Some Mayo people are even happy for Galway, something I shall never understand, but have learned to tolerate with age. Weeks like this I envy them, those masters of magnanimity, for their ability to disassociate Galway’s potential glory from our perpetual PTSD. I don’t think they care about Mayo any less; theirs is just a more collegiate way of living, but for those living in the border parishes around Shrule, Cross or Ballindine, or, worse still, behind enemy lines, you are tattooed with a permanent ink to remind you that you may have left the back door open, and once every 25 years you might get burgled by your handsome, worldly neighbour.
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An Poc ar Buile would be 1000x better than the rose of Tralee alright.
You could have a case of the next few years similar to the 90s in that every year has a new big performing team and the unpredictability makes it. In the 90s, Meath Down Derry Dublin Cork Kerry Donegal and Galway all won one. It won’t be like that but you already have 4 different finalists in the last 2 years, you could easily see Armagh, Derry, Monaghan getting to a final soon as they now realise they are up there. Derry were awful against Galway but have a good basis and coach and they could be there for a bit now. One bad performance doesn’t represent it all.
Now that Dublin have gone back to the pack properly, Leinster teams will gain much more confidence. Tier 2 teams like Roscommon, Cork, Kildare will fancy themselves to go far
Monaghan won’t be getting to a final any time soon.
Cork will likely make constant incremental progress over the next 5-6 years like they did from 2004-2010.
Kildare are Kildare. They should be right in the mix to win an All-Ireland but never are.
Meath and Down should just give up the game altogether, they’re national jokes.
If Down got a proper manager in (have they got a manager?), they could make rapid progress very quickly.
Not too dissimilar to Derry.
From the David Clifford show to Shane Walsh’s wizardry – ranking the top 50 footballers of 2022
Provincial champions dominate as we count down the best scorers, blockers and revolutionaries that graced the big-ball season
Players from Kerry, Dublin, Derry and Galway make up the bulk of the top performers
August 13 2022 02:30 AM
When was the last time there was such certainty about the identity of a Footballer of the Year? Maybe Stephen Cluxton in 2019, who had Con O’Callaghan and Jack McCaffrey also vying for it. But before that? Seán Cavanagh in 2008, Seamus Moynihan in 2000 and Maurice Fitzgerald three years before that were the only other years when the award wasn’t in any dispute.
David Clifford is in that league now. It wasn’t so much the quantity that he scored but the quality, leading Kerry from the front in the same way that Fitzgerald did 25 years earlier.
Our top 50 footballers has quite a focus on the four provincial champions and Armagh who knocked out the reigning All-Ireland champions and brought Galway to the brink in an epic All-Ireland quarter-final.
1. David Clifford (Kerry)
A certainty for Footballer of the Year. Once Clifford got to Croke Park he was in a class of his own, scoring 1-17, 0-5 from marks, another 0-5 from frees, in the three games there, 1-21 overall when his Munster semi-final with Cork is included. Even that quantity though masks the quality of what he did, from his goal against Mayo to his last point of the first half against Dublin, to his right-footed scores in the second half against Galway and then his free to push them one clear.
A notable feature was the improvement in his fielding, not always his biggest asset up to now. But five marks tells its own story. To back it up he hit 5-28 in an eight-game league campaign, a competition in which he was the best player for the third successive year.
2. Shane Walsh (Galway)
If anything, Walsh’s All-Ireland final performance went beyond Clifford’s, each one of his four points from play better than the next. He hit 0-9 for one of the most memorable recent performances on the biggest day, part of his 1-36 overall. He perfected the art of converting 45s, five in all, and added 20 frees, rarely missing.
On days when he wasn’t setting it alight from play, his free-taking was pivotal for Galway – three third-quarter kicks against Mayo helping to build that six-point cushion in Castlebar, similar to his work from the dead ball in the third quarter against Derry, out of his hands off his left.
He played deeper roles against Armagh – a day he still created plenty – and Derry, when he did less damage but there was always the potential for magic in his feet.
3. Cillian McDaid (Galway)
When Galway needed leadership against Armagh in the midst of a storm, McDaid provided it, scoring their extra-time goal and a magnificent equaliser that sent the game to penalties. In the second half of the All-Ireland final he was superb, scoring three points, four in all. Mostly operating at midfield, from where he scored 1-11 and made so many telling runs, there was also a spectacular point against Roscommon in the Connacht final with the outside of his right boot to savour.
