Ulster Minor Club all-time All Stars

[never kickt a ball]

Ulster Minor Club all-time All Stars
11 January 2007


To commemorate the 25th year of the Ulster minor football club competition, the Ulster Writers Association has nominated 45 players from which a final team of all-time All Stars will be picked.

This year's Northern Bank Ulster Minor Club Football Tournament, which ended on 1st January 07 and which was won by Tyrone Champions Coalisland, was the 25th year of competition.

To celebrate this landmark year of competition St Pauls, the organisers of the tournament, decided to ask members of the Ulster GAA Writers Association to select their team of the tournament from every player that has competed during the last 25 years. Selection was based on their success throughout their playing career, not only their contribution at minor level. We asked individuals and clubs to nominate players for inclusion in the team.

From the full list of nominees received by 1st January 2007 members of the Ulster GAA Writers selected 45 players from which they will finally select the All Star team. Everyone that is included on the list of 45 will be invited to a gala dinner to be held in Belfast City Hall, on Friday 16th February 2007, at which the Northern Bank All Star Team selection will be announced.

Over the last 25 years, an estimated 4,500 players have taken part in the tournament and the All Star nominees reflect therefore only 1% of this total. This clearly demonstrates the difficult and unenviable task the GAA Writers had in selecting the 45.

In terms of the nominees, between them they have amassed 29 All Ireland Medals, 61 Ulster Medals and 17 All Star Awards. In addition, the claim that minor success is the stepping stone to senior club success is shown in the fact that there are 113 County Championship medals shared out amongst them. In addition there medals at club level for winning the Ulster (Ballinderry and Crossmaglen) and All Ireland Club Titles (Crossmaglen) as well 4 All Star nominations and Ulster GAA Writers monthly and yearly awards.

In relation to the nominees, all 9 counties of Ulster are represented. Armagh surprisingly has the most nominations with 11 players nominated. This is followed by Derry with 9, Donegal – 8; Fermanagh 5; Tyrone – 4; Antrim – 3; Down and Cavan – 2 with Monaghan taking up the last place. (Details of each player are attached for your reference)

Following the announcement, Billy McLarnon Treasurer of St Pauls said he was already looking forward to the final selection. "Having been involved with the competition for many years, I have had numerous discussions as to the number of outstanding players that have participated over the years. Almost every conversation produces yet another county star or All-Ireland medal winner. To be named in the panel of 45 is a wonderful achievement and I do not envy the task of the GAA Writers in selecting the final 15 players. However I am certain that the Northern Bank All Stars dinner will be one of the best nights in this years GAA calendar and it will be an award any player would be proud to own".

NOMINATIONS – as selected by the Ulster GAA Writers

GOALKEEPER
Paul Hearty (Crossmaglen)
Sean McGreevey (St Paul's)
Benny Tierney (Mullaghbawn)

RIGHT FULL BACK CENTRE FULL BACK LEFT FULL BACK
Chris Lawn (Moortown) Francie Bellew (Crossmaglen) Karl Lacey (4 Masters)
Niall McCusker (Ballinderry) Kevin McGuckin (Ballinderry) Ryan McCluskey (E'killen Gaels)
Kieron McKeever (Dungiven) Barry Owens (Teemore) Andy Mallon (Pearse Og)

RIGHT HALF BACK CENTRE HALF BACK LEFT HALF BACK
Aaron Kernan (Crossmaglen) John Cunningham (Killybegs) Paul Duffy (Pearse Og)
Francis McEldowney (Slaughtneil) Paul McFlynn (Loup) Barry Dunnion (4 Masters)
Cathal Murray (Clonduff) Barry Monaghan (4 Masters) Barry McGowan (Killybegs)

MIDFIELD
Paul Brewster (Enniskillen Gaels) Barry Cunningham (Killybegs)
Paul McErlean (St Paul's) Cormac McAnallen (Eglish)
Anthony Tohill (Swatragh) Johnny McBride (Loup)

RIGHT HALF FORWARD CENTRE HALF FORWARD LEFT HALF FORWARD
Tom Brewster (E'killen Gaels) Paul Finlay (Ballybay) Gerard Cavlan (Dungannon)
Mark Little (Lisnaskea) John McEntee (Crossmaglen) Oisin McConville (Crossmaglen)
Dermot McNicholl (Glenullin) Brian McGuigan (Ardboe) Brian Roper (Aodh Ruadh)

RIGHT CORNER  FORWARD  FULL  FORWARD  LEFT CORNER FORWARD
Joe Brolly (Dungiven) Ronan Clarke (Pearse Og) Manus Boyle (Killybegs)
Mickey Graham (Cavan Gaels) Benny Coulter (Mayobridge) Sean Johnston (Cavan Gaels)
Steven McDonnell (Killeavy) Kevin Madden (Sean Stinson's) Tony McEntee (Crossmaglen)

http://www.hoganstand.com/tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=70940

Should be some team when announced

[ONeill]

Hearty

McKeever
Owens
Mallon

Kernan
McFlynn
McGowan

Tohill
McAnallan

McNicholl
McGuigan
McConville

McDonnell
Coulter
Boyle.

