Taken from Royal County 2015, the Official Meath GAA Yearbook.

To the victor go the spoils - Navan O'Mahonys, Ratoath and Curraha savoured that special feeling of championship success this year and all three were worthy winners of their respective competitions. Here's the players that impressed us across the Senior, Intermediate and Junior football championships in 2015.

1. MARCUS BRENNAN (Navan O'Mahonys)

Though small in stature, the Navan O'Mahonys netminder has been consistently one of the top goalkeepers in the county for many years now. His save from Dan Queeney 19th minute penalty was a decisive moment in the Keegan Cup decider and he was a deserving recipient of the 'Man-of-the-Match' accolade.

Honorable mentions: Johnny O'Connor (Dunboyne); Shane Geraghty (Na Fianna); Liam Hogan (Curraha).

2. JAMES REILLY (Navan O'Mahonys)

A tigerish defender with a never-say-die attitude. There are few corner-forwards who will recall marking Reilly with any great fondness. Conor Downey had been one of the stars of Na Fianna's march to the Meath SFC final but Reilly kept him on a tight leash on the October Bank Holiday Monday.

Honorable mentions: Liam Ferguson (Gaeil Colmcille); Daniel O'Neill (Wolfe Tones); Daragh McGill (Ratoath).

3. CONOR McGILL (Ratoath)

It was a year to remember for the Ratoath man. A physically imposing defender, he made a seamless transition to inter-county senior football before getting his hands on the Mattie McDonnell Cup. Meath supporters will be hoping they'll be talking about him in the same vein as Paddy 'Hands' O'Brien, Jack Quinn, Mick Lyons and Darren Fay in years to come.

Honorable mentions: Christy Cosgrave (Na Fianna); Stephen Sheppard (Wolfe Tones); Caolan Young (Summerhill).

4. DARRAGH SMYTH (Navan O'Mahonys)

Not a corner-back in the traditional sense. Smyth enjoys frequent forays into enemy territory and he caused plenty of problems for opposition defences this year. He did a lot of his best work around the middle third of the field. A bundle of energy, his pace is one of his biggest strengths and he led from the back for the Brews Hill outfit.

Honorable mentions: James Geagan (Na Fianna); Ben Carolan (Dunboyne); Pauric Burke (Dunsany).

5. CATHAL FINN (Dunboyne)

Finn was consistency personified in the half-back line for Dunboyne who ran O'Mahonys close in the last four of the Keegan Cup race. His performances caught the attention of Mick O'Dowd and he was called up to a Meath development squad in the Autumn. Can he make an impression in the green and gold jersey?

Honorable mentions: Tadhg O Dushlaine (Dunshaughlin); Paul Tormay (Gaeil Colmcille); Dean Hendrick (Na Fianna).

6. BARRY TORMAY (Gaeil Colmcille)

Another player who has featured in O'Dowd's Development squad, the Kells captain proved to be the rock on which many an opposition's attack perished throughout 2015. His determined attitude inspired those around him and Gaeil Colmcille celebrated FL Division 2 and Feis Cup successes. They qualified for the semi-final stages of the SFC but Na Fianna proved to be one bridge to far.

Honorable mentions: Caomhin King (Dunshaughlin); Gavin McGowan (Ratoath); Darragh Maguire (Navan O'Mahonys).

7. CONOR DOWNEY (Na Fianna)

Lined out at corner-forward in the county decider but featured in the Na Fianna half-back line to telling effect for much of their run to the senior final. The talented Downey is intelligent in possession and has the uncanny knack of popping up in the right place at the right time.

Honorable mentions: David Toner (Curraha); Gary O'Brien (Navan O'Mahonys); Brian Power (Ratoath).

8. CIAN O'BRIEN (Ratoath)

Ratoath delivered on their underage potential in this year's Intermediate Football Championship and their stylish midfielder was one of the stars of their success. A lot of eyes will be on the Dublin border club to see how they perform in next year's SFC and they could be dark horses considering the wealth of talent at manager Fergal Power's disposal.

Honorable mentions: Ben Duggan (Dunshaughlin); Alan Farrell (Nobber); Niall O'Reilly (Wolfe Tones).

9. RAY MALONEY (Dunshaughlin)

The battle hardened Maloney led by example for the Black and Ambers this year. They made their exit in the championship at the quarter-final stage when losing out to neighbours Dunboyne but they gained revenge in the best possible fashion when scoring a 4-9 to 0-11 victory over the St Peter's men in the FL Division 1 decider.

Honorable mentions: Shane Brennan (Dunsany); Ollie Lewis (Na Fianna); Jason Yorke (Meath Hill).

10. JAMES McENTEE (Curraha)

Cemented his place on the Meath senior football starting 15 this year and was the standout performer in the Peter McDermott Cup decider against Dunsany. The signs looked ominous for the men from east Meath when they were reduced to 14 men in the first-half but McEntee stood up and was counted when scoring 1-4.

Honorable mentions: Seamus Mattimoe (Gaeil Colmcille); Ethan Devine (Na Fianna); Ruairi O Coileain (Navan O'Mahonys)

11. STEPHEN BRAY (Navan O'Mahonys)

The 2007 All-Star showed Meath fans what they will be missing in 2016 with a four point contribution against Na Fianna as O'Mahonys claimed their 20th Meath SFC title. When his side's back was against the wall, the experienced Bray showed the composure that helped see them over the line.

Honorable mentions: Trevor Dowd (Dunshaughlin); Daniel Queeney (Na Fianna); Bobby O'Brien (Ratoath).

12. GRAHAM REILLY (St Colmcille's)

The 'Cille's bid for Intermediate honours came unstuck at the semi-final stage against future winners Ratoath but if 'Biggy' can continue his rich vein of scoring form then you would have to imagine their time will come sooner rather than later. There are few defences that could cope with the county man in full flight.

Honorable mentions: Declan Smyth (Dunsany); Padraig McKeever (Simonstown); Neil Shortall (Curraha).

13. BRIAN HANLON (Gaeil Colmcille)

The return of 2-4 (2-2) from play sent Gaeil Colmcille on the road to a memorable one point SFC quarter-final victory over Wolfe Tones. Injury hampered his contribution in the last four against Na Fianna but the Kells club's trophy cabinet houses the FL Division 2 and Feis Cup silverware this winter thanks to the efforts of 'Beano' & Co.

Honorable mentions: Conor Rooney (Ratoath); Fergus Toolan (Dunshaughlin); Sean Meade (Nobber).

14. DALTON McDONAGH (Na Fianna)

It was very much a case of what might have been for 'Dolly' and Na Fianna in the county final. He kicked a superb point in the first-half and posed plenty of questions for the O'Mahonys rearguard but a hamstring injury brought his participation to a premature end in the second-half. His finishing instincts were missed as the south Meath outfit launched a late rally.

Honorable mentions: Michael Dunne (Dunboyne); Brian Farrell (Nobber); Eamon Wallace (Ratoath).

15. DONAL LENIHAN (Dunboyne)

Up there with the best finishers in action on the club scene, Lenihan has the potential to make a big impact in the Meath jersey in the new year. The diminutive forward is not shy of hard work and is deadly accurate in front of the posts. There are many a Meath club defender who can testify to that.

Honorable mentions: Oisin Reilly (Gaeil Colmcille); David McLoughlin (Moynalvey); Sean Tobin (Simonstown).

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