Roscommon Herald Senior Club Football Team of the Year revealed
St. Brigid's Conor Hand produced a Player of the Match display as his side retained the Fahey Cup. Picture: INPHO/Ashley Cahill
After St. Brigid’s claimed successive county titles for the first time since 2017, they lead the way in the Roscommon Herald Senior Club Football Team of the Year.
Overall, eight clubs are represented in what was a fiendishly difficult selection. There were plenty of debates and discussions surrounding this one, particularly in the half back and midfield sectors.
Without further ado here are the 15 players who have been chosen as best on show.
Niall Curley can consider himself unfortunate to miss out here but Whelan gets the nod following another impressive championship campaign. Whelan was a model of consistency throughout but he shone brightest in his side’s semi final victory over Boyle.
Declan Kenny’s two-pointer saved Pearses’ season but his save from Jack Moran approaching injury time during the regulation hour was absolutely vital. His kickouts in the county final were a potent weapon as Pearses edged the middle third battle before Eddie Nolan’s introduction.
It feels apt that St. Brigid’s possess a player in the full back line. Both Seán Trundle and Ruairí Smith starred during the earlier part of the campaign. However, Pearse Frost’s influence rose after Trundle went down against Roscommon Gaels, which was all the more apparent in a superb county final showing.
He faced the onerous task of tracking Paul Carey but he approached the job with gusto in what was a superb showing that paved the way for St. Brigid’s to reign supreme.
After making the past two Teams of the Week, Daly is deserving of his place in our Team of the Year. Although he operated at centre back, his covering of his full back line was superb. He possesses a keen scoring threat while acting as the quarterback during slow attacks.
Daly showed his defensive instincts bets against Boyle when he was in the right place at the right time to gather possession near his goal line after the ricochet off Oisín Cregg following Paul Whelan’s save from sub Jack Moran. A fine year.
The Boyle defender made three of our five Teams of the Week so his inclusion here was a no-brainer. He set his stall out with his performance against Clann in the opening round of the championship in a campaign where he made the full back position his own.
Glennon was also included after his side’s victories over Roscommon Gaels and Oran. He was excellent in his side’s defeat to Pádraig Pearses as he battled diligently to help Boyle through a marathon affair.
The Oran wing back was a model of consistency throughout the campaign. He shone brightest in his side’s draw with Castlerea St. Kevin’s in the final round of the group stages. He finished with five points from play, which included a sensational two-pointer to tie the contest.
He was excellent against St. Faithleach’s and Elphin in the group stages while he was among his sides’ top performers in their quarter final defeat to Boyle.
A guy who can do it all. Stack can be a victim of his own remarkably high levels of consistency but there is little escaping the fact that he is simply vital to this St. Brigid’ side. A kickout target who is usually called upon in the biggest moments, he also screens his defence exceptionally well while he so often makes the correct decision in possession, even under extreme pressure.
Another excellent campaign from St. Brigid’s spiritual leader.
Compton has adapted seamlessly to the wing back role although given how the middle eight positions are so fluid nowadays, he is liable to pop up anywhere on the pitch. The Strokestown captain was rock solid during the group stages while it was little surprise that his performance levels rose when knockout football came calling.
Compton was particularly impressive against Castlerea while he battled diligently against the tide in the county semi-final.
The Roscommon U-20 footballer was a key cog in the Michael Glaveys engine room even when they struggled to find their form during the group stages.
However, the midfielder came to life in the knockout stages, helping his side edge past Elphin before producing a tour de force display against Pádraig Pearses. Heneghan was the best player on the pitch in that quarter final and his equaliser to send the contest to extra time highlighted his undeniable quality.
After being named in two out of the five Roscommon Herald Teams of the Week, Kenny is a deserving inclusion here. His two-pointer to thwart Boyle and send the county semi-final to extra time was a score for the ages while he was imperative to Pearses being able to compete in the middle third without Conor Ryan.
Kenny once more displayed impressive consistency throughout the campaign as he rose highest in the big moments.
Last year he was selected at corner back on the Team of the Year. It is a sign of his versatility and adaptability that he can be selected in almost every line of the field with club or county and be capable of playing his role perfectly.
Neary enjoyed a decent start to his campaign but much like those included in this team, his performances increased in quality when the stakes were at their highest. His assist for Mikey Kavanagh’s goal against Castlerea in the quarter finals highlighted the best features of Neary’s game.
The St. Brigid’s centre forward was a no-brainer for this team. A Player of the Match display in the county final where he kicked 1-5 and tormented the Pádraig Pearses defence with his pace meant he was always going to be in the mix for this team.
But he was given the Roscommon Herald Player of the Match after the quarter final and semi final as he kicked 2-12 in his side’s three knockout games. A man who will have a huge say in how far St. Brigid’s can go this season.
Although he lined out at both wing back and wing forward, Curran’s impact on this year’s championship was pronounced. His talent is undeniable and in his first year at adult level, Curran displayed his class, particularly against Oran.
On that occasion he kicked four points, including a two-pointer but it was his fearlessness both in and out of possession that stood out in that game and throughout the campaign. A brilliant campaign for one of Roscommon football’s brightest young talents.
The St. Brigid’s corner forward has been included in three out of the five Roscommon Herald Teams of the Week so he was a strong contender even before his performance in the county final.
He has stepped up in big moments and on Sunday last, he was a thorn in the side of the Pearses defence and produced some big plays when the Woodmount side had wrestled momentum their way. A classy operator who looks back to his brilliant best.
The former inter-county footballer didn’t miss a beat in this year’s campaign. Although Boyle struggled for consistency in the group stages, Smith was a constant threat while his ability to score from deep was a real issue for opposition defences.
He was superb in his side’s semi final defeat to Pádraig Pearses as he kicked 0-9 including that nerveless two-point free which moved Boyle on the verge of a county final appearance. The most consistent threat Boyle possessed in the campaign.
His clubmate Senan Lambe was desperately unlucky not to be included with the competition for wing back and midfield places ridiculously high. But, Gillooly represents Roscommon Gaels in this team following a string of impressive displays.
His performance against Clann was crucial in reviving the Gaels’ fortunes as he kicked 1-4 and in the process completed the “tricolour.” He excelled in his side’s quarter final defeat to St. Brigid’s where he edged his match-up with an in-form Ruairí Smith.
