Kilcar were crowned Donegal club champions in 2017. How many of the team make it in to The Irish News Donegal Club Allstars selection? Here's how Gerry McLaughlin sees it ..
1 Stephen McGrath (Naomh Conaill)
FOR many years Stephen McGrath has been one of the shot stoppers in he county. Low profile, calm unfussy, he has been a key figure in the Glenties story for many years.
And he has the ability to pick out a team- mate and controls his area with a quiet authority.
2 Eamon McGee (Gaoth Dobhair)
GOT a whole new lease of life in his roving role for Gaoth Dobhair alternating between sweeper and full forward.
The mercurial McGee had a splendid club championship campaign and was the driving force for a youthful Gaoth Dobhair side as they put out St Eunan’s.
And his unique high and very accurate fist pass over an opponent’s head was one of the highlights of the season.
3 Declan Gavigan (Ardara)
THIS is another quiet unsung hero who commands the square like an old style general.
Gavigan has the height and physique of a Mick Lyons of Meath and can cope very well in the physical stakes.
But he is also very capable of linking up with the attack when needed.
He remains a great bulwark for his club and is always totally committed.
4 Caolan Ward (St Eunan’s)
EQUALLY at home in the half backline, his pace power and athleticism are priceless for his club.
Ward has come on as a player, with his inter county experience last year and is also a very adept man marker.
And he was a vital cog in the Eunan’s defence in a season where they will feel they seriously underachieved.
5 Ryan McHugh (Kilcar)
EVEN though he spent most of his season alternating between the 40 and centre back, this multi talented darting dervish is equally at home in defence or attack.
Pound for pound he has been Donegal’s outstanding club player this season and was the oil in the engine, the playmaker supreme and showed that he can kick a crucial point under pressure in the county final.
6 Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill)
THIS is another quiet but highly effective performer who has always let his performance do the talking on the pitch.
He was the rock that other side’s attacks perished on and he was also the link with many attacks.
Never gives less than his very best and has three very well earned county medals.
7 Eoin Waide (Naomh Conaill)
JOINT team captain with Brendan McDyer and really led from the front.
Waide also has three county medals just like Thompson and repeatedly drove his side forward when things looked grim.
This was very apparent in the titanic semi-final battle with Gaoth Dobhair when he played a real leader’s part and he was also very prominent in the county final.
8 Ciaran McGinley (Kilcar)
CIARAN was quite simply the best club midfielder in the county this year and looks a cert to be given a chance by new county team boss Declan Bonner.
In a fairly small team his sheer physical presence in the middle of the field is priceless allied to some bounding direct runs that made room for the McHugh’s and McBrearty’s to do damage.
9 Kevin McBrearty (Four Masters)
A TOWERING figure for the Masters with a fine catch, good turn of pace and an ability to get goals when they are needed.
McBrearty and Karl Lacey are the beating heart of the team and he is increasingly becoming a real leader for this side
He is another candidate for inspection by new Tir Conaill boss Bonner.
10 Mark McHugh (Kilcar)
WAS located at midfield and had a stellar season, but like younger brother Ryan, Mark has the ability and footballing nous to play in almost any position.
Was one of Kilcar’s hardest working players all season and did a lot of unseen graft.
Reads the game very well and can hit the killer diagonal pass to his forwards with aplomb.
This has been his best season since 2012.
11 Dermot “Brick:” Molloy (Naomh Conaill)
THE big- hearted “Brick” was Glenties most consistent forward this year.
Previously known as a deadly marksman, he has added to his skills as a real leader this past few seasons.
He was a big part of Naomh Conaill’s drive to this year’s county final and put in a huge effort all through the championship to clinch this slot for the second year in a row.
12 Eoin McHugh (Kilcar)
HE is simply the fastest forward with the ball in hand in the county.
McHugh in full flight is a joy to watch and he just needs to be a little more accurate to be an even better player.
He has the ability to shred defences and usually takes route one which leaves loads of openings for his colleagues.
And he has added much improve tackling skills to his armory this season.
13 Paddy McBrearty (Kilcar)
A PROUD captain who took the trophy that ended the 24- year famine.
He has achieved so much in his 23 years and there is a lot more to come.
Paddy was Kilcar’s marksman supreme this year and his three precious points in the county final were truly worth their weight in gold.
And he will not be content with just winning a county championship.
14 Hugh McFadden (Killybegs)
His individual display against Naomh Conaill when he hit 0-12in the Championship Quarter-Final is right up there with Brendan Devenney’s 0-14 against Aodh Ruadh in the county final of 1999.
McFadden is truly the beating heart of Killybegs a passionate leader who does so by example.
But he is much more than a scorer as Hugh can also win vital possession when it is most needed.
15 Gareth Concarr (Ardara)
ARDARA may not have had a good championship campaign, but that was certainly not the fault of the lively Gareth Concarr.
He may be approaching veteran stage, but he remains an explosive force of nature for Ardara, deadly accurate from frees.
But, despite his lack of inches he is well able to win all kinds of ball inside and also has an unerring eye for goal.
