Carlow Nationalist Team of the SFC
Mikey Bambrick accepts the county final man of the match award from county chairman Jim Bolger Photo: Pat Ahern
Unlike the National All Star Awards which are selected by a committee, the humble Carlow Nationalist Team of the Championship is just the musing of one sports writer (with the odd phone call to ask the opinion of one or two other observers).
In any sport, players rarely perform to the best of their ability all the time. What could be the team of the championship on one weekend can potentially change the following week while the first round selection can be entirely different by the time the final comes around.
There is an argument to include players who have excelled at intermediate level and if that was the case, John Murphy of Grange, would be an automatic selection. Yet it is probably right to include only players who have actually played in the senior championship as the title of the selection suggests.
It was a strange and difficult year for goalkeepers. Much has been spoken about the two-pointers and the three-up, three-back rules. What is not mentioned is that goalkeepers are now more exposed. The Rathvilly man gets the nod here after his performance in the county final. He made vital saves from Mikey Bambrick and Aaron Amond when an Old Leighlin three-pointer could have seen the eventual champions open up a big and decisive lead which even Rathvilly would not have been able to claw back.
The Carlow intercounty footballer once again stamped his authority on the championship producing big performances as the holders made their way into the final for the second year in a row. From his full-back position he scored three points over the course of the championship while his runs from deep gave the Rathvilly forwards a platform to create their own chances.
Since breaking into the senior side last year, the Palatine defender has been an automatic selection. Injury has curtailed his season but when he came back for the championship his versatility, his ability to close his man down and turn defence into attack was huge for his side. Surely this young man will go on and enjoy a long and successful footballing career with club and county?
It was a difficult year for the former King-pins of Carlow football. Yet it was inches which was the difference between making the knock-out stages and ending up in a relegation final.
The YIs survived. Much of this was down to their full-back and Carlow intercounty player who never panicked, was comfortable in possession, absorbed the pressure and set the example to those around him.
The Old Leighlin centre-back has many strings to his bow. A tight marker, an astute defender but when he gets on the ball he likes to get forward as his two points from play in the championship testified. He also creates space around him for others to prosper. Not one for idle chat he lets his football do the talking with deadly effect.
The wing-back had a tremendous year for the reigning champions and while defending is very much part of his game, he likes to get forward too as his 1-6 from play in the championship testified. Opposition forwards would know they never get anything easy from the Rathvilly defender either.
While Carlow GAA folk would know the Bagenalstown dual player more as a hurler the defender produced some towering performances in his centre-back position this year. He also likes to get forward and his early goal against Rathvilly in the drawn semi-final asked all kinds of questions of the reigning champions who were delighted to be given a second chance.
The Rathvilly man brought his intercounty form into the club championship and was one of the players of the season. He is a ferocious competitor and loves the man to man challenge. On the ball he is able to link with those around him and is an excellent reader of the game. He scored nine points from play in the championship.
He might have worn the number three on his back but the Tinryland and Naomh Bríd dual player plied his trade in the middle of the field and up front where he was one of the players of the championship. Once he gets going he is hard to stop and his colleagues benefitted when he opened up gaps in opposition defences. His ability to off-load to players in better positions led to many scoring chances for his side.
The Old Leighlin half-forward had a reputation coming into the championship this season and he went on to leave a legacy in Old Leighlin football history. The final against Rathvilly was always going to be tight and the eventual winner’s left-half forward kept his cool when the goal chance presented itself. Taking a pass from Mikey Bambrick the finish was top-class. It wasn’t a match winner but the only goal of the game went a long way to clinching a first championship in 12 years for Old Leighlin.
The full-forward scored 0-12 in the championship this year and while that is impressive enough, it is the centre-forward’s ability to get on the ball quickly, slice through tight defending and set up chances for those around him. Like his brother in defence, Mikey lets his football do the talking which was one of the main reasons why Old Leighlin dined in glory at the top table this year in Carlow.
Another dual player with Old Leighlin he had the honour of captaining his side this year. He led by example and with the engine that he has he covered every inch of the ground with a string of selfless performances. He scored 1-17 in the championship where every score was badly needed in many close games.
The corner-forward who was destined to be the Old Leighlin hero led by example this season. He has been with the club during the good times and the not so good. His opportunist goal in the semi-final against Palatine underlined his leadership and confidence this season.
Overall he accumulated 2-14 in the championship but that last ditch point to win the county final will live with him and the Old Leighlin community forever.
The Éire Óg man scored 3-12 in three championship games. The corner forward shows the instinctive attributes of a scoring predator who doesn’t need to look around him and has an acute awareness of where the posts are. This was vital when nailing 0-3 in the relegation play-off in a tight affair against Tinryland.
After a disappointing start to the senior championship, Bagenalstown Gaels regrouped and a resounding win over Fenagh rekindled their challenge. In a tight third round game Doyle scored five points which included a two-pointer in their draw with Tinryland. That game grabbed the headlines for other reasons and nobody was talking about the Gaels. That changed when they beat Mount Leinster Rangers in their quarter-final with the Bagenalstown marksman registering nine points. He would probably have come into the championship under the radar but with 0-21 he was the second highest scorer of the year.
With 0-26, Shane O’Neill from Palatine was the leading scorer in the senior football championship. The experienced Seamus Kinsella (Old Leighlin) hit 2-14. Padraig Hynes of Fenagh also accounted for 1-16 which went a long way to ensuring the clubs survival at senior grade.
Carlow have quality footballers which the respective performances of Brandon Kelly (Rathvilly), brothers Chris and Jon Nolan (Mount Leinster Rangers), Ciaran Moran (Palatine), Robbie Kane and Jamie Clarke (Bagenalstown Gaels) among many others has demonstrated.
