AND SO, THE 2023 football championship has concluded on a familiar note.
Dublin are All-Ireland champions again, ending a three-year-wait since their last Sam Maguire triumph. There was some added history on the line as Stephen Cluxton, Michael Fitzsimons and James McCarthy all collected their ninth All-Ireland medal.
Fitzsimons has also received plenty of plaudits for his man-marking efforts on David Clifford as Kerry were narrowly dethroned.
Clifford’s performance has been questioned since the defeat, although his form throughout the year was consistently high.
And with the business end of the season now squared away, the individual accolades are the next item on the agenda. Who is most deserving of the top honour of Footballer of the Year?
Should it go to James McCarthy whose longevity continues to inspire? Or should Stephen Cluxton get the nod after a shock return to the Dublin squad this year? Brian Fenton was imperious again at midfield this year while Clifford had another impressive campaign in 2023.
You can vote for who you think should be Footballer of the Year below, or post your preference in the comment section.
Poll Results:
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stephen cluxton????? jesus wept
@ger ger: Indeed, not even guaranteed an All-Star, given Shane Ryan’s season.
@Paul Culloty: 100%
He won’t win but Jesus Brendan Rodger’s at least deserves a mention in that poll
David Clifford by a mile. One match does not decide who is the player of the year. Clifford definitely. Too many Dublin votes .
@Billy Maloney: Clifford was poor in the semi final and was a net negative for Kerry in the final. Kicking low percentage shots needlessly and killing momentum. Obviously an unbelievable player but two bad performances at the business end are definitely enough to take you out of consideration for player of the year. I’d give it to Fenton or big Brendan up in Derry. Not a Dub by the way.
Seriously, Clifford ! Why ?
He was anonymous for the final, when it mattered most he was snuffed out.
James Mc and Con Callaghan have been far better all season
@MartyCharles: By that logic Con O’Callaghan shouldn’t be near it, completely marked out of it in the final
@Micky O’Neill: yes, but he can’t walk on water like Clifford can he ?
@MartyCharles: 2 points from play, a free and an assist for a goal, as he is probably the greatest ever that is considered a bad day. Anonymous is one thing he wasn’t
@MartyCharles: how did you think James Mccarthy played in the final
Average final and on any other day would have seen red. Probably as gud a player as there ever has been but 100% should have gotten red. Glad he didn’t but definitely deserved. Ref just bottled it cos of the occasion. If that was a league game he would have walked.
@MartyCharles: 2 from play and 1 free, direct assist for the goal and fouled for 3 frees that were kicked. Lots of lads would love to be that anonymous.
@MartyCharles: poor retort re O Callaghan, Clifford anonymous in the final??? Directly involved in 1-06!!!
David Clifford just wasn’t at his scintillating best yesterday…. he looked human for once.
@Micky O’Neill: well Clifford shouldn’t be anywhere near player of the year as he was kept under control yesterday only scoring 2 points from play despite what everyone said
@TheCraftyCulchie: He’s no Diarmuid Conelly
@Red Rooster: why are you glad he didn’t get red when he deserved it
@moya power kelly: I never said Clifford should get it, I was just pointing out the flaw with the original post.
@David Ryan: cos I’m not from either county and would have ruined game. As a neutral. But 100% should have got red.
Also not sure why everyone is raving about Fitzsimons Clifford got clear shots away that normally he would score he probably got past him almost every time
@Kevin Scully: Snatching at shots due to the pressure Fitzsimons was putting on him. It’s not that Clifford never got the upper hand at any point, more that Fitzsimons did very well to make it hard for Clifford to be as effective as he usually is. Very similar to Keegan and Connolly over the years.
@Kevin Scully: he only scored two points from play so Fitzsimmons must have done his job then
@Kevin Scully: Clifford done jack sht all game, he was snufffed out, when he was needed most he was found in Mick Fitz pocket, end of, get over it
David Clifford…most over rated player ever
@John Doe: 1 bad game… cop on will ya ur just showing u know sweet F all about the game.
What do you know about it. You are just stirring the s–t as usual.
Fenton was the Rock of that Dublin team. Took points with ease and settled Dublin down. Warrior!
Clifford is the obvious player of the year he had a difficult day yesterday but there is no dublin player that near as influential throughout the year even yesterday no player had a 9/10 manning was vg
Brian Fenton.
Aidan O’Shea….. cert.
Why is there not a choice for OTHER
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: there is now…..who would be “other” for you? Would think it’ll definitely come from the list above.
Brian Fenton was almost anonymous for the majority of the final, and should have been black carded in the semi final, shouldn’t be nominated
Clifford may not have had his own way in the final by his standards but he carried that Kerry team on his shoulders all year and safe to say they wouldn’t have been in the Final only for him.