Football semi-final TOTW revealed

After a thrilling weekend of semi-final action last week, we have finally settled on the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Team of the Week selection.

In total there are ten clubs represented with clubs spread across the Fairyhouse Steel SFC, Meade Farm IFC, Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation JFC and Coolrite JBFC.

• Dunsany – 2
• Dunshaughlin – 2
• Skryne – 2
• St. Peter’s Dunboyne – 2
• Wolfe Tones – 2
• Carnaross – 1
• Meath Hill – 1
• Navan O’Mahonys – 1
• Rathkenny – 1
• Slane – 1

1. Braydon Colfer (Slane) – Slane might have seen their aspirations of winning the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Championship end at the last four stage on Sunday but no blame could be apportioned to the young goalkeeper.  In his first year playing adult ball, Braydon has had a fine season and was an assured presence under the high ball against Dunsany, dominating the square and was alert to any danger.
2. Neil Byrne (Dunshaughlin) – It’s a good sign in any team when a different player is capable of stepping up and being one of their main men in each game.  On Saturday evening it was the turn of Neil Byrne at corner back and he was outstanding.  A tight marker, tenacious in the tackle and comfortable on the ball, he turned in a performance that had him in contention for the man of the Match Award.
3. Seamus Lavin (St. Peter’s Dunboyne) – Seamus was at his best on Saturday as he enjoyed a proper tussle with Dunshaughlin dangerman Luke Mitchell.  It was a great battle and is one which Seamus edged over the hour as he stuck to his opponent like a limpet to a rock.
4. Alexander Smyth (Dunsany) – The headlines might have been garnered by a player much further upfield but Smyth was one of the foundations on which their victory over Slane was achieved.  Was a main reason why the much vaunted Slane attack failed to hit the heights which it is capable of.
5. James O’Hare (Rathkenny) – The best player on the pitch in Cortown as Rathkenny defeated Ballinabrackey to secure their senior football once more for 2025.  Took up the task of picking up Sean Coffey and relished the task.  James was outstanding defensively and got forward to contribute a vital brace of points.
6. Adam O’Neill (Bhulf Tón) – Apart from kicking the ball out over the end line in the second half of extra-time, there was nothing that O’Neill did wrong over the eighty minutes.  Ended the game like Bambi due to cramp but that just showed the effort he put into the game.  Continues to improve and is growing in stature all the time.
7. Aodhan Mallon (Navan O’Mahonys) – When Aodhan Mallon plays well, Navan O’Mahonys generally play well.  He is one of the best attacking half backs around and is always capable of getting on the scoreboard, as he did against Castletown with two points from play.  Brings so much to the O’Mahonys side.
8. Ronan Jones (St. Peter’s Dunboyne) – The second member of the Dunboyne side who lost out to Dunshaughlin to make this selection.  His side dominated the midfield exchanges and the form of Ronan Jones was central to this.  He put in a massive shift and can count himself very unlucky to have finished on the losing side.
9. Harry Rooney (Skryne) – Harry was a hulking presence in Páirc Tailteann on Sunday as Skryne came oh so close to claiming a place in the final of the Senior Football Championship since winning it way back in 2010.  He is such a strong presence under the high ball and continually brought the fight to Wolfe Tones.
10. Eoin Harkin (Dunsany) – Eoin kicked nine points over the hour as Dunsany defeated Slane and while some might point out that seven of those were frees, he was fouled for many of them as Slane struggled to get to grips with the Dunsany dangerman.  Eoin is probably playing the best football of his life and if he continues in that form then maybe, just maybe Dunsany can finally get over the line in the Junior Final. There is an honourable mention for Ben Corkery who was outstanding for Clann na nGael in a losing cause on Saturday.
11. Ruairí Kinsella (Dunshaughlin) – There is no doubting that Ruairí is one of the holy trinity in the Dunshaughlin attack alongside Messrs Costello and Mitchell.  He pulls the strings to great effect at centre forward and contributed five points as they defeated St. Peter’s Dunboyne.
12. Thomas O’Reilly (Bhulf Tón) – He wasn’t on the field of play for the dramatic end game but that was solely down to the fact that Thomas had run himself into the ground and had eventually succumbed to injury as a result.  Kicked seven points, three from play and was a constant menace.
13. Niall Finnerty (Skryne) – Another player from a losing side to feature but the simple reality was that Niall was one of the best players on the pitch as Skryne eventually went down to Wolfe Tones.  Alongside Darragh Campion, Niall carried much of the Skryne threat and his movement and trickery caused any amount of problems for the ‘Tones. Ended the game with eight points, six frees. Nigel Hand just misses out on selection.
14. Paddy McDermott (Carnaross) – McDermott is having the season of his life and was the top scorer across all the championships over the first two weekends of group stage action.  Came away from Moynalty with a personal haul of eleven points and try as they did, Kilmainhamwood couldn’t tie him up.
15. Gary Breslin (Meath Hill) – Gary is fast making the left corner forward berth in this team his own and he was the name on so many lips in Páirc Tailteann on Saturday.  Led the Meath Hill charge and every time he got on the ball the massive support his side had in the stands electrified.  Playing with the confidence of a man who believes he will do maximum damage whenever he gets his paws on the size five O’Neills.