Thought about - Clarke for Coulter, Brolly for McDonnell, McEntee for Boyle, Brewster for McNicholl, Dunnion for McGowan.

[rolloutking]

This isnt really gonna be the best players out of the tournament when they played in it. Most people will just pick players based on what they have achieved for their county. Like who is gonna remember what a particualr player played like when they were a minor

[never kickt a ball]

This isnt really gonna be the best players out of the tournament when they played in it. Most people will just pick players based on what they have achieved for their county. Like who is gonna remember what a particualr player played like when they were a minor

"Selection was based on their success throughout their playing career, not only their contribution at minor level. We asked individuals and clubs to nominate players for inclusion in the team."

That seems right Rollout. Plus it's a bit of publicity for Northern Bank.

[J70]

I'm going to go with a simple approach – All Ireland senior winners...

Benny Tierney
Chris Lawn
Francie Bellew
Kieran McKeever
John Cunningham
Cathal Murray
Barry McGowan
Anthony Tohill
Cormac McAnallen
Ger Cavlan
Dermot McNicholl
Oisin McConville
Joe Brolly
Steven McDonnell
Manus Boyle

Subs
Barry Cunningham
Ronan Clarke
Tony McEntee
Brian McGuigan

[The Bottom Brick]

Cavan Gaels got hard done by, won it once and made three other finals (lost two of them by a point) and only 2 nominations, both in the full forward line

[saffron sam2]

Agree with all bar two of ONeill's team, I would have either of the Donegal men before McFlynn and would give the nod to Barry Monaghan.  I would McGreevy ahead of Hearty too, remember who is organising said event.
McGreevy

McKeever
Owens
Mallon

Kernan
Monaghan
McGowan

Tohill
McAnallan

McNicholl
McGuigan
McConville

McDonnell
Coulter
Boyle.

[umgolaarmagh]

If its based on what achievements theyve done since minor then Ronan Clarke would make the full forward spot his own

[umgolaarmagh]

Forgot to mention that he played in four Ulster minor club championships as well

[bennydorano]

Pointless exercise, does anybody remember preformances form the mid-80's and are able to compare them to performaces form the mid-90's? I don't think so, it's a sycophantic pat on the back for future achievments. Case in point, all the Cross nominations, what have Cross ever done in this competition?? and 4 current Cross & Armagh stalwarts get the nominations, load of balls.

[BenDover]

This isnt really gonna be the best players out of the tournament when they played in it. Most people will just pick players based on what they have achieved for their county. Like who is gonna remember what a particualr player played like when they were a minor

My thoughts exactly because Pauric Duffy was the captain of Pearse Og when we won it and he was outstanding throughout this tournament.

[peepy]

Slaughtneil won one and lost in final next year between 98-2000 without doubt one best players at that age ever to play in the tourament was jim kelly, maybe not filled his potential at county senior level but without doubt better than half the forwards on that list

[lynchbhoy]

Paul Hearty (Crossmaglen)

Kieron McKeever (Dungiven)
Francie Bellew (Crossmaglen)
Andy Mallon (Pearse Og)


John Cunningham (Killybegs)
Barry McGowan (Killybegs)
Barry Monaghan (4 Masters)


Cormac McAnallen (Eglish)
Anthony Tohill (Swatragh)


Gerard Cavlan (Dungannon)
Brian McGuigan (Ardboe)
Oisin McConville (Crossmaglen)


Steven McDonnell (Killeavy)
Benny Coulter (Mayobridge)
Manus Boyle (Killybegs)

[Maximus Marillius]

It really is a farce...Bellaghy won it twice and don't even have a nomination...some wind up. For instance in the second final David O'Neill marked Ger Cavlan and completely snuffed him it of it. Ballinderry have won it twice or three times and not a player from them make the team onmost selections...the fun continues. Out of all the players nominated and those deing picked at 18 yrs of age, the only player on the list who was a real star for his age was Mc Nicholl. At 18 theres not one player on that list would have been close to him...seriously he was that good at that age...dont forget heplayed against the Aussies, the same Aussies would made our men look like boys when at his last year in Magera. These awards are seriously flawed

[SlimShady]

Are Niall McCusker and Kevin McGuckin not from Ballinderry? 

Moron.