Breffni Blue 2016 recently revealed its selections for Cavan's top 15 footballers (between club and county) in their respective positions this past season.

Have a look below and see if you agree with our selections:

 

1 Fergal O'Rourke (Cavan minors, St Pat's & Laragh) 

The Laragh shot-stopper had an extraordinary year between the posts, backing up a MacRory Cup success with Ulster and county final appearances for his county and club, respectively. His ability to kick long-range frees also makes him a valuable asset to any team he's on and it showed when Laragh United reached the Division One minor championship final against Ramor United in October. O'Rourke's deadly accuracy was very nearly the difference the first day for the young Stradone men only for them to concede a late equaliser and go down to their Virginia counterparts in the replay. It was a harsh end to an excellent season for O'Rourke, having been so instrumental in St Pat's' MacRory Cup triumph in March and helped Cavan to their first Ulster MFC final since 2011. Honourable mentions: Liam Brady (Ramor United), Gavin Sheenan (Kingscourt), Joe Masterson (Killeshandra).

2 Donal Monahan (Cavan minors, St Pat's & Drumlane)

Monahan led from the back for Cavan minors throughout their entire campaign, impressing Mullahoran man Danny Brady to the point where he handed him the captaincy by April. His rock solid displays at full-back in the Ulster MFC mirrored those that he had put in for St Pat's during their historic run to the MacRory Cup and he'd have the honour of leading out his county in an Ulster championship final in Clones come July. While Derry may have wrecked a dream of getting his hands on the Fr Murray Cup, it was still a stellar season for the now 18-year-old and he'd go on to help his native Drumlane reach the semi-finals of the intermediate championship in September. Honourable mentions: Stephen Cooney (Castlerahan), Rory Sheridan (Kingscourt), Cillian O'Reilly (Killeshandra).

3 Padraic Faulkner (Cavan U21s & Kingscourt)

Faulkner was a man on a mission in 2015 after his controversial sending off in last year's county final and you could see it in his performances this past season. After the disappointment of exiting the Ulster U21FC early, he had his sights set on another bid for the Oliver Plunkett Cup and it took 10 games for the Stars to eventually do it. Faulkner had missed the early part of the championship through injury but his return against Ballinagh came at the perfect time for Kingscourt, who had looked shaky after losses to Mullahoran and Ramor. The Stars had also drawn with Cuchulainns and Ballinagh and in the replay against the latter Faulkner kept marksman Niall McDermott scoreless from play to edge the Meath border men into the quarter-finals. From there, Cavan Gaels, Killygarry and Castlerahan all fell on Kingscourt's sword and Faulkner was amongst their top performers as the club claimed an 11th title in its history. Honourable Mentions: Mark Brennan (Ballyhaise), James Morris (Arva), Padraig Cahill (Killygarry).

4 Luke Fortune (Cavan minors, St Pat's & Cavan Gaels)

Fortune's star has been on the rise these last few years and 2015 saw him step up to the plate during St Pat's' MacRory Cup victory, which ended a 43-year famine in the competition for the Cavan town school. The tenacious Cavan Gaels defender was as vital to the triumph as any and continued his riveting form with Cavan minors into the summer. He shackled some of the best young forwards in Ulster to help the Breffni men towards their first provincial final in the minor grade in four years and would give a solid display in the three-point defeat to Derry ahead of an All-Ireland quarter-final comeback against Kildare which fell narrowly short. Honourable mentions: Michael Devine (Templeport), Shane Grey (Kingscourt), Mark Magee ( Cavan minors & Ramor United).

5 Dillon Raythorne (Cavan minors & Templeport)

Raythorne was unfortunate to see his involvement in Templeport's junior championship final cut short through injury but there can be no doubt over his terrific form all season. His trademark bursts forward from wing back were frequently sighted throughout the club's successful championship campaign, while he also tormented opposing forwards to the point where many were kept scoreless for the duration of games. Raythorne's form for Cavan in the Ulster MFC was imperious too, with splendid displays against Monaghan and Antrim being backed up by a solid hour against Derry. Like many of his team mates down at St Aidan's Park, Raythorne is definitely an exciting prospect for the future. Honourable mentions: Francis Moore (Ballyhaise), Darragh Kennedy (Cavan minors & Killygarry), Feargal Flanagan (Cavan & Butlersbridge).

