Goalkeeper
Graham Doyle (Wexford Youths) – The goalkeeper was vital to the Youths winning the First Division in 2015 and he’ll be just as important this season. Two vital saves within the first five minutes against Bray showed his quality and kept the home side in the game. First, he somehow got down low to his left to stop Alan McNally’s strike, before saving McNally’s close range header just seconds later. Two important saves toward the end of the first half rescued the hosts again — one from Ryan Brennan and another from Alan McNally. He will be vital to how the Youths get on this season.
Defenders
Lorcan Fitzgerald (Bohemians) — The dynamic full-back was the standout performer in a sturdy Bohs defensive showing and also impressed at the other end of the pitch, owing to his expert delivery from set plays and link-up play with Ben Mohamed down the left wing.
Derek Pender (Bohemians) — Looked solid in a compact Bohs defence as Keith Long’s side earned a convincing 2-0 win at home to Longford.
Aaron Barry (Derry City) — Despite the concession of an early goal to Dundalk, Kenny Shiels’ side were very well drilled and worked tirelessly to ensure their opponents weren’t creating chances with their usual ease at Oriel Park. Playing alongside his captain Ryan McBride, the 23-year-old impressed in central defence.
Midfield
Aymen Ben Mohamed (Bohemians) — The left winger chipped in with his first goal for Bohemians and added an assist as he was the most influential player on the park with his pace and foot work giving the Longford defence headaches all evening.
Kieran Sadlier (Sligo) — The former West Ham youth player was fantastic all night and caused Cork a host of problems. He will be disappointed, however, that his early free-kick went just over the bar.
Stephen O’Donnell (Dundalk) — The Lilywhites skipper was in imperious form on Friday night, helping Stephen Kenny’s men control the opening period and ensuring that Derry couldn’t wrest control as the match wore on. He tore into challenges with gusto and was a cool head amid the late chaos.
Craig Roddan (Sligo) – Captain for the night against Cork, Craig Roddan was calm in the middle and ensured his team stayed focused throughout.
Forwards
Brandon Miele (Shamrock Rovers) — This will most likely be a recurring theme this season, but against Galway on Friday, Miele returned to a more central role, and in future, it should be a crime to play him anywhere else. He took his goal brilliantly, and showed some glimpses of real quality on a night when Rovers invariably failed to explode into life.
Gary Shanahan (Galway) — Had the beating of stand-in defender Gavin Brennan all night in Tallaght and looked dangerous throughout. His delivery for Ruari Keating with 10 minutes to go in particular was superb, and he looked to be a real asset for Tommy Dunne, who will be impressed with how his side played.
Paul Murphy (Wexford Youths) — What a great performance from the Wexford Youths striker. Worked well off Danny Furlong as the two continue to build a partnership. Worked back to help his midfield when needed, and was a constant threat for Wexford Youths. After a good header for the opening goal, a second epitomised his performance. Despite it being the fifth minute of stoppage time, he was still busting a gut to get into the box to score the second of the night as he sealed a historic first-ever Premier Division win for his side.
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Brilliant interview.
Everyone is a critic online and we all discuss player’s performances every week.
But some of the stuff Williams was subjected to over the years by ‘fans’ was just nasty and personal.
Good to hear he has some perspective on it. He had a pro rugby career with one of the biggest teams in Europe. Everyone commenting here and elsewhere would kill for that.
@Oval Digest: Your right. The criticism he received was deplorable at times. The fans who went to see Munster week in week out appreciated Duncan. It’s the armchair supporters and the keyboard warriors who think they know it all. Dave Kearney suffered a lot of the same. They guys are great professionals and do their very best. They deserve better
@Oval Digest: brilliant interview is right! Most normal folk freak out when they’ve annual performance reviews yet give it loads of the same week in week out to others that just happen to be gifted at sport!
Always found him a frustratingly solid guy to play against when he wore the Jolly Roger on his shirt. He continued in that vein and had a career albeit not in the highlight that was the dream of many!
Fair play!
I wish I was a Munster cap behind you Dunc. Enjoy whatever you do next. A great servant to Munster rugby.
@RabidHorizon: Well said!
O’Mahony’s tribute says it all. Totally underestimated player.
Loved the guy. Persevered through it all and just got on with it. Used to frustrate me a lot but towards the end of his career he was rock solid and the best 9 that regularly played in the league.
Always liked him, never deserved the grief he got which was almost always on the back of his forwards going backwards.
Very unfortunate with injuries & being compared to Stringer, O’Leary & Murray.
Great servant to Munster Rugby. Best for your next Career Duncan
@TL55: how is being compared to his peers unfortunate?
The way he was treated by a tiny fraction of Munster supporters was very unpleasant. Shows a nasty underside. Not at all a pop at Munster btw, every single sports team in the world has trolls like them, unfortunately. Plenty on these pages. Just have to mute them until they slither off. Met him a few times through work. One of the game’s nice guys. Absolute gent.
@Peter McCarthy: Yes you’re right. Some Munster fans didn’t treat him right. But we have to remember these guys try their best. But some are not as good as others. So long as they genuinely try their best that’s all you can ask. I think he he’s a very good last season with Munster.
He should go down to leinster and pass his experience onto McGrath and the young lads like he did with Murray and matthewson at Munster.
Great professional, gave his all every time.
You can’t as for any more.
Will never forget that double tackle in Sandy Park, unreal
I can empathize with him as I wasn’t great at scrum half either and got plenty of abuse from the sidelines. Difference was he stuck at it and never gave in to the haters and reached a seriously high level in rugby.
It’s a tough world when you are not blessed the the same high skill set as most of the players around you.
Unfortunately he was just a squad player and a ream of Munsters standing always needs and demands a higher calibre of player when they are one of the top teams in Europe.
I am sure he is a dead on bloke and you can feel the hurt from him in his interview but at the end of the day it’s a professional sport and you have to take the rough with the smooth
@Mark Smith: “take the rough with the smooth” – nobody deserves personal abuse for just doing their best.
I would love if each brave abuser had to wear a t-shirt with their quotes on, and walk through a crowd of ex players (with no cameras). Imagine how brave they would be then!
Dunc has the one of the most admirable traits you could look for in a person, perseverance.
He wasn’t a superstar 9, but you could never doubt the guys heart – and in his last few seasons, I think he was pretty good.