enough in the championship to get two paces in the team of the year, all I'm saying is that Bolton IMO had a better all round season and if I was to select an outstanding Kildare player this year it would be Bolton

Lord Trollington

I cant agree with People disagreeing on Johnny Doyle.

Despite playing Midfield (where there was no outstanding candidates) he scored 2-21 in the championship and finished 4th overall in the scoring charts.

He was excellent at midfield all year whilst Kildare were in the championship. Its not about how far your team got, its about being a stand out performer in your position.

If we're being fair this year there was no absolute outstanding performers at midfield, so its open enough and I think Johnny deserves one.

It has nothing to do with Kildare should only get one because they got this far or that far. If you played well in your position over the duration of the championship, you should get one.

Stoner

aidan24326 wrote: »

Don't get me wrong I think Doyle is a marvellous battler and a guy who will always give you 200%, I wish we had a few like him on the Galway team. Just didn't think he had a 'team-of-the-year' kind of season, but I'm open to correction. I suppose he was as good as alot of others. In fairness it was a year where not many players stood out that much. Last year Bernard Brogan was a shoe-in for player of the year, this year it's not so obvious.

I agree it's difficult to select a player of the season, maybe yesterday there were four or five players who could have secured it but they did not have big matching winning displays, different guys stood up yesterday IMO showing how important a full squad is.

Stoner

whycliff wrote: »

I cant agree with People disagreeing on Johnny Doyle.

Despite playing Midfield (where there was no outstanding candidates) he scored 2-21 in the championship and finished 4th overall in the scoring charts.

He was excellent at midfield all year whilst Kildare were in the championship. Its not about how far your team got, its about being a stand out performer in your position.

If we're being fair this year there was no absolute outstanding performers at midfield, so its open enough and I think Johnny deserves one.

It has nothing to do with Kildare should only get one because they got this far or that far. If you played well in your position over the duration of the championship, you should get one.

they are very good points, you've almost changed my mind lol, I agree to some degree that its not about how far a team gets, what I'm saying is that the character of the players who got further in the championship should be reflected in the selection process, it is a very very tight call and my point is that in these situations I think that progression in the competation should be a deciding factor, 2-21 in the championship is a huge score in fairness.:)

bruschi

whycliff wrote: »

I cant agree with People disagreeing on Johnny Doyle.

Despite playing Midfield (where there was no outstanding candidates) he scored 2-21 in the championship and finished 4th overall in the scoring charts.

He was excellent at midfield all year whilst Kildare were in the championship. Its not about how far your team got, its about being a stand out performer in your position.

If we're being fair this year there was no absolute outstanding performers at midfield, so its open enough and I think Johnny deserves one.

It has nothing to do with Kildare should only get one because they got this far or that far. If you played well in your position over the duration of the championship, you should get one.

and how much from frees/penalties? Brosnan from Wexford was only pipped at the post for the overall top scorer, and he is barely getting a mention and rightly so. he wasnt the top player in his position, but still scored a lot, the majority from frees. Doyle was poor in big games when Kildare needed a score or someone to drive them on. undoubtadly a great player, but not near the level he was at last year.

aidan24326

Stoner wrote: »

I agree it's difficult to select a player of the season, maybe yesterday there were four or five players who could have secured it but they did not have big matching winning displays, different guys stood up yesterday IMO showing how important a full squad is.

Agreed, even on the Dublin side there was no-one yesterday that played amazingly well, it was a collective effort. But that's where I think Gilroy deserves huge credit. He's put together a squad where there's no egos, no superstars, where everyone knows their job and they just get on with it. It's a refreshing change from the stuff that went on when Caffrey was manager with lads prancing around like premier league prima donnas.

Now you have players like Paul Flynn and Kevin Nolan who will never be stars but who just go about their job efficiently and implement the gameplan exactly as they're supposed to. This was a victory for organisation and teamwork as much as anything.

Lord Trollington

bruschi wrote: »

and how much from frees/penalties? Brosnan from Wexford was only pipped at the post for the overall top scorer, and he is barely getting a mention and rightly so. he wasnt the top player in his position, but still scored a lot, the majority from frees. Doyle was poor in big games when Kildare needed a score or someone to drive them on. undoubtadly a great player, but not near the level he was at last year.

What games was he poor in? He was kept scoreless against Donegal, but that day he had a Good all round game.

Alan Brogan had 2 "poor" games in the championship also, and he's being talked about as a potential player of the year.

