Cahair O'Kane selects his best Ulster football team of the first 20 years of this century, with a magnificent seven from Tyrone dominating the pick. Armagh and Donegal share six spots with Derry and Fermanagh also represented....
ULSTER TEAM OF THE CENTURY
1Paul Durcan
Donegal
BIG ‘Papa’ was, for a stage, the closest goalkeeping rival that Stephen Cluxton had.
He’d come into the Donegal side in 2004, but while he was largely first choice up until 2010, it was when Jim McGuinness took over that Durcan, like so many others, found a new level.
His ability to drive a ball 80 yards was matched by the disguise that he could put on kicks, something no other goalkeeper has been able to replicate.
He was also a brilliant shot-stopper, making particularly memorable saves from Paul Flynn in 2014 and Martin Penrose two years earlier.
Grabs a competitive spot ahead of Rory Beggan, Brendan McVeigh and James Reilly.
2Sean Martin Lockhart
Derry
THE Banagher man was the most natural successor to Kieran McKeever that Derry could have hoped for.
Picked up where his neighbour had left off in taking on most of the big man-marking duels.
Won his Allstar in 1998 and was nominated again in 2000 and 2001. Keeping Peter Canavan scoreless twice in a matter of weeks in 2003 was a real career highlight.
A natural athlete, the Banagher man played in every International Rules game between 1998 and 2006, winning a record 16 caps, and was unfortunate that his career, which only ended in 2009, didn’t coincide with more Oak Leaf success. Just ahead of Ryan McMenamin.
3Barry Owens
Fermanagh
A LATE bloomer in terms of coming into schools football with little fanfare, yet thriving very quickly in inter-county football, it was when he stepped into Fermanagh’s number three shirt in 2003 that Barry Owens took off.
Went on to become one of Ireland’s premier defenders, winning an Allstar at full-back the following year. His career was ravaged by two cruciate ligament injuries and heart surgery, yet he played until he hadn’t a drop left at 32.
Gets in ahead of Francie Bellew, Neil McGee and Vinny Corey.
4Karl Lacey
Donegal
WITH the unmistakable white boots, Lacey was an absolute Rolls Royce footballer. He played a bit on the wing but mostly in the corner, where he won great acclaim for his all-action style.
That earned him Allstars in 2006 (when he was brilliant against Derry, Armagh and Cork) and 2009, when he returned from a short break in Australia to help Donegal to the last eight.
Found a new level under McGuinness, winning back-to-back Allstars and the Footballer of the Year award in 2012. Quick and strong, he was a great man-marker with an eye for a score.
5Philip Jordan
Tyrone
IN the discussion around the great wing-backs, Philip Jordan’s career will stand up alongside any of them.
He contributed 2-16 in Championship games for Tyrone between 2003 and 2010, but while he was a good finisher, it was a lot more. The defensive side of his game wasn’t always given its due credit, but it was often hidden by the shadow of his attacking abilities.
Four Allstars made him the most decorated of all the Red Hand defenders from that era, which says it all. Nudges in ahead of Aaron Kernan.
6Kieran McGeeney
Armagh
EVEN in a squad packed full of strong characters the way Armagh’s was, McGeeney’s leadership still stood out. Produced his very best display in the All-Ireland final in 2002, dominating the second half of the game to get his hands on Sam Maguire.
One of the most driven footballers, McGeeney was a physical powerhouse and a demonic tackler, ideally built for protecting the centre of the Orchard defence. The Mullaghbawn native’s peak (winning Allstars in 1999, 2000 and 2002) was perfectly timed.
7Conor Gormley
Tyrone
SURE the block itself is enough to justify The Block himself. But, in a way, boiling his career down to even such a monumental moment in time undermines just how good Gormley was. Whether it was as an orthodox six, at full-back or as the sweeper, Gormley stood out a mile for his reading of the game and the bravery he brought to proceedings.
There weren’t too many ever got the better of the Carrickmore man, who won Allstars in all three All-Ireland winning years.
Had to be accommodated in the team, meaning Kevin Cassidy and Frank McGlynn miss out.