4. Jason Foley (Kerry)
Dean Rock and Damien Comer – Paul Conroy for a period, too – being held scoreless from play in the big games is testament to the improvement Foley has made. Had the protection of Tadhg Morley in front of him but, nonetheless, was consistent through league and championship.
5. Chrissy McKaigue (Derry)
Had brief trouble with Tyrone’s Darren McCurry, two points from play, and Monaghan’s Jack McCarron who he conceded a mark and converted frees. But against Donegal’s Patrick McBrearty, Clare’s Keelan Sexton and Galway’s Rob Finnerty he was imperious. Great leader, great man-marker.
6. Seánie O’Shea (Kerry)
If there was a moment of the season, O’Shea’s winning kick from 53 metres against Dublin would top it. Also got the goal early on that day to set the tone. Much less influential in the final in Liam Silke’s company but scored 1-26 in all, 1-7 from play.
7. Damien Comer (Galway)
Never got a run at it in the All-Ireland final after plundering 2-2 against Derry. Comer’s power and direct play paid dividends in earlier rounds, whether in a full-forward role or dropping deeper – as he did against Mayo.
8. Paudie Clifford (Kerry)
Had the consistency to hit 0-2 in four of his five games but when Kerry needed someone to lift a siege, the older Clifford did it in the second half against Dublin and Galway.
9. Ciarán Kilkenny (Dublin)
Kilkenny’s consistency for Dublin really is something to behold. He’s been Dublin’s best player in a second season that has ended in All-Ireland semi-final defeat. Scored 1-12 in five games, his tour de force in the second half against Kerry brought them to the brink.
10. Liam Silke (Galway)
Held O’Shea scoreless from play in the final, restricted Shane McGuigan to just a point from play in the semi-final, and was always probing for openings at the other end – particularly against Armagh. Mayo’s Ryan O’Donoghue had him under pressure in Connacht but the value of his block on Jason Doherty that day couldn’t be overestimated.
11. Tom O’Sullivan (Kerry)
A Player of the Year front-runner until he came up against Walsh in that All-Ireland form. Had kept good control over Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor and Dublin’s Cormac Costello prior to that but couldn’t lay a glove on Walsh.
12. Rian O’Neill (Armagh)
Delivered one of the attacking displays of the championship with 1-7 against Donegal, four points from play, having being held scoreless by the same team in Ulster. Less influential against Tyrone but gave Galway plenty of problems in the full-back line when Armagh mounted their late charge, including the catch to set up Conor Turbitt’s goal. And of course, that amazing free to send it to extra-time, just as pivotal as O’Shea’s two weeks later.
13. Tadhg Morley (Kerry)
The glue that kept the Kerry defence together throughout as they conceded just three goals in 13 league and championship games. The ‘sweeper’ who was always there on the shoulder of his defensive colleagues.
14. John Daly (Galway)
The subtle brilliance of Daly was in evidence against Derry, when he provided assists for Comer’s 2-2, and Kerry when he created five points with either passes or frees won. Always an oasis of calm, rarely strayed a pass.
15. Shane McGuigan (Derry)
The championship’s joint-top scorer from play with 1-13, matching Cormac Costello’s 3-7 and Con O’Callaghan’s 1-13 and eclipsing Ciarán Kilkenny and Shane Walsh, though 1-7 of it came in the rout of Clare. Still, in tight spaces in Ulster, he always found pockets and finished with 2-28 overall from five games.
16. Gavin White (Kerry)
Drove relentlessly up and down his left flank all championship. How often did his acceleration clear danger for Kerry? Scored three points but his late interventions in the All-Ireland final were most valuable.
17. Conor McCluskey (Derry)
Monaghan’s Kieran Hughes, Donegal’s Jamie Brennan and Clare’s Aaron Griffin were among the forwards that McCluskey directly tied down but his shadowing of Shane Walsh in the All-Ireland semi-final was his best piece of work. Walsh, playing a deeper role, didn’t score from play. Offered an attacking threat too.
18. Lee Keegan (Mayo)
One of the game’s greatest defensive warriors. When Mayo needed a jolt of electricity, he provided it, his points against Galway, Monaghan and Kildare all crucial. Paudie Clifford was rarely tamed this summer but Keegan held him scoreless.
