You can’t beat a standout performance.
A man that is just better than everyone else on the day.
Sometimes you come away from a match just thinking ‘WOW’ after watching one player.
The championship was full of great performances this year but who was in the running for a Wooly Award? That’s the question on everyone’s lips.
Enda Smith vs Galway
Enda Smith was like a man possessed when Roscommon upset the odds and beat Galway.
It wasn’t supposed to be like that, the Tribesmen should have been the team to win the Connacht title, that’s what everyone including the bookmakers said.
But Kevin McStay wasn’t having any of that and Enda Smith certainly wasn’t either after producing one of the great Roscommon displays.
Sean Murphy vs Dublin
If there was any team that gained the respect of the nation during the summer it was Carlow.
Wins over Wexford, London and Leitrim along with valiant losses to Dublin and Monaghan meant that in 2018 every county will be treating them with the respect they deserve.
It was an unviable task that Carlow faced coming against Dublin but in their 12 point loss they gained a lot of plaudits and it could have well been a lot closer had Brendan Murphy not been sent off.
Murphy has been Carlow’s star man over the past few but it was Sean Murphy the show that day.
Although Dublin won 0-19 to 0-7 it was Sean Murphy that put in a mammoth performance in midfield and performed so well this year it led to Turlough O’Brien giving out that his player didn’t receive an All-Star nomination.
Kevin Feely vs Dublin
It’s not often that you see Brian Fenton getting outjumped and outplayed in midfield but, by God, did Kevin Feely do that to him.
Kildare lost by nine on the day as Dublin proved too good but the former Newport player made sure to not go unnoticed after giving an exhibition in midfield.
Con O’Callaghan vs Tyrone
Dublin had played Kerry and Mayo plenty of times and beaten them too.
They’d never really played Tyrone and Con O’Callaghan certainly had never played them but there’s a reason he won Young Player of the Year.
A fantastic start for Dublin in the All Ireland Semi Final. pic.twitter.com/ekJOMtejhc
— eir Sport (@eirSport) August 27, 2017
The Cuala man scored 1-2 from play in his first All-Ireland semi-final as Dublin coasted to a date with Mayo.
Connaire Harrison vs Monaghan
There was a lot of doom and gloom surrounding Down football but after snapping their losing streak against Meath in the league it all turned around.
The players playing college football returned and Connaire Harrison was back from Australia and then all things started coming together.
And how Harrison returned with a bang, scoring three points from play and Down turned the Ulster Championship on its head.
Lee Keegan vs Roscommon
It had been a terrible year for Mayo up until this point as Roscommon raced to an early lead.
It looked like game over already but Lee Keegan showed exactly why he won 2016 Player of the Year.
Leaving his natural wing back position the Westport man man marking Enda Smith in midfield and scored 1-3 from play.
James O’Donoghue vs Clare
Football is a better game when James O’Donoghue is fully fit, the Kerryman has had his injury problems in the past but thankfully they look like they’re behind him.
It was a scary prospect thinking him and Paul Geaney could terrorise defences and how they did against Clare as the 2014 Player of the Year scored 0-9 against the Banner.
Good to be back.
Andy Moran vs Kerry
Poor Shane Enright will probably still be having nightmares about this one.
There’s a reason Andy Moran won Player of the Year and this was a huge part of it.
Moran scored 1-5 from play against the Kingdom as Mayo salvaged a draw and his golden year continued.
Winner: Sean Murphy vs Dublin
It may not have been a crunch All-Ireland semi-final but it was Sean Murphy’s All-Ireland final.
Playing the best team in all the land and on Sky it was a day that called for a big performance from a minnow and how Murphy delivered.
Congratulations Sean Murphy, your Wooly Award is in the post.
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