The 2015 County Derry Post Junior Football All Stars
Daryl Moore: Moore has duelled with the club’s 1999 championship goalkeeper Kevin Morrow all season for the No. 1 shirt. He got the nod for the final and more than repaid his manager’s faith with a couple of top drawer saves in both games against Drum. Continued that good work into the Ulster campaign too.
Liam Miller: still only 22, Miller is already a leader at the back for Drum. He limited Kevin Martin’s influence in those two epic championship final games, which few defenders have done this year. The future truly is bright for Drum is Miller continues to produce the type of form he displayed in 2015.
Michael Sweeney: Sweeney has been the class act at the back for Faughanvale, particularly at the business end of the season. The Derry Under 21 star was outstanding in the semi-final against Glack’s powerful Cormac Boyle and limited Drum’s livewire Rory O’Reilly in both the Junior Final and the replay.
Kevin O’Reilly: an injury in that heart-breaking league play-off against Moneymore robbed the Drum veteran of the chance to go for a fourth championship medal. Up until then, O’Reilly had rolled back the years at the mean heart of Drum’s rearguard, marrying an aggressive no-nonsense defending with his serious appetite to win.
Jordan Curran: Curran typifies the new Faughanvale – young, strong and supremely gifted. The 18 year old caught the eye this season with his attacking wing back play, and as the season has progresses he has grown in confidence and composure. A serious physical specimen at 6’2.
Damian Brolly: Brolly was quite rightly asked to attend county trials last month and it’s not difficult to see why. The 23 year old has a Rolls Royce engine when he chooses, and is well capable of handling the physical side of the game too.
Shane Devlin: the jewel in Ogra Colmcille’s crown this season. Devlin’s athleticism, his love of getting forward and hurting opposition teams has been a serious weapon for his club this season. Has a keen eye for a vital score too.
Michael McLaughlin: McLaughlin is perhaps the brightest star in the Faughanvale constellation. When the 19 year old midfielder has the ball you can hear the sense of expectation rise from the Faughanvale supporters. Quite simply the best midfielder in the division.
James McCartney: McCartney has had his best year ever in the orange shirt. The Drum midfielder has always been a silky footballer, but this season he has put in the hard yards too and shouldered much of the heavy hitting that has usually been the mainstay of midfield partner Ryan O’Kane.
Donal Brolly: Donal Brolly would be an asset to any Intermediate side, never mind a Junior side. The ageless half forward has serious pace and an eye for a point. But just as important he brings leadership to Drum and when the chips are down you can depend on Brolly to produce.
Joe Gray: after years of toiling with little or no reward, Joe Gray has had an Indian summer to dream of. Gray has all the skills needed to be one of the best in the business, and while he is often targeted by opposition teams, rarely is he ever bettered.
Martin McGonigle: what a break-through year it has been for the youngster. McGonigle recently made the county minor squad and is easy to see why. The talented Glack forward enjoys taking defenders on and scoring points, and has made a seamless step up to the senior ranks this year.
Kevin Martin: Kevin Martin has easily been the top scorer in Division Three football this year. Martin is reliable with the frees and can be a handful for any defender on his day. Was outstanding in the Vale’s recent win over Brackaville.
Conor Logue: a multi-talented sportsman, Conor Logue battled through the pain barrier for large sections of the season, but despite that he was still superb in many of Magilligan’s wins this year. Logue enjoys taking defenders on and makes long range pointing look easy.
Ryan Morgan: Morgan was invited to train with the Derry senior squad at the start of the season, and since then Morgan has grown in confidence and his game has benefited. Morgan took the fight to Faughanvale when Glack narrowly lost to the champions in the Celtic Park semi-final, and was in scorching form for the O’Connor’s all year.