Breffni Blue 'Team of the Year' revealed

November 17, 2016

Ramor Utd took home their first Cavan SFC title in 24 years.

Breffni Blue 2017 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 Raymond Galligan (Cavan & Lacken) Galligan was rock solid in his second full season between the posts for Cavan, earning an Ulster All Star award along with Drumgoon's Conor Moynagh for his displays. One of the county's top dead ball specialists, his kick-outs and '45s' were essential during Cavan's run of five National League wins for promotion from Division Two and he also came up with a penalty save at a crucial point in the second-half against Armagh in the Ulster SFC quarter-final. Along with all this, he played a focal part in Lacken's Division One triumph in the All County Football League from full-forward. All of the above makes Galligan a shoo-in here.

Honourable mentions: Aaron Farrelly (Ramor United), Eugene Clarke (Killinkere), Jamie Leahy (Castlerahan)

2 Damien Barkey (Ramor United) The tenacious Ramor full-back was in excellent form for the Virginia club this season and could well be set for a call into the county senior panel given his high calibre performances during 2016. Barkey handled some of the top forwards in the county during his club's run to a first senior championship final in 24 years and you get the feeling that Ramor will continue to ask him to do the same again over the next decade or so. An essential cog at the back in Cavan's long-awaited Ulster U21 success of 2011, Barkey is now well and truly back on the radar of many Breffni supporters after a fantastic season in the black and amber.

Honourable mentions: James Cullen (Cornafean), David Phillips (Gowna), Micheál Smart (Ramor United)

3 Killian Clarke (Cavan & Shercock) Clarke had another terrific season for club and county during 2016, with his performance against Galway in April perhaps being the stand out display of his season. The 23-year-old has become a real asset to Cavan over the last couple of years, with three Ulster U21 titles and a provincial minor crown to his name. However, you get the feeling that the Shercock lad isn't just content with those medals only and the Breffni faithful will be hoping that the best is yet to come. His form for the Monaghan border club this past season saw them promoted from Division Three of the All County Football League and also reach an intermediate championship semi-final against eventual winners Arva, whom his late goal against left them just a point short in the end. It'll be fascinating to see what he produces on the field for club and county again in 2017.  

Honourable mentions: Padraig Faulkner (Cavan & Kingscourt Stars), Dan Wharton (Cornafean), Luke Fortune (Cavan minor & Cavan Gaels)

4 James Morris (Arva) What a travesty it would have been if one of Arva's most prominent players in their return to the intermediate final had been suspended for the game itself. Thankfully, common sense prevailed and Morris's red card in their semi-final win over Shercock was rescinded, freeing him up to take part in two airtight finals (after the first had gone to a replay) against Killinkere. A whole-hearted defender with the strength to back it up, Morris was stationed at centre-back for most of the Longford border club's campaign and came into the full-back line when called upon. His performance in Arva's replay victory at Breffni Park in October saw him lead for the back, as they edged a 0-11 to 0-10 victory to scoop their first Tommy Gilroy Cup since 1983.

Honourable mentions: James McEnroe (Cavan & Ramor United), Enda O'Connell (Castlerahan), Joey Jordan (Lavey)

5 Mark Johnson (Cornafean) Rock-like at centre-back throughout Cornafean's victorious junior championship triumph, Johnson's performances improved by the game during his team's route to the Sean Leddy Cup. After the pain of last year's final defeat to Templeport, the Reds weren't going to let another opportunity slip away from them and delivered the performance of their season against Ballymachugh towards the end of September. Johnson gave a brilliant contribution in the number 6 jersey, keeping opposing centre-forward Mark Kiernan scoreless from play, and with that almost half the battle was won for Laurence Brady's charges. If the newly crowned junior champions are to make further strides in the intermediate ranks next summer, you can expect Johnson to be at the heart of their defence once again.

