All-Ireland finalists lead Sunday Game nominations as O’Donoghue lands top award
As the 2014 All-Ireland Football Championship came to a close, the Sunday Game panel went about the unenvious task of picking their finest 15 of the year.
The panel settled on five players apiece from All-Ireland finalists Donegal and Kerry with three from Mayo and two from Dublin rounding out the pundits’ selection.
Below, with a brief explanation for their selection offered by the panel, are the 15 chosen players:
Paul Durcan, Donegal – “didn’t have a great day at the office today but arguably his play was key in beating Dublin”
Aidan O’Mahony, Kerry – “he was written off as a footballer a few years ago but he’s a warrior and today on the big stage he delivered a masterful performance”
Neil McGee, Donegal – “by a country mile the best full-back in this year’s championship; the main man marker on opposition marquee forwards”
Keith Higgins, Mayo – “tremendous performance all year; remember his duel with James O’Donoghue in particular”
Paul Murphy, Kerry – “he picked up a lot of the top players; topped it off with a top class All-Ireland performance”
Peter Crowley, Kerry – “the first name on the team sheet -a manager’s dream; he lets the others do their job and play their football”
Colm Boyle, Mayo – “a very good season; stood up against Kerry as a leader”
David Moran, Kerry – “put in one of the performances of the year against Mayo; great kick-passer and great vision”
Neil Gallagher, Donegal – “Donegal’s go-to man”
Paul Flynn, Dublin – “the ultimate wing-forward in any team; his work-rate is phenomenal”
Diarmuid Connolly, Dublin – “possibly the best player in the country”
Ryan McHugh, Donegal – “absolutely outstanding up until the All-Ireland final”
James O’Donoghue, Kerry – “he’s mercurial, accurate, a great team player”
Michael Murphy, Donegal – “Donegal wouldn’t have been in the final without Murphy”
Cillian O’Connor, Mayo – “leading scorer in the country this year; he’s going to get better and better”
Of the players unlucky to miss out on selection were Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea and Kieran Donaghy of Kerry whose lack of game time counted against him.
The panel also selected their player of the year handing the award to Kerry’s brilliant James O’Donoghue who just edged out Diarmuid Connolly of Dublin and Donegal captain Michael Murphy.
