With the championship season now in full flight, we’ve decided to resurrect our ‘Team of the Week’. Always a popular feature and one that always causes debate. Remember, it’s all about opinions before you reach for the keyboard…..
We’ve went for Matt Devlin from Rossa in goals, just ahead of Conor McAlister from Cushendall and Ryan McGarry. The Ruairi’s ‘keeper McAlister delivery from poc outs in the second half was pivotal for his side and McGarry made a couple of great saves for the Town, but Devlin’s bravery and reflexes helped Rossa repel any fightback from Ballycastle, just giving him the nod.
In a weekend where defences were largely on top, it was a tough ask to narrow down the six backs. Joe Maskey was awesome in Naomh Éanna’s big win over Cloney Gaels and was an automatic pick along with Rossa captain Stephen Shannon while it was a toss of the coin between the Burke brothers. Kevin Molloy from Dunloy just missing out along with Tony McCloskey from Loughgiel and Mattie Donnelly for Ballycastle.
Niall McKenna was the first name on the team sheet, 1-13 for the Paddies in the attacking display of the weekend while we might have cheated a bit with Nigel Elliott. He didn’t line out in midfield for the Cuchullains but he certainly deserved his place in the team and has lined out in the middle of the park before!
The forward line and that’s truly where the fun began when narrowing down our picks. Micheál Bradley hit four points in as many minutes at the start of their match against Loughgiel before the shenanigans started in Fr Healy Park. He was drafted further out the field after and is unlucky to not make the 15. Fergus McCambridge and Paddy McGill were also in contention.
Some may look at the inclusion of Liam Watson despite only playing for one half but for 30 minutes he wreaked havoc in the St Johns defence. He was a constant threat and almost singlehandedly dragged his side back into the game before being forced off at half time. Six points, five frees yes but he was fouled for the majority of those himself. The Loughgiel man rolled back the years in style to help the Shamrocks get off to a winning start. ‘Loaf’ gave everything he had for the Emmet’s whiel Michael Lismore was instrumental in Latharna Óg’s historic win over All Saints on Friday night. Keelan Molloy put in a monumental shift for the Cuchullains while grabbing their goal in the first half while John McGoldrick showed once again that he’s one of Naomh Éanna’s top and consistent performers. Thomas Morgan was the one constant for Rossa on Sunday afternoon and was an easy choice. While Ballycastle put the Shaw’s Road men under pressure, Morgan was an outlet for his side and a major threat before coming off late in the game.
Few other of note who caught the eye, Conor McHugh and David Kilgore from Cushendun, Killian Jennings and Cormac Ross from Naomh Éanna, Niall McCormick and Fred McCurry from Cushendall, Paul Shiels and Chrissy Brogan from Dunloy, Caolan McKernan and Niall McAlea from Sarsfields, Ciaran Clarke and Kevin Barry McShane from Ballycastle, Stephen Tierney and Peter McCallin from St John’s, Mark McFadden and Callum McKendry for Loughgiel.
It’s was never going to be an easy task to narrow down a 15 for TOTW after six action packed games over the weekend and it got plenty of debate going within our own team. We think we’ve nailed it this time though.
Just remember, its only a bit of fun!