6 Ciaran Brady (Cavan & Arva)

'The Holla' put in another outstanding season with Arva in 2015 and also made his senior championship debut in the blue and white of Cavan during the summer. Brady was the backbone behind Arva's drive to this year's intermediate championship final - their third county final in as many years - with his injury-time goal against Belturbet in the semi-final literally putting them there. In the final itself, he led from centre-back as Arva recovered from a slow start to push favourites Ballyhaise all the way but in the end their efforts came up just short. Terry Hyland handed Brady his All-Ireland SFC debut in June's facile qualifier victory over London and it's safe to say that we'll see him in a Cavan jersey for some time to come. Honourable mentions: Fergal Reilly (Castlerahan), Ciaran Duignan (Cornafean), Alan Clarke (Kingscourt).

7 Noel McIntyre (Kingscourt)

When it became apparent that Kingscourt would be playing Castlerahan in October's SFC final the match ups were always going to be one of its major talking points. On the day, Kingscourt boss Niall Lynch tasked Noel McIntyre with the assignment of guarding their opponents' star man Cian Mackey and after the final whistle sounded it was the Stars' number seven that earned rave reviews. Mackey had been in sensational form for the all throughout the championship, but so had McIntyre and his ability to nullify the Cavan forward's constant threat went a long way towards landing Kingscourt their first Oliver Plunkett Cup since 2010. Honourable mentions: Caolan McBreen (Castlerahan), Stuart Dunne (Cavan minors & Belturbet), Chris Curran (Swanlinbar).

8 Cormac Daly (Cavan U21s & Castlerahan)

Daly has been one to watch for a while now and this past season saw him come of age as he starred at centre-field during Castlerahan's brave run to the Cavan SFC final. The Cavan U21 ace missed his club's shock first round defeat to Killeshandra but upon his return things started to come together for the Ballyjamesduff men as they roamed through to the quarter-finals and blew away Ramor, before ending the Leaguers' dream in the semi-finals. Daly had been superb in both wins and was amongst the maroons' best in the final against Kingscourt, booming over a splendid first-half point from just inside 50 metres. You can expect plenty more good things to come from the 19-year-old. Honourable mentions: Declan McKiernan (Killeshandra), Tomas Corr (Cavan & Denn), Lasse Morgenroth (Templeport).

9 Barry Reilly (Cavan & Kingscourt)

The Kingscourt playmaker hadn't seen many starts at centre-field since his county minor days, but in the latter part of the Stars' campaign that's where Niall Lynch would station him. In a free roaming role around the middle of the park, Reilly was able to consistently hit the likes of Darragh Gunne and Christy McGowan inside with pinpoint passes which devastated numerous defences throughout Kingscourt's trail to the Oliver Plunkett Cup. Combine that with his deadly ability to dart frees over off the ground from all sorts of different ranges and you begin to realise the threat that Reilly carries. Cavan Gaels learned it late on in their quarter-final defeat to the Stars when he came up trumps with two injury-time frees which dethroned them of the title. His 0-3 contribution, which included two perfectly curled 45s, was every bit as salient in a narrow win over Castlerahan in competition's final. Honourable mentions: John McCutcheon (Cootehill), Thomas Galligan (St Pat's & Lacken), Enda Henry (Belturbet).

10 Martin Reilly (Cavan & Killygarry)

Reilly has been amongst Cavan's most consistent performers these past few seasons and 2015 was no different, continually linking defence to attack with reliability and chipping in scores in the process. His injury-time point against Roscommon saved Cavan from an opening round defeat in the NFL, which could have spelled relegation, and his early goal against the Rossies in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers looked to have the Breffni men on the winning path. Things went pair-shaped for the hosts at Kingspan Breffni Park that afternoon however, but Reilly would be impressing at the same venue again come September when he helped Killygarry to a SFC quarter-final victory over Mullahoran. Reilly had been outstanding throughout the campaign for the Crubany outfit but he saved his best hour to help Ciaran O'Reilly's men defy 3/1 odds against the Dreadnoughts ahead of his side's semi-final exit to eventual winners Kingscourt. Honourable mentions: Philip Tinnelly (Kingscourt Stars), Caoimhin O'Reilly (Cavan U21s & Butlersbridge), Mattie McKenna (Cavan minors & Killygarry).

