We were spoilt for choice with efforts from both the inter-county and club scenes, but in the end we settled for these five. Enjoy.
5. Frank McGlynn (Donegal v Down)
A worthy nominee for Footballer of the Year, McGlynn had an outstanding campaign and although he had number four on his back, he was responsible for some of the scores of the season, not least the points he hit against Cork and Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final and final.
The pick of the bunch came against Down in the Ulster Final, however, where he burst onto a ball from Michael Murphy and produced a finish that any top class forward would have been proud of.
4. Brian Looney (Dr Crokes v Daingean)
Along with Crossmaglen, Crokes are producing a style of football on the club scene that wouldn’t look out of place at inter-county level and it is thanks to scores like this one against Daingean that they are making waves at the moment.
Having started the move on the halfway line, Looney got the ball back from the Gooch about 30 yards from goal before cracking an unstoppable effort into the far corner. Class.
3. Christopher Lennon (An Port Mór v Annaghmore)
This goal may not have been viewed by as wide an audience as the others, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worthy of its place here. Darran O’Sullivan was responsible for the most innovative goal scored in Gaelic Football in a long time with his flick against Limerick last year and this effort is from the same school and no less impressive.
The dink over the ‘keeper on its own is good enough, but the fact that he did it with his knee makes it that bit extra special. That’s right, his knee!
2. Aidan Walsh (Cork v Clare)
There’s no more a powerful runner with the ball in Gaelic Football than the Cork midfielder and when he gets a head of steam up he’s impossible to stop. He hasn’t always been the most reliable of finishers, but he showed that he’s well capable in front of goal with this lovely finish in the Munster Final against Clare, which came after a typical lung-bursting dash up the field.
1. Michael Murphy (Donegal v Mayo)
In terms of making a statement in the opening minutes of an All-Ireland Final, they don’t come much louder than this as Murphy caught a brilliant delivery from Karl Lacey, bullied Kevin Keane out of the way and hit a shot so fierce that David Clarke barely saw it go past him into the net.
Some said Murphy hadn’t been as effective as usual in the run-up to the final, but this effort and the subsequent man of the match award certainly silenced the doubters.
As good a goal as you’ll see in any All-Ireland Final and a worthy winner here.
