McDonnell backs Conaty for All-Star

By Michael McMullan

ALL-IRELAND winner Stevie McDonnell feels Oisín Conaty must be considered for another All-Star when selectors convene to draw up their 2025 final team.

While the Orchard County didn’t make it to the All-Ireland semi-finals, Conaty hit all of his championship 0-21 from play in five and a bit games, having only entered the fray in the final moments of their All-Ireland dead-rubber game with Galway.

“He’s a classy footballer and, from an Armagh point of view, he just seems to perform better in the bigger games,” said McDonnell, himself a three-time All-Star. “He’s a very direct runner and one of Armagh’s most consistent performers all year.”

Conaty scored six points in the Ulster final defeat to Dongeal and hit a handful in defeat against Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

“He got off to a great start that day, he was the biggest threat to Kerry, particularly in the first half,” McDonnell added.

“He’s just so direct. Once he gets going at all, he’s one of them players that’s hard to stop. I would look at Ciarán Moore from Donegal as well.”

McDonnell, who managed his native Killeavy to a first-ever Armagh league title at the weekend, referred to Conaty’s low centre of gravity and the strength he has to go with. Combined with his direct running style, Conaty is “very impactful” when embracing the new-look game since the FRC enhancements.

“Oisín, he’s a gifted footballer and a gifted soccer player by all accounts as well,” McDonnell added, also chatting about how attacking players can thrive the way the game is structured now. It’s no coincidence Conaty is “thriving”.

Armagh had six All-Stars last season as champions with runners-up Galway on five. Donegal had two with fellow beaten semi-finalists Kerry not represented.

Craig Lennon (Louth) and Niall Morgan (Tyrone) were included despite not getting to the semi-finals, with the Red Hands losing in the preliminary quarter-finals.

This year’s selection is expected to have a heavy Kingdom representation, given their commanding performance in the three knock-out games. For McDonnell, Armagh’s earlier exit should’ve come into the reckoning for Conaty’s consideration.

“If you look back at the season, there were many top-class games but the best game of the season was the Ulster final and Oisin stood head and shoulders above the top players.”

“He was up there with the best of them that day and kicked the equalising score that day for Armagh.

“People say that the two best teams were in the All-Ireland final and that’s quite possibly right but the third best team in the country this year was Armagh, if not the second best,” he concluded.

“They were definitely the most consistent team up until Kerry beat them. When Oisín is stepping up and performing at such a high level in an Ulster final, where they were just narrowly pipped, then definitely he has to be considered.”