11 Cian Mackey (Cavan & Castlerahan)

Mackey's form soared to 2013 levels again midway through this season's senior championship, notching 5-6 between back-to-back games against Gowna and Ramor United, which ushered Castlerahan into the competition's semi-finals. There Michael Reilly's side were on a revenge mission from their first round defeat to Killeshandra and Mackey very much proved the key to unlocking a sealed Leaguers' defence under lights at Kingspan Breffni Park. In the 0-13 to 0-9 victory, Mackey contributed 0-4 and set up some more to help pave a path into his club's first county final in four years. Unfortunately for him and his team mates, it would have the same outcome as 2011's defeat to Cavan Gaels. Honourable mentions: Peter Corrigan (Cavan minors & Kingscourt), Kevin Tierney (Ballyhaise), Ben Kiernan (Templeport).

12 David Brady (Cavan minors & Ballyhaise)

2015 could well be the year we look back on as the one which saw one of Cavan's future star forwards put himself on the map. Brady was the focal point in Cavan's run to the Ulster MFC final, starring from full-forward, and perhaps the missing piece of the jigsaw in Ballyhaise's prolonged quest for the intermediate football championship. Brady was able to put the disappointment of Ulster final and All-Ireland quarter-final defeats behind him to hit the ground running with Ballyhaise in the IFC and play his part from wing forward as John Brady's men saw off Swanlinbar, Butlersbridge and Drumlane, respectively, to reach the final. There the pressure would be on and the teenager stood up amongst his team mates to see off Arva's staunch test, ending a 47-year wait for the village club. Honourable mentions: Andy McGovern (Killygarry), Ronan Flanagan (Cavan & Castlerahan), Kevin Bouchier (Arva).

13 Benjamin Kelly (Templeport)

Perhaps Templeport's best performer during their assault on the junior football championship, Kelly is a special talent with the ability to line out in either defence or attack to the same brilliant effect. He starred at full-forward to inflict 1-3 on Knockbride and send his club towards the knock-out stages and kept his brilliant form flowing right up to the final. When called up on in the final to slot into the half-back line and replace the injured Dillion Raythorne, he did so superbly to help keep Cornafean's danger men at bay, while Liam Galligan and co did the damage down the far end. Kelly's is a part of a new wave of talented young footballers at St Aidan's Park, but it's his splendid versatility that arguably makes him the pick of the bunch. Honourable mentions: Jonathan McCabe (Cavan U21s & Arva), Oisin O'Connell (Castlerahan), Brian Sheanon (Killygarry).

14 Stephen Smith (Ballyhaise)

Smith's form was simply sensational in the intermediate championship this year and a large part of why Ballyhaise will be plying their trade in the senior ranks in 2016. The full-forward contributed no less than 0-7 in each of Ballyhaise's four championship outings this past season and saved his best for last when he struck 1-6 in the final victory over Arva. The 2-13 to 1-14 win over the Longford border men on October 4th ended a lot of pain for Ballyhaise and Smith was dually rewarded with the 'Man of the Match' reward for his efforts. Many at the game will recall his coolly stroked 40-metre free with five minutes to go as a crucial juncture when Arva were threatening a comeback. Honourable mentions: Barry Doyle (Cornafean), Adrian Cole (Ramor United), Ben Conaty (St Pat's and Denn).

15 Thomas Edward Donohoe (Cavan minors, St Pat's & Denn)

Is there a more exciting young forward in the county than Thomas Edward Donohoe? The Denn lad's form during the MacRory Cup was nothing less than astonishing and his two goals were the winning of the final against St Pat's Dungannon. With a remarkable ability to turn his marker in a flash, Donohoe was a weapon going into the Ulster MFC for Cavan and they very nearly utilised it to maximum effect before Derry ended their dream. There'd be flashes of his brilliance in the senior championship for Denn as well, but the Crosskeys Faithful would have to wait until October for the silverware when his 2-4, which included the winning point, devastated Ballinagh and handed his club the Minor C Championship title. Honourable mentions: Darragh Gunne (Kingscourt), Liam Galligan (Templeport), Padraig Moore (Ballyhaise).

*Be sure to pick up a copy of Breffni Blue 2016 at your local shop in Cavan today for just €4.95.

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