19. James McCarthy (Dublin)
Produced one of the great displays in defeat to Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final, two sequences in the second half standing out – first when he stripped the ball from Adrian Spillane and cleared his lines in the follow-up and then when he scored an inspirational point and won the next kick-out – typifying great leadership.
20. Brendan Rogers (Derry)
Conceded 2-2 to Comer in the All-Ireland semi-final yet scored two points himself early on to add to the three he got against Donegal in the Ulster final while shadowing Michael Murphy.
21. Conor Glass (Derry)
Helped to provide that strong defensive screen throughout the Ulster Championship, got the insurance score to win the Ulster title, soared against Clare but less effective against Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final when he was turned over by Daly for the second Galway goal. Needs a more ambitious approach to match his talent.
22. Shane Ryan (Kerry)
Calm and composed throughout the championship, especially under a dropping ball. The measure of him was how he got his kick-outs away when the Dublin press was at its fiercest in the closing stages of the semi-final. Did similar against Galway when the pressure was on. Only goal concession was that brilliant Costello effort.
23. Brian Fenton (Dublin)
Fenton started the championship like a train with five points against Wexford and finished it well in the second half against Kerry too. Scored 11 points – a big pick-up on last year.
24. Ethan Rafferty (Armagh)
A shift in the dynamic of the roving goalkeeper. Rafferty is an accomplished outfield player at inter-county level and used that to great effect, especially in qualifiers and the quarter-final against Galway when he set up what could have been the winning score for Jemar Hall.
Came off his line to smother danger repeatedly, brought organised chaos, scored two great points against Tyrone and made few mistakes, though a stray kick-out led to McDaid’s goal.
25. Con O’Callaghan (Dublin)
Incredibly, the championship’s joint-top scorer from play with 1-13 from three Leinster Championship games with goal assists for Dean Rock’s penalty against Meath and Kilkenny against Kildare. Says a lot about O’Callaghan. And Leinster football. His injury may well have cost Dublin an All-Ireland.
26. Graham O’Sullivan (Kerry)
Tour de force in the All-Ireland final when he held Finnerty scoreless, scored a point himself and set up at least four Kerry scores, including both David Clifford marks.
27. Gareth McKinless (Derry)
Started off the Ulster Championship like a train, operating between midfield and a sweeping role. His acceleration as ball-carrier caused real problems and yielded a great goal against Monaghan.
28. Eoin Murchan (Dublin)
Had his moments of unease against Cork but Murchan was supreme against Kildare, largely tying up Jimmy Hyland when he was on him and driving forward to great effect. Picked up Paul Geaney in the All-Ireland semi-final, holding him scoreless.
29. Lee Gannon (Dublin)
Quite the debut season for Gannon. Made mistakes in possession pushing forward against Kerry that were punished and positioning for the O’Shea goal could have been better but duelled well for a long time with Paudie Clifford and hit 0-5 from corner-back.
30. Seán Kelly (Galway)
Got all the hard jobs in the Galway defence including David Clifford in the All-Ireland final and Rian O’Neill in the quarter-final, but kept at it and did well on Derry’s Niall Loughlin in the semi-final.
31. Jarlath Óg Burns (Armagh)
Ran so many hard lines from half-back and hit a peak against Donegal in the qualifiers and when he pitched in with three points, hitting five overall.
32. Rob Finnerty (Galway)
Scored 0-13, including one mark, and reached a peak against Roscommon and Armagh with five and four points respectively before being shut out by McKaigue and Graham O’Sullivan against Derry and Kerry.
33. Rory Grugan (Armagh)
Grugan amassed 2-12 from four championship games, 2-6 from play. One of the few in orange to hold his own in Ballybofey, at his best against Donegal and carried the fight to Galway.
34. Ethan Doherty (Derry)
Derry scored 11 championship goals and Doherty provided the last assist for five of them. Always played with the head up and was at his best against Monaghan and Donegal.
35. Stefan Campbell (Armagh)
At his best against Tyrone and Galway. Campbell has been an impact substitute but his hard running and playmaking really helped to light up Armagh through the qualifiers. Scored six points from four championship games, three in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
36. Seán Powter (Cork)
Highly effective in a sweeping role for Cork, Kevin Flahive’s outrider as David Clifford was restricted to one point from play in Munster before delivering strong performances against Limerick and Dublin, an evening when they coughed up no goals or obvious chances for that matter.
