Football Team of the Week Revealed

The first Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Football Team of the Week for 2024 has been selected after a thrilling weekend of action in the Club Championship Quarter Finals and Relegation Playoffs.

The breakdown of the selection is as follows.

• St. Peter’s Dunboyne  – 3
• Ballivor – 2
• Dunshaughlin – 2
• Skryne – 2
• Wolfe Tones – 2
• Dunsany – 1
• Meath Hill – 1
• Na Fianna – 1
• Rathkenny – 1

1. Liam Byrne (St. Peter’s Dunboyne) – St. Peter’s Dunboyne booked a return to the semi-finals of the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship on Sunday when they knocked reigning champions Summerhill out. Central to that victory was Liam Byrne between the uprights whose accurate kickouts were a central tenet of their victory and he was excellent at organising the troops in front of him.  Not to forget the crucial two late frees he landed from distance, with the second of those coming in injury time which proved the match winner. Just about edges Ian Gillett from the side who had an excellent outing against St. Colmcille’s.
2. Adrian Crawford (Wolfe Tones) – The youngster who is in his first season playing Senior Football was in excellent form at corner back as his side booked their place in the last four once more. He is something of a typical Wolfe Tones corner back.  Tight and tigerish in his marking style but comfortable on the ball.  A bright future awaits.
3. Oran Smullen (Na Fianna) – Marking the top scorer in the Championship is a prospect that doesn’t enthuse too many but that is what faced Oran on Sunday morning in Bective as he prepared to take on the challenge of marking Keith Curtis. Curtis had his moments over the hour, but overall Smullen did an excellent job in limiting the ace attackers influence and it went a long way towards deciding the outcome of the game.
4. Ben Duggan (Dunshaughlin) – It is often the silky-smooth attackers on the Dunshaughlin side who catch the eye but defensively on Saturday evening they were resolute, stopping a Ratoath attack which got eight goals two weeks previously from notching any in the quarter final. One of the main factors in this defensive effort was Ben Duggan who was at his stubborn best.
5. Shane Smyth (Skryne) – There are very few in the county who possess the energy levels that Smyth does, and he has been in the form of his life in recent weeks. A standout performer against Trim in Round 3, Shane was again a leading light on Sunday as Skryne defeated St. Colmcille’s.  Despite being on the scene for a number of years now, this Duracell Bunny is still only 22 and he turned in a typically all-action display in the last eight meeting.
6. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny) – Donal missed the Round 3 meeting with Ratoath and his leadership qualities were sadly missed as Rathkenny suffered a hefty defeat. His return for Sunday’s Relegation Playoff against Na Fianna was most welcome and he took up the task of marking the ever-dangerous Shane Walsh.  His attacking forays were slightly curtailed due to the marking role Donal took on, but he did a superb job in limiting the influence Walsh could exert on the game.
7. Martin Healy (Ballivor) – There can be commentary in certain quarters that Ballivor are a team of hurlers, and this is rather unfair on what is a group of very talented dual players. One of these is Martin who along with being a fine hurler, is a footballer of some ability and this was showcased in Trim on Sunday as he turned in a superb display at wing back to help his side go one better than 2023 when qualifying for the last 4 of the Meade Farm IFC.
8. Brendan McKeon (Ballivor) – The siting of Brendan in the no.8 jersey might raise some eyebrows but the nature of how he played the game on Sunday meant that the player was everywhere. A superb talent, he is an exceptional ball carrier and allied to that, brought a ferocious work rate to the party as one of the favourites for the Intermediate Championship were toppled.
9. Darragh Campion (Skryne) – It is no coincidence that Skryne struggled in 2023 when Darragh was absent through injury and now that he is back fully fit, his side have been massively transformed this year. A real leader in the camp, Darragh was at his brilliant best on Sunday, driving the side forward and kicking three important frees.
10. Michael Murphy (St. Peter’s Dunboyne) – Similar to Shane Smyth, Michael is a player who possesses an incredible engine and can run all day. A juvenile teammate of Liam Byrne, he has gradually become more and more important to the St. Peter’s Dunboyne side.  A versatile sort, he has previously lined out in defence but the free role he has recently occupied, drifting all over the pitch and using his ball carrying ability has been a difference maker this year.  Turned in one of the best performances seen over the weekend.
11. Sarán Ó Fionnagáin (Wolfe Tones) – There can be no player in action last weekend who has spent more time in Páirc Tailteann recently than Ó Fionnagáin between his dual role as Wolfe Tones footballer and Kildalkey physio. Last Saturday against Simonstown Gaels, Saran showcased all the abilities which marks him out as one of the best forwards around.  There were plenty of forwards who scored more than him last weekend, but very few who turned in the all-round performance that Saran did on Saturday afternoon.
12. Eoin Harkin (Dunsany) – The nature of how Dunsany played on Friday evening in Cortown against Ballinlough saw them have every player back in their own defence, something which proved crucial in keeping a dangerous Ballinlough attack under control but often something which saw them lack an out ball to kick the ball in towards. To that end, the ball carrying abilities of Harkin came to the fore and time after time he surged forward to great effect, relieving the pressure his defence was under.  Also chipped in with four vital frees.
13. Luke Mitchell (Dunshaughlin) – Watching Luke Mitchell on Saturday, it was hard to credit that only a year ago, he was struggling to get his place in the Dunshaughlin side. When this man has the confidence levels high, there are few who have the all-round scoring package that Mitchell brings to the party.  Aerial ability – check.  Free taking ability – check.  Point scoring from distance – check.  Right foot left foot ability to kick scores – check.  Goal poacher – check.  Selfishness to place a teammate in a better position – check.  Keeping him in this form is massively important for Dunshaughlin if they are to claim the Keegan Cup.
14. Donal Lenihan (St. Peter’s Dunboyne) – At times it was a shootout between Donal and the Summerhill full forward Eoghan Frayne and they both ended up with 8 points over the course of the hour. A wonderfully consistent free-taker, Donal kicked 6 frees and 2 from play, keeping the scoreboard ticking over, particularly after his forward colleague Cathal Lacey was asked to leave the pitch.  Also showed great leadership throughout.
15. Gary Breslin (Meath Hill) – Gary Breslin is a name which has been on the lips of many around the Cavan/Monaghan border but if he continues in the form he was in last Saturday then very soon it will be a name on the lips of football supporters throughout the county. He plays with an air of supreme confidence and against Kilbride he kicked 1-09 over the hour, 1-07 of which came from play.  A joy to watch when in full flight, his performance was as good as any player has put in this year to date.