1 Marc Reid (Down)
CAME in for his first start of the League campaign and produced a crucial penalty save 11 minutes after half-time.
2 Peter Healy (Antrim)
WAS excellent in Antrim’s disappointing home draw with Wicklow, and looked to have sent the Saffrons on the road to victory when he split the posts to make it 0-11 to 0-9 late on, but it wasn’t to be.
3 Benny McArdle (Down)
KEVIN McStay’s men managed just two points from play all day, and McArdle was a key performer in an excellent rearguard action for the Mournemen.
4 Darren O’Hagan (Down)
DOWN’S star man on a memorable day out west. Ran himself into the ground and led by example all afternoon.
5 Ryan McHugh (Donegal)
A BUNDLE of energy, McHugh was central to so much of Donegal’s better play and weighed in with two lovely points.
6 Tiernan McCann (Tyrone)
SNUFFED out a couple of attacks in the first half and brought plenty of energy as Tyrone went for the kill.
7 Lee McLoone (Donegal)
OPERATED as sweeper for long spells, protecting a full-back line that had a shaky start. Got on plenty of ball as Donegal worked their way into the game after the break.
8 Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone)
CAPTAIN fantastic, Donnelly stepped up to the plate when Tyrone needed him most, firing a left-footed effort, on the run, between the posts to seal a first win of the campaign seven minutes into added time.
9 Stephen McBrearty (Donegal)
QUIET in the first half, like most of the Tir Chonaill men, but did well after the break, scoring two excellent points during Donegal’s purple patch.
10 Cathal McShane (Tyrone)
BIG, strong and athletic, McShane can also play a bit, scoring two points and supplying the crossfield ball that eventually fell for Lee Brennan to rifle to the Kildare net.
11 Niall Sludden (Tyrone)
NOT at his best against the Dubs the week previous, Kildare found it hard to contain the Sludden’s well timed runs in Newbridge.
12 Odhran Mac Niallais (Donegal)
BRINGS a touch of finesse to a powerful Donegal attack, and produced one defence-splitting pass to lay on an early goal opportunity for Paddy McBrearty.
13 Ethan Rafferty (Armagh)
RADAR was slightly off at times, but came up with the game-changing moment as he held off several Longford defenders before firing to the net in the 69th minute to bring Armagh level.
14 Donal O’Hare (Down)
STILL finding his feet after missing much of last year’s campaign, O’Hare carried Down’s main scoring threat against Roscommon in the absence of the suspended Connaire Harrison.
15 Paddy McBrearty (Donegal)
TOMAS O Se described him as the best player in the country at the minute and, on the evidence of his second half showing at Croke Park, it is hard to argue. Ran the Dubs ragged at times, finished with 0-7.
