We have enjoyed our last meaningful GAA match in 2017 (apologies to the interprovincial finals and Laois Junior C football final).
Therefore it seems like as good a time as any to ask you to vote for your GAA moment of the season. This is by no means an exhaustive list (we could only include so many from Mayo), so if you think we’re missing anything glaring do let us know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. We can take it.
Don’t forget to vote at the bottom of the article!
Nominee #1: The Westmeath Under-21 hurlers skin the Cats
Six minutes of injury-time, a goal-scoring hero forced off with a giant gash above his eye and a missed Kilkenny penalty at the death. There are dramatic underdog tales and then there are the Westmeath Under-21 hurlers. Tremendous stuff.
Nominee #2: Patrick McBrearty’s masterclass against Cork
Eleven points against the Rebels – the most ever scored by a Donegal man in Croke Park. Long touted as the big thing, this was the match when McBrearty announced his arrival. From a personal point of view he will be gutted Kilcar could not make their mark.
Nominee #3: Armagh’s sweeper keeper
Before Pep Guardiola there was Kieran McGeeney and his complete disregard for the art of goalkeeping. The Armagh manager put outfielder Paul Courtney in nets, Courtney did not wear gloves, Courtney ran amok and people lost their minds. Armagh still lost, though. Like Pep’s City.
Nominee #4: Sean Cavanagh wins Ulster final with big boomer
With an incredibly tense game in the mixer the Tyrone captain burst through half the Donegal defence, outpaced the rest of the Donegal defence and fired over a monstrous point. For its beauty, its significance and its technical brilliance it was deservedly named point of the year in this year’s Wooly Awards.
Nominee #5: Tipperary hammer Galway to reach All-Ireland semi-final
The All-Ireland football Championship can be a little light on shocks in the latter (or early) stages so this nine-point thumping of the Connacht champions was a delight to anyone outside of Galway. It was not just the scoreline however, but the style and fearlessness of the Munster men’s performance, that left an impression on most.
Nominee #6: Austin Gleeson’s first 70 minutes against Kilkenny
The hurler of the year is a one-man highlight reel and you could easily pick out any of his five scores from the drawn All-Ireland final as potential points of the season. He had one of the games of his young life and people were lapping it up.
Nominee #7: Seamus Callanan’s go-go gadget arms
The Tipperary full-forward’s performance in the All-Ireland final was one for the ages, his manager describing his nine points from play as not too bad. It was, in truth, a display of forward play that left us stunned.
“He scored the first point of the game when he capitalised on a Holden error and other than a strange blip, when he struck a free low enough for Cillian Buckley to block, he proceeded to put in a near flawless exhibition of hurling.
“He struck only one wide and towards the end of the first half produced a spectacular piece of skill to, with his first touch, pluck the ball out of the sky, second get it into his hand and then he swivelled and shot over the bar.
“He was simply awesome and, along with his corner forwards John O’Dwyer and John McGrath, they racked up 2-21 of Tipperary’s total of 2-29.”
Nominee #8: Rob Hennelly’s black card
Stephen Rochford gambled ahead of the All-Ireland final replay and changed his goalkeepers, a punt that back-fired massively when Hennelly spilled a simple catch and fouled Paddy Andrews. The keeper was black-carded and Diarmuid Connolly slotted away the penalty. Huge moment in a one-point game.
Nominee #9: That Diarmuid Connolly pass
Perfect pass by Diarmuid Connolly Highlights of @StVincentsGAA1 v @CastleknockGAA @DubGAAOfficial 8.30 #TG4 https://t.co/lHOei2rFX8
— GAA 2024 (@GAA_2022_TG4) November 7, 2016
St Vincent’s win over Rhode in the AIB Leinster senior club football final means the all-Star half-forward won an Allianz League, Leinster SFC, All-Ireland SFC, Dublin SFC and provincial club crown this year. This pass is just a wonderful season condensed into vine form.
Nominee #10: Ballyea back from the brink to beat Thurles Sarsfields
This was special. First time Clare senior hurling champions became first time AIB Munster senior hurling club champions when they beat Cork’s Glen Rovers in the final. However the real drama came in the semi-final when the Banner men fought back from five points down after 58 minutes to force extra-time. Then Tony Kelly kicked into gear… 4-18 to 2-22.
Brought to you by AIB, proudly backing Club & County. Follow AIB GAA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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