Gaelic Life team of the week

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.