Tyrone may be licking their wounds after their All-Ireland SFC exit to Mayo last weekend, but Andy Watters still finds spots for eight of their players in his Ulster Allstar selection...
RAYMOND GALLIGAN (CAVAN)
The Cavan goalkeeper had a superb season for the Breffni men. Saved Stefan Campbell’s penalty to deny Armagh a lifeline in a quarter-final clash that was coming to the boil and earned his side a semi-final replay against Tyrone with a point-blank stop to keep out Padraig McNulty’s shot.
He was a regular scorer from dead balls and sent over three frees in the Qualifier against Derry.
AIDAN McCRORY (TYRONE)
He restricted Derry’s Mark Lynch to a single point in the Ulster quarter-final and then helped limit Cavan captain Gearoid McKiernan’s influence in the semi. The Errigal Ciaran clubman is a tireless and unselfish worker in the Tyrone cause and his energy and commitment in the full-back line makes him one of the cornerstones of Mickey Harte’s side.
NEIL McGEE (DONEGAL)
Typically solid at the heart of the Donegal defence, McGee is an experienced and dogged competitor who takes on the best and makes them work for every touch of the ball. The Gweedore clubman picked up Dublin’s Bernard Brogan in the All-Ireland quarter-final and froze him out of the game.
CATHAL McCARRON (TYRONE)
He might be haunted by missing that late scoring chance against Mayo last Saturday, but he’s a defender not a forward and carried out his duties as a man-marker expertly all summer. His block to deny David Givney a goal was a memorable moment in the Ulster Championship and he restricted Michael Murphy’s influence in the Anglo-Celt decider.
RYAN McHUGH (DONEGAL)
Brave, smart and gifted, the Kilcar clubman was at his inspirational best in the first-half of the Ulster final, when he swung over three long-range points. Tyrone struggled to contain his lightning quick breaks from the half-back line that day and McHugh added three more points against Cork to help book the Tir Chonaill men an All-Ireland quarter-final.
Scored a goal against Dublin to drag Donegal back into the game.
CONOR MOYNAGH (CAVAN)
A stylish footballer and the creative hub of the Cavan side from the centre half-back/sweeper position. Moynagh’s role in the side is to help break up attacks, pass the ball out of defence and then get forward to support the attack.
His distribution is usually excellent and he scored in all three of Cavan’s games in Ulster, including the Breffni men’s second goal against Tyrone.
TIERNAN McCANN (TYRONE)
Tyrone’s system is built around the type of driving runs that are the hallmark of McCann’s game. His pace and direct running regularly turns defence into attack. He had an excellent league campaign as the Red Hands won Division Two and carried that form into the Championship as Tyrone won the Anglo-Celt for the first time since 2010.
COLM CAVANAGH (TYRONE)
A shoo-in as a defensive-midfielder, the younger Cavanagh brother has had another excellent season. Gets back to cover space and mop up the dirty-ball around the scoring zone and adds height and a physical presence to the centre of Tyrone’s defence.
The Moy clubman is also capable of an occasional forward foray and swung over a left-footed point against Cavan.
MATTIE DONNELLY (TYRONE)
Athletic and skilful, Donnelly is a constant influence in the game from midfield, whether it’s tackling around the middle-third or breaking forward to add the finishing touch to a Tyrone counter-attacking move. The Trillick clubman scored three superb points against Mayo in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
He never seems to give the ball away and his accurate passing was a feature of the game.
DANNY HEAVRON (DERRY)
Heavron carried his form from the 2015 season into this year and his emergence will give Derry fans hope for the future. He was arguably Derry’s best player on a bad day against Tyrone and his energy and confidence propelled the Oak Leafers onto a thrilling ride through the Qualifiers.
He saved his best for the game against Tipperary, when his four points from a roving role took Derry to the brink of the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
NIALL SLUDDEN (TYRONE)
The Dromore clubman produced his best performance in the Tyrone jersey in a tireless display against Mayo in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Ran, tackled, passed and supported his team-mates and also scored an excellent point.
Sludden made his Championship debut in the clash with Derry and ended the season with Dr McKenna Cup, Division Two and Ulster Championship medals. A real find for the Red Hands.
PETER HARTE (TYRONE)
A big-game player and the go-to man for Tyrone. Harte’s direct running proved almost impossible to counteract throughout the Ulster Championship. The Errigal Ciaran clubman thumped in a goal against Derry at Celtic Park and followed it up with 2-4 (the biggest individual haul of the series) in the semi-final win over Cavan.
Tagged on two crucial points in the provincial decider against Donegal and four more against Mayo last Sunday.
TOMAS CORRGAN (FERMANAGH)
His back-to-back points from sideline balls against Antrim are among the outstanding memories of this season’s Ulster Championship. Sharp as a razor and reliable from free-kicks, Corrigan raised 29 white flags in four games - 0-9 against the Saffrons, 0-7 v Donegal, another nine-point haul against Wexford and 0-4 when the Erne men bowed out against Mayo.
Worth his place in any Ulster side.
SEAN CAVANAGH (TYRONE)
Will we see him again? The Red Hand skipper had hinted this season could be his last, but it ended prematurely when he was sent-off as Tyrone exited against Mayo last Saturday. Up to then, he had enjoyed a superb season and proved his brilliance again when the chips were down in the Ulster final.
There was no pass-the-buck handpass as he rode tackles and lined up a shot from 30 yards that soared over the bar and inspired Tyrone to the title.
CONOR McMANUS (MONAGHAN)
No Ulster title this year - Monaghan didn’t make the final for the first time in five years - but McManus had another excellent campaign for the Farney men. He was particularly good in Ulster, scoring 1-20 in three games.
The Clontibret clubman racked up totals of 0-8 against Down and in the draw with Donegal. Added 1-4 in the replay and another four points as Monaghan bowed out in the Qualifiers.
