None of the so call bigger guns were in action but what a dramatic weekend it turned out to be with surprising but fully deserved victories for Antrim and Sligo. There are so many players in contention but our own team put together the following fifteen.

1. Chris Kerr (Antrim)

A hero amongst a team of heroes. His penalty save from Laois' Ross Munnelly was crucial.

2. Ross Donovan (Sligo)

The tiger at the Yeats rearguard. He curbed his own man and broke up many a Rossie attack. Doing this for near a decade now.

3. Kevin McDonnell (Sligo)

The big Castleconnor man had an outstanding game on the edge of the Sligo square.

4. Justin Crozier (Antrim)

A brilliant defensive display from the Cargin ace. He had a nervy enough start but eventually got to grips with Donie Kingston and friends. The team captain was at the centre of the Antrim revival.

5. Declan McCusker (Fermanagh)

On the defeated team but went forward to place a couple of beautiful scores between the Monaghan posts.

6. Brendan Egan (Sligo)

A no nonsense defender and the lynchpin of the Sligo defence.

7. Karl O'Connell (Monaghan)

Monaghan's most improved player. His fast overlaps caused panic amongst the Fermanagh defence.

8. Cian Breheny (Sligo)

Continuously ran brilliant line runs at the Roscommon defence, the former Aussie Rules trialist contributed two vital points.

9. Gearoid McKiernan (Cavan)

The towering Swanlinbar midfielder roamed the Ruislip pitch and ended up with an outstanding individual tally of 1-7.

10. Adrian Marren (Sligo)

Man of the Match and it was probably Adrian's finest performance in the black of Sligo. Shot 1-7, including an expertly placed penalty.

11. Kieran Hughes (Monaghan)

Last week Peter Canavan picked his top players in the country. Amazingly left this man out. He has hands to match the greats from any era. The strength of lion and a left foot that Christy Brown would be proud of. Led the line and shot three vital points.

12. Liam Connerton (Longford)

Only started because of injury. Hit 1-2 and gave the Carlow defence no end of problems all evening.

13. Nigel Dunne (Offaly)

A fine response from Offaly after the Longford misadventure. Looked in trouble when star player Niall McNamee pulled out but the Shamrocks clubman answered the call and ended up with an excellent haul of 0-8.

14. Pat Hughes (Sligo)

Another ace in the Sligo attack. Out muscled his opponent and with livewire David Kelly (unlucky to be left out of our selection) gave the Rossie's full backline headache after headache.

15. Ryan Murray (Antrim)

Covered every blade of grass in his opponent's half of the Portlaoise pitch . Linked up well with his brother Conor. Laois simply could not pin him down and his tally of 1-4 from play was vital in Antrims biggest win for years.

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