IT was a busy weekend for Ulster at Croke Park. Armagh booked their spot in the All-Ireland final after an extra-time classic with Kerry.
Donegal’s dreams of the showpiece final day were dashed against Galway on Sunday.
Also in Croker, Down righted the Tailteann Cup wrong of last year by seeing off Laois.
Here is our selection…
1 BLAINE HUGHES Armagh
Restarts under pressure were so impressive. Big play in the final seconds too.
2 BARRY MCCAMBRIDGE Armagh
Another goal for the collection and excelled on David Clifford.
3 RYAN MCEVOY Down
One of Down’s best players this season and again showed up in the final against Laois.
4 BRENDAN MCCOLE Donegal
Not Donegal’s day but McCole produced another fine man-marking showing – as Damien Comer can attest to.
5 MEABH CORRIGAN Tyrone
Got through a mountain of work in the hard-fought semi-final win over Down.
6 RIAN O’NEILL Armagh
His best performance of the season in that quarter-back role. Fantastic.
7 JOE MCELROY Armagh
The engine of the team – was still going 90 minutes in and doing so much dirty work.
8 ODHRÁN MURDOCK Down
Excellent as Down claimed long-awaited silverware at Croke Park.
9 MICHAEL LANGAN Donegal
His four points were of the very highest quality.
10 AOIFE MCCABE Fermanagh
Scored 1-1 but scrapped for some great possessions too.
11 STEFAN CAMPBELL Armagh
As always, brought real energy from the bench and kicked two fine scores.
12 MARIA CANAVAN Tyrone
Accuracy was crucial as Tyrone just about held off Down.
13 OISÍN GALLEN Donegal
Rounded off a fantastic season with an excellent showing against Galway, albeit he’ll be annoyed with his missed free.
14 EIMEAR SMYTH Fermanagh
Her 1-8 – including a nerveless penalty – helped Fermanagh into the All-Ireland Junior final.
15 PAT HAVERN Down
Excellent first-half showing helped Down create a cushion that eventually saw them home against Laois.
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