The best of the best.
Those moments of individual brilliance, those points that others wouldn’t even dare try, those that others wouldn’t have the ability to even attempt.
The 7th annual Wooly Awards ceremony took place in Fumbally Towers on Monday, and the Football Point of the Year Award was up for debate.
Here’s the nominations.
Daniel Flynn vs Dublin
“Beyond belief what he did there,” said Colm Parkinson.
“I don’t think anything else from the season can even touch that,” said Cian Ward
Daniel Flynn recently assured us he meant it.
Watch and marvel.
Daniel Flynn with a sensational point for Kildare – catch all the highlights on @TheSundayGame, tonight on @RTE2 at 9:30pm pic.twitter.com/emal1Cyom6
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 16, 2017
Connaire Harrison vs Monaghan
“He was going nowhere,” said Colm Parkinson.
“He was able to turn and make some space and curl it over on his right foot,” added Wooly.
Down’s leading light left Drew Wylie sitting with a swashbuckling double dummy, and the beautiful curling finish was something else.
You can watch the magic unfold from 0:30 in the below video.
WATCH:
HT: Down 1-09 Monaghan 1-09. Impressive opening 35 from minutes Connaire Harrison (1-03). Big half ahead at Croke Park. #GAAClips pic.twitter.com/yWkKTHsl3h— eir Sport (@eirSport) July 29, 2017
Conor McCarthy vs Down
“I thought that was a beautiful score,” said Colm Parkinson about Conor McCarthy’s third white flag of the day against Down in their All-Ireland qualifier clash in Croke Park.
“He threw a few dummy solos, went down the left wing and stuck it over on the outiside of his left,” added Wooly.
We were unable to find video footage of the score but the Monaghan youngster’s effort deserves recognition.
Michael Geaney vs Cork
“It was champagne football,” began Wooly.
“It was Anthony Maher with a cross-field ball into Paul Geaney who didn’t even catch it, he just flicked it onto Michael Geaney who was running onto it at speed and just tapped it over the bar,” he added.
“A thing of beauty for a traditionalist like me,” said the Laois man.
Not bad from 0:10 in the below clip.
WATCH full-time highlights of @Kerry_Official's @MunsterGAA Football Final victory against @OfficialCorkGAA earlier today! #KERRYvCORK pic.twitter.com/5mqyiRkzJB
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 2, 2017
James McCarthy and Diarmuid Connolly vs Mayo
Two very similar scores. Both struck with the outside of the right boot, both nailed when the stakes were at their highest.
Connolly steadied the Dublin ship with a fine curling right footed effort straight after Lee Keegan’s goal, and McCarthy soon followed up with a peach.
“James McCarthy’s second one came at such an important time of the game. He started the ball about three or four feet outside the posts and had the confidence, knowing it was going to sneak back in. That took a lot of balls, he could have aimed for the middle of the goals and missed on the left, as well,” said Wooly.
You can watch these scores right here at 2:00 and 2:16.
Paddy Durcan vs Kerry
“That one against Kerry was the most important, and the reason Mayo got to the final,” said Conan Doherty.
“Where on earth would Mayo be without Paddy Durcan?” asked the Derryman.
Indeed, Durcan saved Mayo on many occasions during their 2017 season, but his late show against Kerry probably tops the lot.
Pressure? Not for Paddy Durcan.
Winner:
There was only ever going to be one winner, really.
For God’s sake Daniel Flynn picked that ball up in his own half, ran past about five Dublin players before cutting an outside of the boot belter over the bar.
Out of the ordinary, well deserving of the Wooly Award of 2017 Football point of the Year.
You can listen to the debate here, and then have your say in the comments section.
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