8Michael Murphy
Donegal
THERE just aren’t words for the man. They talk in the GAA about a once-in-a-generation player but the like of Michael Murphy may never be seen in Donegal again. Destined for greatness from a young age, he won Young Footballer of the Year in 2009, but his humility has kept him and those around him grounded and driving on since.
His stunning early goal in the 2012 All-Ireland final encapsulated so much of his skillset. There have always been cries to play him at full-forward but his ability to completely dictate games in a role around the middle is invaluable. A line of men like Enda Muldoon, Neil Gallagher and Paul McGrane miss out.
9Sean Cavanagh
Tyrone
COMING off the successful minor and U21 teams, Cavanagh’s introduction to the team was pivotal to Tyrone getting across the line in 2003. Went on to have a magnificent career that included five Allstars and the Footballer of the Year award as he led them to a third crown in ’08.
At his best coming from deep, bamboozling defenders with that trademark shimmy. Was still a leading light right up until retirement in 2017. Played everywhere from midfield up and was good enough to look like a natural in any position. Gets in ahead of Marty McGrath, Rory Kavanagh and Dermot McCabe.
10Brian Dooher
Tyrone
AT the time, Dooher seemed almost like a freak of nature. Strong, robust, it was the quiet way that he just seemed to pop up on every loose ball going, no matter whether it fell in front of Tyrone’s goal or out on the sideline or on the edge of the ‘D’.
The famous point against Kerry, bouncing his way down the sideline off men, was so special in that it boiled him down into 12 seconds. Another who excelled in the big years, winning Allstars in ’03, ’05 and ’08. Colm O’Rourke’s still chewing on that hat.
11Brian McGuigan
Tyrone
IT’S as if the traditional number 11 role died when McGuigan faded off the inter-county scene.
The Ardboe man ghosted around looking for ball and when he got it facing the opposition’s goal, he could do almost anything he wanted with it. His vision, his passing ability, his decision-making, they were all exemplary. An Allstar in ’03, his decision to return home from Oz to play in ’05 was massive for Tyrone. Nudges out Monaghan’s similarly skilled Paul Finlay.
12Oisin McConville
Armagh
ACROSS a 15-year career, McConville racked up 11-197 in Championship football.
The Crossmaglen man had an incredible knack for remaining cool under pressure, which had a huge hand in tallies both from play and from frees, off which he was metronomic.
Got the all-important goal in the All-Ireland final in 2002, and had been brilliant throughout that year and the 2000 season in particular, at the end of both of which he won Allstars. Finished up with seven Ulster titles.
13Peter Canavan
Tyrone
FROM scoring ridiculous tallies with efforts from impossible angles and of ludicrous levels of difficulty, as well as his ability to thread a pass like no other man, there were simply none as good as Canavan.
Injuries were starting to take their toll towards the end and yet he still had it in his locker to score as sumptuous a goal as he did in the 2005 final, his last game.
Finished up with six Allstars (three in the 2000s) to add to his Footballer of the Year gong from 1995. Squeezes out Paddy Bradley and Benny Coulter, both geniuses in their own right.
14Steven McDonnell
Armagh
ABSOLUTELY lethal in front of goal, McDonnell was the man who loved to raise the green flag for Armagh.
Always tried to hang as close to goal as possible, when he could feed off Marsden or Clarke he could be unstoppable. But McDonnell was a great man to win his own ball too, brilliant in the air.
He was as good off the left as the right, and there were times at his peak that no defender in Ireland could have coped. Footballer of the Year in 2003, a three-time Allstar and a scorer of massive tallies throughout his career, McDonnell was one of the very best. In ahead of Conor McManus and Ronan Clarke.
15Stephen O’Neill
Tyrone
AS Canavan neared the end, the quiet man from Aughabrack took over as the shining light in the Tyrone attack.
O’Neill was a great ball-winner and was just as good a finisher with a bigger range.
Often caught the eye with spectacular efforts, but he also did the simple things well.
Won an Allstar in his breakthrough year and was the best forward in Ireland by 2005, when he rightfully won the Footballer of the Year award.
Retired briefly through injury but returned and only finally gave in after the 2013 season. Squeezes out Colm McFadden, Owen Mulligan and Tommy Freeman.
