Irish News Down Club All-Star team 2019
Goalkeeper: Neil Trainor (Clonduff)
The goalkeeper position seemed to be perilous one for many keepers in this year’s Down Senior Club Championship as many teams changed their number one shot-stopper due to lack of form or injuries.
Fortunately for Clonduff’s Neil Trainor, he didn’t suffer a loss of form or get injured but he did pull off a number of saves in the wins over Carryduff and Saval and in the defeat to Warrenpoint and his kick-outs were exceptional as his side reached the last four this season.
Ballyholland’s Eamonn Coulter and Warrenpoint’s Gary McMahan deserve honourable mentions.
Left full-back: Niall Branagan (Kilcoo)
Niall Branagan has made the Irish News team of the year again with another impressive championship display en route to picking up is eighth county championship winners’ medal.
Given Kilcoo’s tradition of defending in packs, perhaps Niall wasn’t isolated on too many occasions but in those games he had one-on-one battles there wasn’t many defenders got past him.
A tough and accurate tackler, Niall is the man who stayed back to allow his brothers Aidan and Darryl to ghost forward into attack.
Full-back: Patrick Murdock (Cumann Phedair Naofa)
Warrenpoint’s Patrick Murdock has been the Mr Consistent full-back in the team that had the meanest defence in the Championship this year.
An old fashioned full-back, in the sense that he provided cover at the edge of his square, where he has been reliable and impressive in every game of the campaign.
He is the type of player that would be an asset to Paddy Tally’s Down.
Kilcoo’s Aidan Branagan, who won the Man of the Match award in the county final was also incredible after returning from injury.
Right full-back: Ryan McAleenan
Murdock’s prowess at full-back meant that Down’s Ryan McAleenan moved to the corner, where he did great job on marking Longstone’s Mark Poland, Ballyholland’s young Seamus Loughran and Clonduff’s Barry O’Hagan.
A big player for his club and county, McAleenan keeps getting better and his role in the corner gave him a licence to help out in attack, which suited Warrenpoint’s mobile style of play.
A tasty footballer who continues to improve.
Left half-back: Ryan Boyle
Ryan Boyle is the quintessential modern day wing-back and the CPN captain has played a huge part in Warrenpoint’s emergence from dark horses to genuine title contenders.
Boyle loves to burst forward but crucially he times his runs perfectly and so often he is the transitional link between defence and attack.
The former Down man is a sharp shooter too as his goal against Longstone demonstrated.
He missed the semi-final through injury but put in a solid display in the final defeat to Kilcoo.
Centre half-back: Darren O’Hagan
Down captain Darren O’Hagan was back to his best for his club Clonduff this season as he defended and attacked with equal amounts of aggression and his actions sparked a positive response from his team-mates.
While manager Mark Harte liked his side to hold tight in defence, more often than not it was O’Hagan breaking the game-lines with his runs or intelligent passes.
Warrenpoint’s John Boyle and Kilcoo’s Darryl Branagan also put excellent displays at centre-half back this campaign, but O’Hagan gets the nod for his displays this year.
Right half-back: Shane Annett (Mayobridge)
The Down U20 captain won the inaugural Ulster League title with his county earlier in the season but endured a short dip in form, which he quickly rediscovered when Ciaran McKeever was appointed boss of the Mayobridge ahead of the Championship.
A clean tackler and silky footballer, he isn’t afraid to mix it either and he did a great job on marking Loughinisland’s Rory Mason and Burren’s Liam Kerr this season.
A county player for the near future who has been doing the business for his senior club team for two seasons.
Midfield: Paul Murphy (Ballyholland Harps)
The Ballyholland playmaker, grafter, evergreen and ever ready player was simply outstanding for the Harps this season.
To reach the last four of the Senior Championship was a huge achievement for the relatively small club and 39-year-old Murphy played a pivotal role in getting his team there.
Like the finest of wines, Murphy has aged well and he was at the fore in all areas of the pitch this season. Strong, athletic and an intelligent footballer he showed no signs that he is ready to hang up the boots.
Kilcoo’s 18-year-old Ryan McEvoy was also exceptional this season.
Midfield: Ciaran McCartan (Cumann Phedair Naofa)
A strong and mobile midfielder Ciaran McCartan has been at the core of turning Warrenpoint into serious players.
He travels from Cork for training and matches and thinks nothing of it and his level of commitment was also clear to see during this year’s run to the county final.
A great fielder and comfortable carrying possession he is calm and can confidently spread passes.
McCartan has got it all and there is more to come from him, which can only be good for Warrenpoint next season, as they try to go one better.
Left half-forward: Dylan Ward (Kilcoo)
Dylan Ward is an exceptional talent that needs little introducing but importantly he delivers in every game.
His cool finish into the net in the county final was only the icing on the cake for what has been a great season for Ward.
In a year when perhaps the Magpies didn’t set the world alight, Dylan was one of the bright sparks with his runs from deep and tenacious battling around the middle.
Centre half-forward: Paul Devlin (Kilcoo)
Paul Devlin’s steady kicking has been a major factor in helping Kilcoo being the masters of edging out tight games over the years.
But this season has seen something different in Devlin as he has been much more courageous yet disciplined in his play.
Perhaps losing the title last season renewed his hunger and while last season he put in a great display, he was even better this year.
Right half-forward: Aidan Carr (Clonduff)
One of Clonduff’s best performers if not the best this season, Aidan Carr was on top of his game to help his sides reach the semi-finals.
Carr who played along his brothers Ross and Charlie, finished Clonduff’s highest points scorer in this year’s Championship and was second to Arthur McConville as the overall top scorer at the club.
A grafter and a finisher the former Down player was magnificent this season.
Left full-forward: Seamus Loughran (Ballyholland)
Warrenpoint’s Ross McGarry, Mayobridge’s Kevin O’Rourke and Ballyholland’s Seamus Loughran all weighed in with some breath-taking and match defining scores, but it is young Loughran who gets edges his way onto this team,
The 19-year-old talented darts thrower gave an exhibition of shoot on sight football as he steered over spectacular points, including pressure, match-winning scores against Saval, Loughinisland and Mayobridge.
Quick and agile, this was his breakthrough year on the senior ranks and he will get even better under the management of Damien McCrink and Justin Lynch.
Full-forward: Arthur McConville (Clonduff)
Arthur McConville started his Down Senior Club Championship campaign with four goals against Saval from his position at the edge of the square.
So that is where you would expect to find him in the rest of the games, but instead he was employed around midfield where was useful.
However, each game he joined the attack, defences couldn’t handle him and he scored eight goals and ten points in this championship, more than anyone else, making him pound for pound the best full-forward in the county.
And had he played there a little more perhaps Clonduff could have con further than the semi-final.
Right full-forward: Donal O’Hare (Burren)
The first name on the team, Donal O’Hare was fantastic this season and only for his stunning ability to conjure up chances from nothing and his conviction in front of goal, the defending champions wouldn’t even have reached the quarter-finals.
O’Hare carried the weight of his team and his scoring ability of 3-24 from his sides’ championship tally of 5-53 helped Burren get out of jail especially against Castlewellan after extra-time and Pete McGrath’s Rostrevor.
The Down star has been sensational over the past two seasons and he showed no sign of slowing down this year, which is good news for his county.
