Feature: Ulster’s top league scorers

With the football action taking a break before a crucial final stretch, a look at who has been splitting the posts

By Shaun Casey

Dominic McEnhill (Antrim) 0-18

ANTRIM have experienced an upturn in their fortunes recently, winning their last two games after suffering three defeats on the trot. The likes of Ryan McQuillan and Pat Shivers have been key up top but Dominic McEnhill is the main man at the minute for Mark Doran’s side having kicked 0-18 across their five Division Four outings.

Oisin O’Neill (Armagh) 0-27

THE Crossmaglen clubman has played in various positions since making his inter-county debut in 2017, but this year has nailed down the number 14 jersey. O’Neill is the top scorer for the Orchard County so far in their Division One league campaign and carries a huge two-point threat up top for Kieran McGeeney’s men. They have two massive games coming up after the break, against Dublin and Kerry, and are going to have to fight for their safety.

Paddy Lynch (Cavan) 0-21

LYNCH was a huge miss for the Breffni Blues while out injured with a torn ACL but has been their top scorer in the league. His haul of 0-9 helped Dermot McCabe’s men earn their first win of the campaign in round four against Kildare and Lynch will need to keep his shooting boots intact if Cavan are to survive the drop to Division Three.

Shane McGuigan (Derry) 1-32

NO player has scored more than Shane McGuigan across the top two divisions of the league and the Sleacht Néill dual star has blossomed under Ciarán Meenagh. His only goal of the campaign came against Kildare in round three and he has shot the lights out during the league so far and will want to push his team on as they set their sights on promotion. They suffered a loss to Meath in the first round, but the Oakleafers have been flying high ever since.

Conor O’Donnell (Donegal) 3-12

HIS move to centre half-forward has been a genius tweak by Jim McGuinness and O’Donnell has really excelled. He’s netted three times in a row, against Mayo, Armagh and Galway, and is the go-to attacker in the Donegal team right now. They are in flying form and look set to reach the Division One league final with two games remaining. With Michael Murphy and Oisín Gallen working their way back, that Donegal attack looks unstoppable.

Pat Havern (Down) 0-30

IT’S no secret that Pat Havern is as good a scorer as there is in the country and although he didn’t score in round three against Westmeath, he has more than made up for it since. He hit the headlines after the Wexford game with a personal haul of 0-14 while he registered 0-7 the last day out as Conor Laverty’s side made it five wins on the trot against Fermanagh to bring his overall tally to the round figure of 0-30.

Garvan Jones (Fermanagh) 0-25

FERMANAGH are battling hard at the bottom of the Division Three league table and it’s hard to see any way out for them with two games left. Garvan Jones has been in really good form in front of the posts however for Declan Bonnor’s men, nailing an average of five points per game so far throughout the campaign.

Mícheál Bannigan (Monaghan) 0-14

MONAGHAN have been really up against it in the league and are destined for a swift return to Division Two after just gaining promotion last year. Team captain Bannigan has been battling against the threat of relegation and is currently their top scorer after five games, but it hasn’t been enough to save the Farney men, who have both Galway and Donegal left to play.

Darragh Canavan (Tyrone) 0-18

CANAVAN is likely to miss the tail-end of the league, but he has been the main man in the Tyrone attack so far. He didn’t play the last day out as they hammered relegation-bound Offaly in Dungannon but swept over 0-18 in the four previous games. Tyrone look set for another year in Division Two, as promotion is possibly out of their reach while relegation is unlikely with ties against Meath and Cork coming up.