37. Stephen O’Brien (Kerry)
Made a number of those trademark incisions against Galway, having struggled for large parts to make an impact against Dublin. Teed up the David Clifford goal perfectly against Mayo and was a prominent force in Munster against Cork.
38. Jack Barry (Kerry)
Had to work his way back into the Kerry team after injury and a good start in Páirc Uí Rinn but did well in his customary duel with Fenton against Dublin and was solid, particularly in a defensive capacity, against Galway.
39. Paul Conroy (Galway)
Big performance on the opening day against Mayo and when he was needed he stood up in the second half and in extra-time against Armagh and late on against Derry. Didn’t have the same impact in the All-Ireland final against Kerry.
40. Ben McCormack (Kildare)
Prolific through Leinster when he scored 14 points, five against Dublin in the Leinster final, including a mark, when Kildare were badly beaten. Scored 0-15 (0-2 marks) overall.
41. Diarmuid O’Connor (Kerry)
Started the league like he would really leave his mark on the season. Had a decent evening against Cork but it took the All-Ireland final, particularly the second half when he went into midfield, to really show what he was about.
42. Cormac Costello (Dublin)
Scored 3-7 including that magnificent goal against Kerry to spark Dublin’s response. Too hot to handle for Meath and Kildare defences too, scoring 2-1 against Kildare and also setting up O’Callaghan’s goal.
43. Ronan O’Toole (Westmeath)
Spent most of his time in the Tailteann Cup where he was the outstanding player, a creative force when they got back to Croke Park against Offaly and Cavan. Hit 2-3 in two Leinster Championship games, 0-12 in the secondary competition.
44. Keelan Sexton (Clare)
The inspiration behind Clare’s qualifier win over Roscommon when he bagged 2-6, 1-1 from play. Enough for merit here.
45. Jack Glynn (Galway)
Got better as the season progressed, outplaying Derry’s Benny Heron and Paudie Clifford in the first half of the All-Ireland final before the Kerryman got on top after that.
46. Dylan McHugh (Galway)
Quietly efficient down the right flank all season for Galway, making short, snappy bursts and strong in the collective effort, particularly against Derry.
47. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (Kerry)
When Kerry needed to snap kick-outs away under pressure late in the All-Ireland semi-final, Ó Beaglaoich was brave enough to seek them. Had a good battle with Kilkenny who eventually got on top. Did well on Johnny Heaney in the final.
48. Darren McCurry (Tyrone)
Very poor defence from Tyrone but one to stand up was McCurry who landed 0-17 from three championship games, six from play and three marks.
49. Cian Sheehan (Limerick)
Never easy to thrive on a team being so badly beaten as Limerick were in the Munster final against Kerry but Sheehan popped up from half-back with three points from play, something only Walsh, McDaid (four points each) and Kilkenny did against the All-Ireland champions in the championship. Best Limerick player in their promotion push to Division 2.
50. Daniel Flynn (Kildare)
Capable of anything and was still a threat to Dublin on a bad day for Kildare while Mayo also struggled for a long time to get a handle on his movement.
Inter-county GAA ended on July 24th. Another season passes by us.
The managerial merry-go-round is starting to run out of steam. Transfer season is trying hard but just there aren’t enough transfers.
We are now in Inter-County List Season. Like Flavour Country being a big country, Inter-County List Season is a long season, where dreams stay with you, like a lovers’s voice fires the mountainside.
From now until journalists can dream up no more subjects for lists, we will have lists, or as they are now sometimes called, POWER RANKINGS.
The good news is that almost all of the following can be done separately for football and hurling.
32 best teams
30 best matches
50 best players
20 best goals
100 best points
15 best saves
10 worst misses
5 best passes
32 best managers
10 best managerial appointments for 2023
22 best post match interviews
10 worst fouls
10 best turnovers
6 best man markers
17 worst refereeing decisions
32 best county grounds
6 best free kicks
10 best sideline cuts
20 best handpassed points
12 best inter-county haircuts
10 best managers not currently in an inter-county job
20 best lists
This season can run until Christmas at least.
Good to see Sheehan (Limerick) get the recognition he deserves