1 Raymond Galligan (Cavan)
This is a player lacking none of the qualities demanded of a modern goalkeeper. He saved a penalty against Armagh and made a terrific one-on-one stop late on to help earn a draw against Tyrone in the Ulster semi-final. His kick-outs were superbly accurate and he also found the target from long distance frees.
2 Paddy McGrath (Donegal)
If you judge a man by who he’s asked to mark then it’s obvious why this player was chosen. He kept Monaghan’s Conor McManus to just three points from play across two matches. Also held Connor McAliskey scoreless in the Ulster Final and did well against the Dublin duo of Paddy Andrews and Diarmuid Connolly. In addition to his defensive duties this player got forward regularly with telling effect.
3 Ronan McNamee (Tyrone)
A combative, old school full-back, who relishes the physical challenges posed by his role. At his best on Ulster Final day when he held Paddy McBrearty to a single point from play.
He is a player who loves to get forward too, comfortable in carrying the ball at the opposition, and has the ability to pick out passes or take scores himself.
4 Cathal McCarron (Tyrone)
The most consistent defender on his team this year, doing his job of stopping opponents from scoring first and foremost. Put in a great block to deny David Givney a goal, and restricted the influence of Donegal captain Michael Murphy in the Ulster Final.
Still likes to power forward on occasions and notched a point in that provincial decider.
5 Ryan McHugh (Donegal)
Aged only 22, this player belied his small stature to put in another series of big performances this year. His pace and direct running tended to put opponents on the back foot, including Peter Harte and Michael Dara MacAuley. Monaghan tried to restrict his considerable influence but they couldn’t do it. He is a man for the big occasion, excellent against both Tyrone and Dublin.
A special message from St Mungo's to mark this year's Ulster Allstar awards:
6 Conor Moynagh (Cavan)
In an era when so many attackers are asked to defend, here is a back who loves to go forward. The Drumgoon player is different in another way, showcasing his terrific kick-passing ability rather than merely running the ball out of defence. Yet he timed his departures from defence well, getting up to score in all four Championship games, including a goal against Tyrone.
7 Tiernan McCann (Tyrone)
Another first-time winner for a different sort of player who also turns defence into attack. A powerful performer who works hard to win back possession and protect his defence. Once he gets his hands on the ball, though, he runs quickly into opposition territory to supply and support team-mates further forward. This Killyclogher clubman covers so much ground -
8 Colm Cavanagh (Tyrone)
An overdue accolade for a hugely influential player after another excellent season. Mr Reliable as the defensive midfielder/ sweeper, moves up and down between his team’s square and the midfield zone, using his height and excellent positional awareness to sniff out and snuff out danger.
Also able to get forward, though, to augment his attack, and the Moy man really drove his team on to an Ulster title.
9 Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone)
This player complemented his midfield colleague superbly in a perfect partnership. Put in plenty of tackles and hard yards himself doing defensive work but generally got forward much more and has the two-footed ability to take scores at the end of his regular runs. He scored 10 points, all from play. His accurate kick-passing was also a feature of his season and this Trillick man earns his third Ulster All Star.
10 Eoin McHugh (Donegal)
This player’s blistering pace helped rocket him to his first Ulster Allstar. Similar in stature to his cousin and Kilcar club-mate, Ryan, he also shares his speed and bravery.
Repeatedly ran at defences to take or make scores, notably against Fermanagh and Cork, but this ball of energy posed problems for every opponent. One of those players whose position is hard to categorise – and he is even harder to mark.
11 Niall Sludden (Tyrone)
A Trojan worker - up and down the field, operating in defence and attack. He is always aiming to get on the ball and able to do something with it whenever he does – including four points from play.
He got better and better as the Championship went on, helping his county reach the Ulster Final, win it, and then put in a big first half display against Mayo.
12 Peter Harte (Tyrone)
The deadly cutting edge at the end of so many of his team’s lightning counter-attacks, finding the net against Derry and twice against Cavan. Opponents obviously did their best to contain him but he still put in an excellent second half display against Mayo. And his outrageous long distance point to take the lead late in the Ulster Final will live long in the memory.