Honourable mentions: Niall Murray (Cavan & Cavan Gaels), Fergal Reilly (Castlerahan), Mark Magee (Cavan U21s & Ramor)

6 Conor Moynagh (Cavan & Drumgoon) Arguably Cavan's best defender in 2016 and the Drumgoon man looks likely to have cemented his place in the number 6 jersey for the long-term, after some fine performances throughout the campaign. Moynagh's displays in the Ulster championship caught the eye to the point where the Irish News named him on their Ulster All Star team come the end of the season. His displays towards the end of the club season also helped Drumgoon stay in the intermediate championship. Another product of Breffni County's Ulster U21 domination between 2011 and 2014, Moynagh is one of those modern half-backs that drives at the opposition's defence at will, prospering best in the sweeper position. Blues fans will be hoping for more of the same from him in 2017 when he lines out against some of the best attacks in the country.

Honourable mentions: Liam McCabe (Killinkere), Brian O'Connell (Cavan U21s & Ramor United), Thomas Brady (Arva)

7 Lewis Fay-Cooper (Killinkere) Along with Emmet Fitzsimons, who was unlucky not to make the cut here, Fay-Cooper was one of the outstanding players for Killinkere in their run to the intermediate championship final this season. The skilful defender carries the whole package with him as a strong man marker that can journey forward for scores and also kick 45s. The 19-year-old's performances in the number five jersey for Damien Donohoe's team saw him stand out on many different occasions this year. The best was arguably in the drawn intermediate decider against Arva at Kingspan Breffni Park, where he looked to be on his way towards the 'Man of the Match' award until Conal Sheridan's late intervention in injury-time saved the Longford border men a replay. A call up from Cavan U21 boss Niall Lynch looks imminent next year.

Honourable mentions: Gerard Smith (Cavan & Lavey), Brian Sankey (Shercock), Ian Leddy (Laragh United)

8 Ciaran Brady (Cavan & Arva) Whether he's stationed at centre-back or centre-field, Brady continues to provide the heartbeat for Arva around the middle and (like his team) his performances in this year's intermediate championship grew by the game. The man they call 'The Holla' was sublime for Peter Reilly's side in their final replay victory over Killinkere, after his brilliantly taken goal the previous day looked to have gotten the men from Michael Cully Park over the line. His performances in Cavan's half-back line prior to that weren't bad either and it'll be interesting to see him showcasing his talents for the Blues up in the top flight next season, along with Arva in the race for the Oliver Plunkett Cup.

Honourable mentions: Emmet Fitzsimons (Killinkere), Tomas Corr (Cavan & Denn), David Wright (Castlerahan)

9 Niall McKiernan (Lacken) Plenty of genuine contenders here, but the nod goes to the man they call 'Buck' after Lacken's long-awaited triumph in Division One of the All County Football League. The Crowe Park club's impressive form in the early part of the season saw them enter the senior championship race as dark horses and in it they gained a sweet victory over Cavan Gaels in which McKiernan was immense. The solid performances continued against Cuchulainns and Castlerahan (although they'd lose the latter narrowly after a replay) and McKiernan would be soaring at centre-field again as they took down Kingscourt Stars in October's Division One decider. His left boot is as sweet as anyone's in the county and with frightening ability to steam forward, McKiernan proved time and time again during 2016 that he can trouble any defence he comes up against.

Honourable mentions: Jason McMahon (Killinkere), Ray Cullivan (Lavey), Jack Wharton (Cornafean)

10 Cian Mackey (Cavan & Castlerahan) Mackey was again in red hot form for Castlerahan as they returned to the final of the senior championship this season, coming up short in a replay defeat to Ramor United. The Cavan forward has the ability to conjure scores from nothing and his relentless driving at opposing defences continues to prove profitable time and time again for both club and county. His performances in the latter stages of the senior championship, particularly in the drawn quarter-final against Lacken, were brilliant to watch, while his point towards the end of the drawn decider against Ramor was a simply splendid and he'd repeat the trick three times in the replay despite coming out on the losing side. In the Ulster SFC quarter-final against Armagh in May, Mackey helped light up the stage as the Blues got a sweet win over the Orchard men on home turf.

