Irish News Ulster All-Stars

[J70]

Lads,lads,lads, these awards are decided by simply totting up readers votes. It stands to sense then that there's going to be more votes for teams doing well at the actual time of voting, than for Derry who won the league way back in May then flopped in the Championship. Purely and simply its the readers who decide the recipients.

Well damn all people in Cavan, Monaghan or Donegal will read the Irish news so I expect those counties will poorly compared to how they performed in  the summer.

You can just damn the Cavan ones
Last year Monaghan got 6 or 7 in the team. That is clear enough evidence for me that Irish News readers are capable of knowing their stuff.

I would have thought the same as Mylestheslasher, as the only person I've ever seen reading the Irish News in Donegal would be myself the two or three times I've bought it! Perhaps we're underestimating the objectivity of the average Irish News reader!

[time ticking away]

For me, just two problems with the selections.

Seanie Johnson was one of the best six forwards in Ulster this year and

Up to this point Justy Mc Mahon has been the best footballer in Ulster....... and full back is probably his least favoured position

[gaagaa]

Tommy Freeman didn't deserve one this year

def agree with you there

[gaagaa]

I'd also have given one to Niall McCusker as Full Back ahead of Francie.

agree there too - niall best full back in ireland when they had the brains to play him there

[the green man]

Is it just me or is Tommy Freeman a bit overrated?

[gaagaa]

Tommy McElroy was without doubt the most consistent Fermanagh player this year. . In all honesty these awards mean very little.

its incredible he didnt get an award and maybe it does show how little these awards mean

[Yes I Would]

Is it just me or is Tommy Freeman a bit overrated?

I think it might be just you!! A cracking player

[Armagh Exile]

Finnian Moriarty should have got one of the corner back positions.
Nobody got the better of him and he held all  his direct opponents to just one or two points.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

How Fergal doc was overlooked for this award is shocking and reflects as Tony said on the people who voted. He practically won the National League against kerry on his won. Thios could prove to be the only national title in Ulster this year

'Scuse me...the Tommy Murphy??

[orangeman]

Finnian Moriarty should have got one of the corner back positions.
Nobody got the better of him and he held all  his direct opponents to just one or two points.

And scored a goal in the Ulster final ! 

[Gold]

Obviously from a Fermanagh perspectve I'm pleased that five of the boys got awards but Tommy McElroy was without doubt the most consistent Fermanagh player this year. Marty McGrath had a decent enough year but there is no way he was player of the year. In all honesty these awards mean very little.

Tommy McIlroy had a fantastic year.

He was far and away the man of the match in the 1st Ulster Final game, everything he did was correct and he got a sight of ball.
Defo deserved one more than Goan, Little or even McGrath did in my opinion

[BerfArmagh]

How Clarke did'nt get player of the year is beyond me 

[orangeman]

How Clarke did'nt get player of the year is beyond me 

Yeah - he had a good year alright - must be more papers sold in Fermanagh !

[ExiledGael]

Thought myself Clarke would be a shoo-in for player of the year but that's the way it goes.
Would not begrudge McGrath anything he gets out of the game after what he's had to put up with. Unreal player and the most down to earth man you could meet to boot. Deserves whatever comes his way.

[ExiledGael]

Surprised this all came out this week (but that's the Star for you) but as it's in the public domain thought I'd post it here.
Surprised no-one has posted it here before.

From Hoganstand
McGrath in cancer scare

Fermanagh captain Marty McGrath bravely played in this year's championship, despite being diagnosed with testicular cancer in June.
The 2004 All-Star midfielder, who twice underwent heart surgery in 2006 and missed most of last season after being struck on the head by a digger in accident at his home, found out he had cancer on June 21, but bravely played out the remainder of the championship. He played in the drawn and replayed Ulster final against Armagh, and also lined out in the Erne County's All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Kildare at Croke Park.
The midfielder underwent a successful operation in Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital in mid-August, but will have to go for check-ups every three months to make sure the cancer does not return.
The St. Joseph's, Ederney clubman, who turned 27 last Thursday, kept the news of his cancer a closely-guarded secret as Fermanagh progressed to their first Ulster final in 26 years.
Remarkably, McGrath's form never dipped during his ordeal and he is hoping to make the Ireland squad for next month's International Rules series in Australia, having played in a trial match at Croke Park last Friday.
Cork hurler Joe Deane and Mayo footballer Ronan McGarrity are among the high-profile players who have made a full recovery from testicular cancer and returned to play at top level in recent years.