Football Championship Team of the Week

The inaugural Meath GAA App Football Team of the Week is here, and it features players from fourteen clubs after a brilliant weekend of action across the football championships.  Each grade of Championship from Senior to Junior B is represented across the team, as the selection net was cast far and wide.

1. Andrew Colgan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) – Andrew kept a clean sheet as Donaghmore/Ashbourne were defeated by Dunshaughlin on Saturday evening in Ratoath and as he regularly does, came forward to kick three points over the course of the hour, two frees and one from a ’45.
2. Conor Sheppard (Wolfe Tones) – Wolfe Tones enjoyed a comfortable victory over Gaeil Colmcille on Friday evening in Páirc Tailteann and had impressive performances all over the field. Few though could claim to be as good as Conor who gave an exhibition of corner back play.
3. Stephen Moran (Simonstown Gaels) – Something of a veteran in the Simonstown side these days, Moran used all of his experience to great effect as they eked out a narrow victory over Trim. Got the upper hand in his personal duel with Aaron Lynch.
4. Harry Newman (Kilmainham) – Kilmainham and Ballinlough played out a drawn game on Saturday in Grangegodden and Newman’s defensive performance was one of the foundation stones upon which the Kilmainham performance was built upon. Enjoyed a fascinating duel with Mark McCullen and came out on top over the hour.
5. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny) – It was more comfortable than many expected for Rathkenny as they disposed of the challenge posed by Drumbaragh Emmets on Sunday. Central to that performance was county captain Donal Keogan who continues to be the heartbeat of the Rathkenny side.
6. Sean Martin (Na Fianna) – Na Fianna came into the game against Curraha with many questioning if they would be good enough to claim victory and ultimately, they turned in an accomplished performance in Batterstown to come away with a crucial win. Central to that showing was centre back Sean Martin who went about his business in an efficient manner, keeping James McEntee quiet in the first half and generally controlling the defence.
7. Brían Conlon (Simonstown Gaels) – The second Simonstown clubman to get on the inaugural Meath GAA APP Team of the Week, Brían was back to his best for the club in their victory over Trim. A colossal presence in the half back line throughout the game, Conlon completes the half back line.
8. Cathal Hickey (Seneschalstown) – Seneschalstown may have fallen to an eight point defeat on Friday evening against St. Peter’s Dunboyne but it could have been more were it not for Hickey who was at his marauding best for the Yellow Furze side. Over the course of the hour, he landed five points from play, almost 50% of his sides total and he caused the Dunboyne side untold damage.
9. Jeff Kavanagh (St. Colmcille’s) – The ‘Cilles defeated Skryne by three points in Ashbourne and Kavanagh contributed three points from his midfield berth. He along with Ruairí O’Grady enjoyed a fascinating duel with Harry Rooney and Ciaran Lenehan and any day a midfielder lands three points from play, they are strong contenders for a Team of the Week.
10. Mathew Costello (Dunshaughlin) – Fresh from a starring role as Meath won the Tailteann Cup, Mathew Costello was in sparkling form for Dunshaughlin as the 2022 IFC winners got off to the best possible start back at the top table of Meath football. Named in the team at full forward, he operated largely in the middle third and over the hour, Mathew helped himself to seven points.
11. Daithí McGowan (Ratoath) – On a night when Ratoath struggled at times to break down a well drilled Moynalvey defence, they time and time again looked to McGowan to provide the moment of inspiration they required. Another player to land seven points, in the form he was in on Friday, Daithí is a massive weapon in the Ratoath arsenal.
12. Matt Tully (Slane) – Any day a forward leaved the field of play with a personal haul of four goals and five points must be considered a good day’s work. Matt has consistently stood out as one of the key forward for Slane over the last number of seasons and if he can continue to turn in performances of this nature, then Slane could well be celebrating Championship success later on in the year.
13. CJ Healy (Oldcastle) – When the Oldcastle backs were to the wall early in the second half, trailing O’Mahonys by a sizable margin, they were desperately looking for a moment of magic to stir them to life and like he has so often done in the past, CJ Healy came up with the good when rifling the ball to the back of the O’Mahonys net, sparking off a comeback which would ultimately end up in the spoils being shared. He ended up with a goal and three points, but equally impressive was his link up play and ability to bring others into the game.
14. Donal Lenihan (St. Peter’s Dunboyne) – St. Peter’s Dunboyne manager Ger Robinson had many great games for the club, but few performances could have matched that which the newly married Donal Lenihan turned in on Friday evening against Seneschalstown. He helped himself to 1-10, a remarkable 65% of his sides overall tally and was a thorn in the side of the Seneschalstown defence throughout.  This was as good an individual performance as there was in the county all weekend.
15. Paul Kelly (Blackhall Gaels) – Kelly was in sparkling form for Blackhall Gaels on Saturday as they lost out to Castletown by three points in Bective. A constant thorn in their defence, Paul ended up with 2-01 to his name, 1-01 of which came from play. Very unfortunate to end up on the losing side, his form will be crucial as the Championship progresses for Blackhall.

The first Hurling Championship Team of the Week will be chosen after the Round 3 games on the weekend of August 3-6.