4. JASON MCLOUGHLIN (CAVAN U21S AND SHANNON GAELS)
7. MICHAEL BRADY (CAVAN U21S AND MULLAHORAN)
McLoughlin’s star has been on the rise since he was first drafted into the county minors by Mickey Graham, and since then it has been nothing but solid performances at the back in the blue of Cavan and the black and amber of Shannon Gaels. While his club suffered a difficult time this past season, they also had the most representatives on the Ulster winning Cavan U21 side for which McLoughlin shined among the brightest. Honourable mentions: Fergal Flanagan (Cavan U21s and Butlersbridge), Damien McKiernan (Lacken), Enda Clarke (Laragh)
Tracked Kingscourt’s Barry Reilly superbly on both occasions in the senior championship final, which was a huge step towards Mullahoran’s 1-8 to 0-7 success in the replay at Kingspan Breffni Park. The super fit defender also nullified some of Ulster’s top young forwards during the spring when Cavan successfully defended their Ulster U21FC title. Expect Brady to be a nightmare for a lot of forwards for some time to come. Honourable mentions: Dermot Sheridan (Mullahoran), Barry Tully (Kingscourt), Robert MaloneyDerham (Cavan and Cavan Gaels)
5. GERRY SMITH (CAVAN MINORS AND LAVEY) Simply brilliant at centre-back during Lavey/Castlerahan’s county minor championship success, which saw them defeat North Eastern Gaels after a replay in the final. Smith was ‘Man of the Match’ in both of those games, moving in at fullforward early on the second day to cause havoc against the Drung/Kill/Laragh amalgamation before finishing out the game at centre-field. His two late points the first day saved Lavey/Castlerahan and priceless replay while his performance in the semi-final replay against defending champions O’Raghallaigh Gaels was equally sublime. Honourable mentions: Padraig Cahill (Killygarry), Damian O’Reilly (Belturbet and Cavan), Darragh Sexton (Cavan U21s and Cavan Gaels)
6. SEAMUS COONEY (LARAGH) Outstanding at centre-back in Laragh United’s junior championship final win in October, the 20-year-old Cooney led from the back against Mountnugent as he had all season long for the Stardone men. The county final saw him perform to such an impressive extent that his man was withdrawn by the 40th minute and from there he would go on to help keep things airtight at the back, as Laragh staged a strong fight in the final quarter to seal a one-point win at the death. Honourable mentions: Alan Clarke (Kingscourt), Joshua Hayes (Cootehill), Paddy Brady (Mullahoran)
8. KEITH FANNIN (CAVAN JUNIORS AND DRUMGOON) The versatile Drumgoon man had the honour of captaining Cavan to a first ever Leinster Junior Football Championship title in June, and didn’t let down his team mates on the day either, after putting in a m a g n i f i c e n t performance at centre-field at St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge against Kildare. Fannin was crowned Intermediate Player of the Year in 2011 after Drumgoon’s triumph in the grade and put in another stellar season for his club as they looked to avoid relegation back down to the intermediate ranks. Honourable mentions: David Givney (Cavan and Mountnugent), Christy Shiels (Mullahoran), Joe Dillon (Cavan U21s and Kingscourt)
9. JOHN MCCUTCHEON (COOTEHILL) In a season where Cootehill came so close to ending their long-wait for an intermediate championship title, McCutcheon was simply outstanding for the Hoops in the middle of the park. Donal McAdam’s team had been the surprise package of the second tier championship in 2012 and came within a whisker of a first Tommy Gilroy Cup since 1971 before eventually losing out to hotfavourites Lacken. McCutcheon had pulled off heroics in the first game to save a second chance for Cootehill, but the concession of three goals in the replay saw them suffer heartbreak. Honourable mentions: Gearoid McKiernan (Cavan and Swanlinbar), Packie Leddy (Cavan U21s and Redhills), Brendan Murray (Killygarry)
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