A long season ended on Sunday with Sam returning to the Kingdom. Here's the players who have lit up 2014.
Paul Durcan
Right, that skewed kick-out to Donaghy was the deciding of the All-Ireland final - the moment we will all remember. And Paul did have one other clanger in the Armagh game, but over the season, his brilliant kick-outs and his shot stopping - that save from Diarmuid Connolly springs to mind - earns him his spot.
Eamon McGee
The McGee brothers locked down some of the country’s best forwards this year. James Robinson on dontfoul.wordpress.com revealed that they held Bernard Brogan, Jamie Clarke and Conor McManus to just 6 shots in three games.
Neil McGee
He tied Eoghan O’Gara up in the semi-final and kept James O’Donoghue scoreless in the final. One wonders would things have been different if Donegal had employed someone else to man-mark O’Donoghue and left the younger of the McGee’s on the square.
Donegal's Neil McGee and Jamie Clarke of Armagh ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Keith Higgins
The semi-final duel with James O’Donoghue was one of the years most enthralling battles. Such an athletic and talented footballer, his defending is as enjoyable to watch as the games best attackers.
Paul Murphy
Sunday Game MOTM in the All-Ireland final, he was mine too, did so many little things right on a day where the execution of the basic skills were lacking. Scored a crucial goal against Clare in the first round and really announced his class with that second-half point in the final.
Peter Crowley
The Kerry half-back line were brilliant all summer; defensively, tactically and going forward, Peter Crowley was the main man. Hands down, the best centre-back in the country this year. Brought steel, physicality and real leadership.
Donegal's Rory Kavanagh surrounded by Paul Murphy and Peter Crowley of Kerry ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Colm Boyle
What a leader. What a player. Fully deserving of his place. His role in Mayo’s second-half revival in the first game against Kerry cannot be understated. Kicked an inspirational point and won so much ball when his team were a man down.
David Moran
His phenomenal semi-final performances elevated him above the likes of Seamus O’Shea and Michael Dara McCauley. In the first game, Kerry controlled midfield for the first half, with Moran kicking two brilliant long-range points. He also delivered the ball to Donaghy for O’Donoghue’s goal. 49 possessions in the second game against Mayo is scarcely believable.
Neil Gallagher
The best fielder in the game. His introduction against Derry made a big difference, was brilliant in the Ulster final and against Dublin he bossed proceedings. Kerry were smart and kept the majority of their kickouts to whatever side Gallagher wasn’t on.
Paul Flynn of Dublin with Michael Murphy of Donegal ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
Paul Flynn
If the number 10 is a specialist jersey in soccer, Paul Flynn has made it his own in Gaelic Football. No one plays it like him. No one brings the influence, awareness, physicality and skill that he does. The points he kicked over the year were awesome too.
Michael Murphy
This was a tough one to call. Regardless of where the heat maps had him playing Murphy had to be worked in, and it had to be in a central position. Such a valuable player. It’s a pity we didn’t see him around the square a bit more during the year. That sideline against Derry was majestic, but the point from play he kicked on the turn a few minutes later topped it.
Diarmuid Connolly
So effortlessly and infuriatingly talented. The quartet of points he scored against Donegal was possibly the greatest collection of scores this year. Monaghan tried to rough him up; a minute later he kills the game with a brilliant solo goal.
James O’Donoghue
Two-footed, supremely quick, skilfull and most of all, incredibly mature on the field. Double-marked all year, he scored 0-10, 1-05, 1-03 and 2-06 in the four games before the final. Scoreless on Sunday but brilliant in a different role - an unselfish playmaker and a deadly decoy.
Mayo's Cillian O'Connor scores a penalty against Kerry ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Kieran Donaghy
Kerry would not have won the 2014 All-Ireland without Kieran Donaghy. Fact. From the 65th minute of the first semi-final to his fisted point in the 60th minute of the final, Kieran Donaghy was the MVP.
Cillian O’Connor
Top-scorer in the Championship with 5-36. He kicked 3-13 in the semi-finals. The clash of heads with Aidan O’Shea in the replay is another one of those ‘if only’ moments of this years Championship.
Unlucky to miss out: Aidan O’Mahony, James McCarthy, Seamus O’Shea, Michael Dara McCauley, Ryan McHugh, Aidan O’Shea
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