As a matter of interest who would your 2 All Star midfielders be. It very easy to say this lad or that lad shouldn't get it, who do you think should get it?

On Brosnan, whilst he was second top scorer, he done little or absolutely nothing from open play.

bruschi

whycliff wrote: »

What games was he poor in? He was kept scoreless against Donegal, but that day he had a Good all round game.

Alan Brogan had 2 "poor" games in the championship also, and he's being talked about as a potential player of the year.

As a matter of interest who would your 2 All Star midfielders be. It very easy to say this lad or that lad shouldn't get it, who do you think should get it?

On Brosnan, whilst he was second top scorer, he done little or absolutely nothing from open play.

well we obviously differ on how we view players. you think Doyle was good against Donegal? I thought he was extremley weak, and was non existant for the most of the game, an early knock clearly hampering him.

also suprised that you managed to see Brosnan playing against Offaly, Westmeath, Carlow and Limerick, as none of these games were live and you would have had to seen them to know what he did from play, and it cetainly wasnt absolutley nothing. I'm not arguing he should be an all star, I'm just saying your logic of saying Doyle was 4th top scorer from midfield, despite him scoring 2.21, even though in 7 games he played, he scored 4 points from play, which isnt exactly wonderful stuff, and especially for the overall top scorer from the year previous.

as for my all stars? McCauly and Sheehan. MDMA was excellent in all the games he played, does a lot of work and is a good link man. Sheehan was thrown in at the deep end for Kerry, and more than held his own against top midfielders.

spiralism

kmart6 wrote: »

1. S.Cluxton (Dublin)
2. M. Ó Sé (Kerry)
3. N. McGee (Donegal)
4. R. O'Carrol (Dublin)
5. K. Cassidy (Donegal)
6. K. Lacey (Donegal)
7. K. Nolan (Dublin)
8. B. Sheehan (Kerry)
9. J. Doyle (Kildare)
10. Darren O'Sullivan (Kerry)
11. A. Brogan (Dublin)
12. P. Flynn (Dublin)
13. C. Cooper (Kerry)
14. A. Moran (Mayo)
15. B. Brogan (Dublin)

6 Dublin
4 Kerry
3 Donegal
1 Kildare
1 Mayo

So what do people think...?!

I think Bolton should be in instead of Nolan, Declan O Sullivan instead of Flynn and MDMA instead of Sheehan or Doyle at least

mossyc123

S Cluxton

M O'Se
N McGee
R O'Carroll

E Bolton
K Lacey
K Nolan

MD McCauley
B Sheehan

B Brosnan
A Brogan
Darren O'Sullivan

C Cooper
A Moran
B Brogan

ixus

bruschi wrote: »

well we obviously differ on how we view players. you think Doyle was good against Donegal? I thought he was extremley weak, and was non existant for the most of the game, an early knock clearly hampering him.

An early knock isn't something you would call it if you were at the game. Straight after the throw in, as the ball was flicked away, Kevin Cassidy ran in from half back and smashed into Doyle from behind. No ball, no officials watching. He was done after that.

He had the sh!te beaten out of him at every opportunity by Derry and Donegal.

Can you name two better fielders of the ball from midfield this year?
Can you name two midfielders who scored more?
Can you name two midfielders who defended better?
Can you name two midfielder who linked with defence and attack better?

During the Dublin game, he was immense around the park. Doyle snuffed out an unreal amount of Dublin attacks around the half back line. When Dublin went a man down, the spare Kildare back went on the attack for some reason. Doyle saw this and cut out the supply to Bernard Brogan apart from the "free" when he had finally gone forward.

I'll take my rose tinted glasses off now.

Samich

Cillian O Connor for Mayo anyone? Was vital to Mayos run.

Utopia Parkway

Samich wrote: »

Cillian O Connor for Mayo anyone? Was vital to Mayos run.

Maybe for young player of the year but he didn't do near enough to get anywhere near the team of the year.

eigrod

Personally I wouldn't give any Donegal defender an award. After all, they had 12 colleagues defending with them and there was far less space for each of them to defend than any team playing the conventional 3-3-2-3-3 set up. Much easier to drown out your opponent when the half of the pitch you are defending is littered with players.

premierstone

eigrod wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't give any Donegal defender an award. After all, they had 12 colleagues defending with them and there was far less space for each of them to defend than any team playing the conventional 3-3-2-3-3 set up. Much easier to drown out your opponent when the half of the pitch you are defending is littered with players.

You wouldnt give Karl Lacey an all-star?? :rolleyes: Jesus wept!