It’s a wonderful time of the year.
Gaoth Dobhair are the talk of the country and those lads will party for the rest of the country too. They’ve followed up county glory with a first ever Ulster title and unsurprisingly, they dominate this team of the weekend.
They weren’t the only story of another great club weekend though. Antrim’s St Enda’s claimed a historic football crown while Kilkenny dominated the hurling.
Unfortunately, these great club weekends can’t last forever and next weekend will be the last one this year, with the boring O’Byrne Cups and Walsh Cups kicking off then.
Here were the performers of the weekend.
1 Ruairí Scott (St Enda’s)
No man had a more entertaining game this weekend.
Started his Ulster intermediate final half forward and kicked two points from there. The Glengormley side’s goalie was sent off late on and Scott stepped up to man the goals when they needed him.
Mullahorn did put a penalty past him but he did enough.
2 Cian O’Reilly (Mullahorn, Cavan)
Mullahorn went down but they went down fighting and O’Reilly led the fight in the full back line, keeping his man scoreless.
The culmination of a fine club season for him in which he did his prospects for a Cavan senior call-up no harm at all.
3 Eoghan Clifford (Cloughduv, Cork)
Minded the house like a guard dog for the Cork champions in the Munster junior hurling final. Didn’t grant Ballinameela so much as a sniff at goal.
4 Sean Howard (Dromtarriffe, Cork)
Dromtarriffe were beaten, but their sticky corner back gave the Beuafort forwards no change the whole day long.
5 Odhran MacFadden Ferry (Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal)
It’s no surprise that Gaoth Dobhair’s youngest starter is in the Irish Defence forces, such is the spirit and grit he brings to his game.
Tackled and worked like a dog in Omagh, but he’s also well able to play.
6 Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks,Kilkenny)
Looks fresh and as fit as ever before. Everything goes through Michael Fennelly at centre back for Ballyhale.
Great Score for Ballyhale Shamrock's Michael Fennelly! pic.twitter.com/fRZQoPXvup
— The GAA (@officialgaa) December 2, 2018
7 Evan Shefflin (Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny)
Dominant in the half back line alongside Fennelly. Scored a raker of a point to set the tone and kept it up all the way through.
8 Joe Maskey (St Enda’s, Antrim)
A force of nature in midfield for the Antrim side throughout their Ulster intermediate triumph over Mullahorn, scored a crucial goal too.
Champions! @AIB_GAA @UlsterGAA @NaomhEannaCLG pic.twitter.com/XRbD8WTFTO
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) December 1, 2018
9 Odhran Mac Niallais (Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal)
The biggest tourist attraction in Gaoth Dobhair is no longer Mount Errigal, it’s on the end of Odhran MacNiallais left leg.
Led his side to Ulster glory, kicking four of the finest points when they needed them.
10 Brian Verling (Cloughduv, Cork)
Hit nine points, including two from play in the Munster junior hurling final against Ballinameela on Sunday. Scored a few rakers of points when his side needed them most.
https://twitter.com/buff_egan/status/1069369098134593537
11 Ciaran Kennedy (Beaufort, Kerry)
Kicked a goal and three crucial points in the Kerry club’s extra-time victory over Cork’s Dromtarrife in the Munster junior final and was a threat throughout.
YESSSSSSSS!! MUNSTER CHAMPIONS !! 💙💛💙💛 pic.twitter.com/U2sOl9Y8bd
— Beaufort GAA Club (@LiosAPhuca) December 2, 2018
12 Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny)
As slick a forward as you’ll see. Glides past defenders like they’re not even there and is well able to finish too. Hit Ballyboden for 2-1 on Sunday, his second goal the score of the weekend.
13 Sean Ryan (Graigue Ballycallan, Kilkenny)
Not a day over the age of 20 but was the best player on the pitch in the Leinster intermediate hurling final in Nowlan Park on Sunday. Scored four from play but also set up countless others with his killer first touch and lightning pace giving him time and space to play around with.
Two of Kilkenny's hottest young things run riot as Eddie Brennan does it again https://t.co/Etr7ejggVY via @sportsjoedotie
— Graigueballycallan (@graiguebcGAA) December 1, 2018
A star of the future in Kilkenny.
14 Kevin Cassidy (Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal)
Whenever Gaoth Dobhair need to lift it, Cassidy comes to life. Whenever they need a score, their Mr. reliable scores it.
15 Michael Carroll (Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal)
There wasn’t a blade of grass he did not cover in Omagh. Was cruelly denied a glorious winner in normal time but that only drove him on in extra-time.