Honourable mentions: Dara McVeety (Cavan & Crosserlough), Peter Morris (Arva), Niall Clerkin (Cavan U21s & Shercock)

11 Gearoid McKiernan (Cavan & Swanlinbar) McKiernan's switch to 'the 40' this past season for Cavan worked a treat, as the big Swanlinbar man was a real driving force behind the Blues' promotion up to Division One of the National Football League. He kicked some real gems for Cavan throughout the year - one of them coming in the second-half of their league final defeat to Croke Park - and they'll need every bit of him and more as they aim to make their mark in the NFL's top flight. It'll be interesting to see where new manager Mattie McGleenan stations McKiernan next season, having contributed so much from centre-forward, as well as centre-field, for the Breffni County in 2016.

Honourable mentions: Jonathan McCabe (Arva), Andrew Smith (Cornafean), Mark Kiernan (Ballymachugh)

12 Conor Bradley (Cavan U21s & Ramor United) Bradley came up trumps for Ramor United big time in their assault on this year's senior football championship, doing irreversible damage from 'the 40' to the opposition on plenty of occasions. Having started off the early part of the year by impressing with the Cavan U21s, Bradley made the centre-forward position in the Ramor team his own come championship time and developed into one of their best performers as the competition developed. His deadly accurate free-taking was another impressive feature of the Virginia men's attack and his vision for some of their scores in the drawn final against Castlerahan was brilliant to watch. He'd contribute 0-3 in the replay, pushing team mate Adrian Cole for the Man of the Match award, and you get the feeling that there's plenty more fine performances to come from this young man.

Honourable mentions: Conal Sheridan (Arva), Cathal Maguire (Ramor United), Shane McSweeney (Castlerahan)

13 Barry Doyle (Cornafean) Doyle shot Cornafean to their first junior championship title in 16 years in September, contributing a massive 0-10 in the final against Ballymachugh. That game-winning tally earned him the 'Man of the Match' award afterwards, marking a terrific season for the former Cavan junior forward who had also been sublime for the Reds in their defeat to Templeport on the same stage 12 months previous. Laurence Brady's team bounced back brilliantly this season though and put their fate in Doyle to kick the scores, which he did throughout their crusade towards the Sean Leddy Cup. Next year will see the Reds' hit man looking to go one better when they join the intermediate ranks.

Honourable mentions: Ryan O'Neill (Kildallan & Cavan minors), Oisin Carolan (Cavan U21s & Laragh United), Jack Brady (Cavan & Ramor United)

14 Adrian Cole (Ramor United) Amongst the array of fine forwards that Ramor United possess, Cole stood up to the mark brilliantly come crunch time in the senior football championship. His performance in the competition's final replay saw him kick 0-4 for the 'Man of the Match' award and he would likely have gotten the same accolade two Sundays' previous had Brian Coleman's point not rescued a draw for Castlerahan. Cole was the Virginia outfit's target man inside, flanked brilliantly by James Brady and Kevin Mulvany, throughout their victorious campaign and his performances could see him in with a shout for a place on the Cavan panel next year.

Honourable mentions: David Givney (Cavan & Mountnugent), Joe Dillon (Kingscourt Stars), Conor Finnegan (Lacken)

15 Kevin Bouchier (Arva) Perhaps one of the most stylish footballers in the county, Bouchier was the best forward on show in this year's intermediate football championship. Having been injured in the early stages of the competition, the former Cavan U21 star had well and truly announced his arrival by the quarter-final stage when he struck for 0-9 against Bailieborough and in the semi-final against Shercock he'd hit 0-5 in a one-point victory over the Monaghan border men. It's safe to say that Bouchier's contribution was salient to Peter Reilly's team on their route to their club's first Tommy Gilroy Cup in 33 years. Along with his deadly scoring prowess, Bouchier is an equally brilliant provider and it was best encapsulated when he set-up the winning score for Conal Sheridan in the dying minutes of the final replay against Killinkere in October.

Honourable mentions: James Brady (Ramor United), Shane Tierney (Lavey), Peter McCabe (Killinkere)


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