The Sunday Game Team of the Year

gallsman · September 06, 2010, 10:52:43 AM

1) Brendan Cummins
2) Paddy Stapleton
3) Paul Curran
4) Jackie Tyrrell
5) Tommy Walsh
6) Brick Walsh
7) JJ Delaney

Brendan Maher
9) Michael Fennelly
10) Damien Hayes
11) Noel McGrath
12) Lar Corbett
13) Eoin Kelly
14) Richie Power
15) John Mullane

Thoughts?

Lots of talk in the studio about Padraic Maher but I think yesterday's towering performance somewhat papered over the cracks of an up and down year. After Aisake destroyed him he took quite a while to settle into wing back.

Hickey probably lost out after yesterday but had been excellent up until then.

Not too many others I'd question with the exception of Damien Hayes. Reillers will be delighted to know I'm putting Niall McCarthy forward as an option. I thought he was excellent all year until he was wiped out in the semi-final.

John Henderson was arguing for Joe Canning who I don't think should be near the team. He needs a few months away from hurling and to shift some of the weight.

Roashter · September 06, 2010, 11:57:28 AM

Yeah, seems a fair enough team.

Shane Dooley & Niall McCarthy are probably the only ones I think who were unlucky to lose out.
Padraig Maher was excellant yesterday, but he got destroyed by Aisake and for that he can't make the team.

I don't know what planet John Henderson was on when he said Joe Canning should make the team. He had a very good club final & league final but in the 2 games that really counted this year against Kilkenny and Tipp he was anonymous from open play.

gallsman · September 06, 2010, 12:35:49 PM

Sorry, I forgot about Shane Dooley. Only saw him in the flesh this year against Galway first time round and he was the best player on the pitch. If Offaly had progressed a little more he'd definitely be in there.

GalwayBayBoy · September 06, 2010, 01:26:45 PM

Pretty decent selection in fairness. Wouldn't have much problem with that team. Padraig Maher was the omission they were all talking about but only after he had gave a very good performance in the final. Before that he was very up and down. Wouldn't have a problem with Damian Hayes either who was back to his best this year. Scored 4-11 from play in the championship. Joe was good against Wexford and Offaly but didn't do enough against Kilkenny and Tipp to warrant selection.

gallsman · September 06, 2010, 02:24:51 PM

Reading the Times today they have five or six of their analysts listing their highs and lows from 2010 and nominating their player of the year. Even split between Walsh and Corbett. I think Walsh would shade it but Corbett will probably get it after yesterday.

Reillers · September 06, 2010, 03:00:30 PM

Quote from: Roashter on September 06, 2010, 11:57:28 AM
Yeah, seems a fair enough team.

Shane Dooley & Niall McCarthy are probably the only ones I think who were unlucky to lose out.
Padraig Maher was excellant yesterday, but he got destroyed by Aisake and for that he can't make the team.

I don't know what planet John Henderson was on when he said Joe Canning should make the team. He had a very good club final & league final but in the 2 games that really counted this year against Kilkenny and Tipp he was anonymous from open play.

I agree with Canning, no way he should have gotten on the team, he's a massive talent with bundles of potential but they were right to not include him.

I think Niall McCarthy was unlucky, Donal Og (without the lynch squad please) was also unlucky as he had a great year, but Cummins did really well yesterday and did nothing wrong this season.
Nothing much wrong with the team to be fair.

Gallybander · September 07, 2010, 01:24:32 AM

Noel Connors should be at corner back.
Otherwise the team is grand.

Roashter · September 07, 2010, 09:29:56 AM

Quote from: Gallybander on September 07, 2010, 01:24:32 AM
Noel Connors should be at corner back.
Otherwise the team is grand.

Yeah, I think Noel Connors is also unlucky, but reckon he lost out on the numbers game. Cork got no player on the team and Galway only got one, so Waterford were unlikely to get 3.
Mullane was an absolute cert and Brick Walsh was pretty much guaranteed.

Jackie Tyrell had a great year and deserved his spot, and to be honest they could have given the other corner to either Stapelton or Cahill.

It'll be interesting to see how close this team is to the all-stars.

lilpaulie85 · September 07, 2010, 10:29:07 AM

Quote from: Gallybander on September 07, 2010, 01:24:32 AM
Noel Connors should be at corner back.
Otherwise the team is grand.

have to agree taught conners deserved to be in there had a brilliant season

gallsman · September 07, 2010, 02:30:20 PM

Connors was good but Tyrrell definitely deserved his spot. He's the outstanding corner back in the country.

Minder · September 07, 2010, 06:24:09 PM

Tyrell got an eating from Horgan in the semi against Cork