Team of the week
1 Rory Beggan (Monaghan)
MADE an outstanding save to deny Evan McGrath as Roscommon piled on the pressure at Dr Hyde Park on Sunday. The Scotstown custodian was accurate from kick-outs and scored two frees as well to keep Monaghan in touch in a game that could have gone either way.
2 Darren O’Hagan (Down)
A TYPCIALLY full-blooded effort from the Clonduff defender as Down claimed their first League win of the season in Collooney on Sunday. Combined tenacious man-marking with well-timed forward breaks and is a vital part of the Mourne outfit
3 Killian Clarke (Cavan)
KEPT Kerry’s Paul Geaney on a tight leash and made two vital interceptions for the Breffnimen last Sunday, Pushed forward into space when the opportunity arose.
4 James Morgan (Armagh)
OFTEN home alone at the back but always alert. Very unlucky to be penalized for deflecting Gavan Cooney’s attempt to fist a point into the Armagh net – replays suggest he never touched the ball. Cooney had little other impact on the game.
5 Ciaran Brady (Cavan)
DROVE forward from the half-back line and punched holes in the Kerry defence when Cavan dominated the midfield battle in the first half. Scored two excellent points in the space of a couple of minutes.
6 Greg McCabe (Armagh)
WITH Armagh down to 14 men, he organised the Orchardmen defence in the second half and shut down the Clare runners breaking from their own half. Got forward to score a first half goal with a composed finish and added a point in the second half too.
7 Caolan Mooney (Down)
BAGGED a match-winning 1-2 including a thrilling late winner on his first start of the season for Down in Sunday’s win in Sligo. His pace and athleticism was a constant threat to the Yeatsmen and he stood out in an impressive win for the Mournemen.
8 Caolan McGonigle (Donegal)
THE game’s two crucial moments both came from him. His proactive run led to the Donegal goal that changed the game. At the other end of the field his block in stoppage time denied Meath a certain score when it was all-square.
9 Ciaran Thompson (Donegal)
HIS accurate left boot kept Donegal in a game they’d otherwise have been out of on Saturday night. Finished with five points including the crucial late equalizer that drove his side on to victory.
10 Jemar Hall (Armagh)
FULL of running as always but the Forkhill man is regularly adding an end product to his workrate this season. Scored two points, one in each half, against Clare last Sunday and covered acres of ground in the Orchard county cause.
11 Ryan Johnston (Down)
TWO vital points from play from the Kilcoo forward kept Down in the hunt in Sligo. A calm head on the ball, he used it well and added poise and experience to the Mourne county’s attack.
12 Rian O’Neill (Armagh)
THE Crossmaglen forward was Armagh’s best last Sunday and he finished with three points – one from a mark and two crackers from play. He’s still finding his feet at inter-county level and we haven’t seen the best of him yet.
13 Donal O’Hare (Down)
SPRUNG from the bench after half-an-hour at Dr Hyde Park and inspired Down to victory over Sligo with four points – two from play. He also provided the assist for Mooney to score the last-minute winner.
14 Niall O’Donnell (Donegal)
DONEGAL struggled to find fluency in attack in the second half on Saturday night but O’Donnell was the one forward who always looked dangerous and tried to inject some pace into their game. In the end it paid off.
15 Sean Quigley (Fermanagh)
HIS 1-3 represented more than 50 per cent of his side’s total of 2-5 in Tipperary. The goal came from a penalty and there were two frees as well for Quigley who will play a crucial role this year as the focal point of the Erne County’s attack.
