Roscommon Herald Intermediate and Junior A Team of the Year revealed
Colm Lavin led Éire Óg to the Promised Land and has been rewarded with a place in the team
Éire Óg lead the way in the Roscommon Herald Intermediate and Junior A Team of the Year following their dramatic triumph on Sunday last.
Brendan Greene’s side have received five nominations in a team which contains players from half a dozen clubs in the Intermediate and Junior A grades. This was a tough team to select with the half back line proving particularly challenging to select.
But, without further ado here is who we have selected…
It was a decent year for goalkeepers with Mark Miley (St. Dominic’s) and St. Aidan’s’ Nigel Kelly standing out at differing stages. But Lavin led by example for Éire Óg as he became the first man from the club to lift the Jamesie Murray Cup in 33 years.
Although he will credit his defence for the fact that Éire Óg conceded just 1-70 in the campaign, Lavin was a steadying influence while he remained calm even when Tulsk were dropping efforts short deep in the county final. The perfect person to man the sticks in our team.
He’s still got it! Waldron produced a tigerish county final display against the vastly experienced Dessie Carlos in the county Junior A final in a campaign where he went about his business in quiet but effective fashion.
The 2006 All Ireland winning minor excelled in his side’s county semi final triumph over Clann, keeping the damgerous Tomás O’Neill scoreless. Waldron won the turnover that led to Conor Morris’ goal in the county final as his experience shone through at key stages of this year’s campaign.
Barron was a key cog in the Éire Óg defence, shielding his full back line to great effect. He spent a significant amount of time close to his own goal in this campaign and was comfortable when he found himself in the full back position through the course of a game.
The Éire Óg defender excelled particularly against Kilmore in the final round of the group stages but it was his consistency over the campaign that sees him selected here.
He has been moved back from the half back line but Hester’s adaptability is a valuable commodity. Hester was rock solid all year and formed a kay part of an Éire Óg defence that conceded just one goal in this year’s championship.
His man marking job on Thomas O’Rourke was pivotal in helping Éire Óg lift the Jamesie Murray Cup for the first time in 33 years. Hester also provided the assist for Ronan Cahill’s match winning goal as Éire Óg defender produced key plays throughout the campaign, particularly in the final.
The Tulsk half back line was not just the best half back line but rather the best line of the field in this year’s intermediate championship. Dylan Gaughan would have been a worthy inclusion but Scott gets the nod after a remarkably consistent campaign. His absence against St. Brigid’s B was telling while it was little co-incidence that Tulsk’s threat from deep became much greater upon his return.
He was pivotal to his side’s county semi final win and despite a late wide in the county final, Scott was still among his team’s best performers against Éire Óg.
It is easy to see why Flynn was called in to the Roscommon panel at the start of the year. A broken ankle suffered after Roscommon’s opening FBD League game against Leitrim robbed him of a chance to stake a claim but after returning in the league against Oran, he came into his own in the championship.
A player who usually lines out at centre back, but he can also play in midfield and stay as one of the three back during his side’s attacks. Flynn impacted Tulsk’s games in every conceivable way and was arguably his side’s best performer in the county final.
It will be a winter of ‘what ifs’ down Knockcroghery way but McCormack could have done little more to try and rescue St. Dominic’s against Tulsk. The inter county defender battled valiantly and almost helped his side reel in Tulsk while he came up with key scores and crucial interventions when the need was greatest throughout the campaign.
His incredible two-pointer against Fuerty from an angle that was far from favourable for a right footed kicker was a defining moment in his side’s comeback against Fuerty. An impressive campaign once more.
For a player like Ryan Larkin his influence is best seen when he isn’t. A Tulsk side dealing with key injuries struggled to cope with Mark Miley’s kickouts in their opening round defeat to St. Dominic’s. His introduction early in the second half helped in this regard while he was an ever present in the starting team thereafter.
Larkin impressed in the county final, kicking 0-2 but it was his work in the congested middle third and his sharpness in possession that stood out most. A battling performance to end a strong year.
Shannon Gaels’ Hugh Molloy and Keith Doyle (St. Dominic’s) possessed strong cases for inclusion. However, Meares gets the nod as he led St. Aidan’s back to the intermediate ranks. The St. Aidan’s midfielder kicked 0-4, which was composed of a pair of two-pointers while he battled diligently against an impressive Clann midfield in the county semi final.
He stepped up once more in the county final with his driving run and score late in the game a sign of his leadership. He caught a crucial kickout when his side were in need of respite as he produced big plays when needed most.
He may not have enjoyed the greatest semi final on a day when St. Michael’s were outgunned by Éire Óg. But, Henry was absolutely imperative in St. Michael’s progressing through to the final four. Although he started games at centre back, Henry’s versatility saw him spend plenty of time closer to goal.
He kicked 1-7 in his side’s crucial win over Creggs while although Ruadhan produced a Player of the Match display in the quarter final win over Kilmore, Fiachra was imperative to his side grinding out that win.
He found the going tough against Joe Hester and Éire Óg’s defence in the county final. But, O’Rourke had such an impressive body of work throughout the campaign that he was virtually guaranteed a place in this team prior to a ball being kicked in anger last Sunday.
His finest performance came against St. Brigid’s B as he kicked 1-12 while producing an exhibition of scoring from outside the arc. But his goal against St. Dominic’s highlighted his sizeable impact as the timing of his runs from deep stood out throughout the campaign.
A silky-smooth operator who has enjoyed a year to remember. Between helping St. Nathy’s to a Connacht B title and All Ireland final berth alongside securing a provincial medal with Roscommon, Casey had done a lot before the club campaign started.
He has adapted seamlessly to adult football, playing a key role in his side’s run to the semi-final. Although Tommy Morris enjoyed success in their match-up in the county final, Casey was his side’s best performer. Throw in his 0-11 against Kilglass Gaels and his 1-4 against Kilbride and despite Adam Kenny and Liam Óg Coyle of St. Aidan’s coming close to inclusion, Casey could not be ignored.
Garvin was a key reason why Ballinameen were able to rack up the scores on their way to the county final. His finest hour came in the quarter final win over Kilbride as he bagged 1-2 but it was his ball carrying and ability to bring his teammates into the game, with his pass for Adam Dwyer’s goal a case in point.
He added 1-3 against Kilglass Gaels and although he didn’t enjoy the same traction in the county final, his superb two-pointer against St. Aidan’s showcased his undeniable talent. He just beats out Fuerty’s Gearoid Ennis.
He kicked 1-5 of his side’s tally of 2-7 in the county final but it was his work out around the middle third in terms of winning breaks from kickouts and in the dying stages helping Éire Óg hold on to possession that was pivotal in the county final. Cox endured a difficult opening half from deep but his second half two-point free into a gale was an enormous score.
He has the ability to produce ridiculous numbers as highlighted by his tally of five two-pointers in a 0-13 tally in the county semi final win over St. Michael’s. But, Cox showed his versatility when needed most on Sunday last.
Despite kicking 1-3 in his first appearance of the campaign against St. Croan’s, after missing his side’s opening round defeat to Fuerty, Greene wasn’t leading the race for inclusion on the inside line of this team. By the end of last Sunday’s county final though, he simply couldn’t be excluded.
Greene was an absolute nuisance up front, winning any ball played into him while he showed terrific composure to hold possession up for Cox’s goal. His work for the second goal shouldn’t go unnoticed either. He rose to the occasion and is a big part of the reason why Éire Óg ended their famine.
