Hurling Championship Team of the Week Revealed

We are delighted to bring back the Team of the Week for the knockout stages of the club championships across both football and hurling and this week marks the inaugural selection of 2024 with players chosen from the Senior, Intermediate and Junior ranks.

The breakdown of the selection is as follows.

• Kildalkey – 3
• Donaghmore/Ashbourne – 2
• Kilmessan – 2
• Kiltale – 2
• Na Fianna – 2
• Boardsmill – 1
• Kilmessan Juniors – 1
• Killyon – 1
• Navan O’Mahonys – 1

This years teams are in association with Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim.

1. Sean Power (Kilmessan) – Kilmessan’s second string qualified for the K Windows & Doors Junior Hurling Championship Final when defeated Kiltale on Sunday and one of their key players was Power who enjoyed a fine hour between the posts.  He pulled off a couple of smart stops which proved crucial in what turned out to be a three point win.
2. William Mahady (Kiltale) – The quest for another Jubilee Cup came to an end for Kiltale on Sunday afternoon in Páirc Tailteann, but William Mahady turned in a superb performance at corner back for the defeated side.  Time after time he either got out first to gather possession, got a flick in to dispossess him or made life very tricky to get the shot away.
3. Luke Kelly (Na Fianna) – Na Fianna struggled for much of the Championship this year but one of their more consistent players to date has been Luke Kelly.  Sited on the edge of the square on Sunday against St. Peter’s Dunboyne, he was at his resolute best and turned in a fine performance as he dominated his position.  Kelly will be pivotal if Na Fianna are to go on and win the inaugural Senior B Hurling Championship.
4. Harry Cahill (Kilmessan) – The youngster turned in an eye-catching performance for fourteen man Kilmesson on Saturday as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Senior Hurling Championship by defeating Killyon.  His athleticism saw Cahill get out first to the ball time after time and also saw him mop up plenty of possession to frustrate Killyon.
5. Conor McNally (Kiltale) – It might say something about the dominance of Kildalkey for large spells of Sunday’s quarter final that the two Kiltale members on this selection are in their back line.  Consistently under pressure, they saw more of the ball than they would have liked but McNally was resolute throughout and along with James Kelly in the half back line, proved a tough nut to crack.
6. Shaun Byrne (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) – Byrne lined out at midfield but must have covered every blade of grass across the eighty minutes including extra-time in what was a typically all-action display.  Stevie Gibbons from Boardsmill and himself were both outstanding in the JM Food Services IHC quarter final but Byrne probably just about edged it as he helped the ‘Moors qualify for the semi-finals once more.
7. Brendan McKeon (Kildalkey) – The reigning Meath Hurler of the Year turned in his best display of the year to date against Kiltale as he helped them book a meeting with Trim in the last four.  McKeon wore the no. 4 jersey but spent time in practically every line of the pitch.  Picked up Jack Regan from the outset and did a fine man marking job and also found the time to chip in with a couple of points.  The complete performance.
8. Evan Fitzgerald (Kildalkey) – The competition for places in the engine room of the side was immense but it was very difficult to find a reason to leave Fitzgerald out of the side.  He turned in a superb performance over the hour and looks like he’s timing his run to top form to perfection.  Last years SHC Final Man of the Match, Fitzgerald contributed a brace of points in the closing stages of the first half as his side made a decisive move.
9. Kris Gorman (Kilmessan) – Central to the rise of Kilmessan in this years Championship has been the form of Kris Gorman and once more on Saturday evening, he turned in a brilliant performance.  While his personal haul of 1-03 will take the headlines, there was much more to Gorman’s showing than just the scores. His workrate was incredibly high and time after time he got in a hook or a tackle to frustrate Killyon as they looked to build some momentum.
10. Jack Walsh (Navan O’Mahonys) – Twelve months ago, Kildalkey frustrated O’Mahonys when defeating them after a replay in the JM Food Services IHC Final.  Fast forward the clock to Sunday September 15 2024 and this time it was the side from over the wall in Paddy O’Brien Park who came out on top after a titanic battle.  And in a game of small margins, it was Walsh who proved to be the match winner as he fired over an injury time free from practically out on the terrace into the town goals from about 50 metres out.  It was the perfect way for him to conclude the game with a ten out of ten record from placed balls.
11. Danny Dixon (Boardsmill) – Boardsmill crashed out of the JM Food Services IHC in the cruellest of manners on Saturday afternoon when going down to Donaghmore/Ashbourne after extra-time.  But one man who did all he could to inspire them to victory was Meath footballer Danny Dixon who was a constant menace wherever he roamed in the forward line.
12. Sean Martin (Na Fianna) – A player who tends to be a regular in sides of this nature, Seanie’s injury travails have badly hampered Na Fianna this year but he was back to fitness on Sunday and back to his devastatingly brilliant best.  A versatile individual who is adept both in defence and attack, he shone brightly in Trim and will no doubt have caught the eye of the onlooking new Meath manager.
13. Paddy Barnwell (Kildalkey) – ‘Barney Rubble’ as he is affectionately called by his club manager, Paddy was a livewire presence throughout the hour for Kildalkey on Sunday.  The former Meath Minor captain caused untold problems for the Kiltale defence and chipped in with some fine points.  Along with the always lethal Nicky Potterton, he is one half of a duo that is proving more and more difficult to pin down.
14. Adam Gannon (Killyon) – Killyon saw their adventures in the 2024 Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim SHC come to a close on Saturday but one man who cannot have done any more to prevent this was Adam Gannon.  He was a constant threat to the Kilmessan defence and contributed 1-04 on the scoreboard.  On his day he is as good a forward as their is in the county and at times he was unmarkable on Saturday.
15. Michael O’Sullivan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) – When one thinks of O’Sullivan, the phrase ‘give him an inch and he’ll take a mile’, springs to mind.  Two weeks ago he found it difficult to escape the clutches of the Drumree defence but on Saturday he was back to his very best.  Michael ‘Micha’ O’Sullivan ended the game with 1-08 and led the forward line with aplomb.

Keep an eye on our social media channels for the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Player of the Week nominees which will be announced on Tuesday and for details on how to vote.