A third Ulster Allstar for the Errigal Ciaran clubman and the Ulster player of the year.
Peter Harte talks GAA and Sean Cavanagh:
13 Tomás Corrigan (Fermanagh)
This player scored 29 points in just four games, including 19 frees and eight from play, but perhaps his most memorable efforts were the two sidelines he scored against Antrim.
His accuracy from placed balls is obvious but he also always posed a danger to defences with his tricky running. At the heart of Fermanagh’s best attacking when they gave a serious scare to All-Ireland finalists Mayo.
14 Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
Although he often operated deeper, out around his traditional midfield area, this team captain always led from the front.
His leadership was especially evident in the closing stages of an incredibly tight and tense Ulster Final when he stepped up superbly to level matters late on. Inspired team-mates with his appetite for work and was badly missed when controversially dismissed against Mayo. This is his record-extending ninth provincial accolade - the question is: will he be back to set his sights on number 10 next season?
Sean Cavanagh accepts his award:
15 Conor McManus (Monaghan)
No matter how much teams try to stop him – or how many players they put around him, this man still manages to produce the goods. Notched 1-24 in four games, most of them from placed balls, including a converted penalty, but his accuracy from distance is still very special. His unselfish movement and work-rate always serves his team so well.
A fourth – and a fourth consecutive - provincial accolade goes to our 2015 Footballer of the Year
LADIES FOOTBALL MERIT AWARD
Ciara McAnespie (Monaghan)
This year’s award winner is no stranger to picking up accolades. She hails from Emyvale and a very sporting family as she plays alongside, her twin Aoife and younger sister Eimear on the Monaghan county side, while her brother Ryan is firmly part of Malachy O’Rourkes side. What began a very difficult year for Monaghan under new management and just one win in the league, the side was inspired by none more so than their joint captain and they turned in a superb championship campaign.
They blew away Armagh in the Ulster semi-final with our winner hitting 1-4 and then overcoming Cavan in the final to win their 10th title. If that was impressive then it was only the start of better to come as they put in a stunning display to beat Kerry in the All Ireland Quarter Final.
HURLING MERIT AWARDS
Armagh senior hurling team
THERE was a joke doing the rounds that Armagh was now a ‘hurling county’ after the hurlers won promotion to Division 2A and the footballers were relegated to Division Three. Joking aside, the Orchard hurlers certainly enjoyed an excellent season and followed up their league success by reaching the finals of the Nicky Rackard Cup - thanks to victories over Donegal, Longford and Fingal - and the Ulster Championship.
Ruairí Óg, Cushendall
AFTER six barren years, the Ruairí Óg club clinched their 10th Ulster title by beating Derry’s Slaughtneil in the final and went on to reach their first ever All-Ireland club decider. In between, there was an emphatic semi-final win over Connacht champions Galway and the ’Dall battled to the finish in the decider against Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh.
Antrim senior hurling team
WINNING the Ulster title was a high note on which the Glens men finished a difficult 2016. Antrim had begun the NHL with wins over Derry and Kildare, but three defeats meant promotion passed them by and manager PJ O’Mullan stepped down as bainisteoir.
Antrim regrouped for a run to the Christy Ring Cup final, but a controversial score-that-never-was meant Meath were awarded the cup first time out and, in the replay, the Royals prevailed by a single point. With management team Terence McNaughton, Dominic McKinley, Neal Peden and Gary O’Kane back, the Glens men will hope for better in 2017.
CAMOGIE MERIT AWARD
Ciara Donnelly
This player has enjoyed a fantastic season with the Armagh camogs, the joint-captain chipped in with some vital scores as the Orchard county claimed the National League Division 3 title.
The Eglish player has also been to the forefront in the county's All-Ireland campaign helping them secure a spot in the Premier Junior Final this Sunday…
This article has been amended following a technical issue in an earlier version
