PHILLY McMAHON WAS the player of the year, even though he may not be in name.
The Ballymun Kickhams clubman was Dublin’s most important contributor when it mattered most.
Across Dublin’s final two games – the semi-final replay against Mayo and the final against Kerry – no player outscored corner back McMahon, who bagged 1-3. All while contributing massive defensive efforts against two of the game’s most feared attackers – restricting Aidan O’Shea and the ‘Gooch’ to one point between them.
Granted, particularly against O’Shea, he had plenty of assistance the aerial battle from a number of team-mates in keeping the Breaffy man quiet but the statistics indicate the impact he had at both ends.
His peers, though, decided that the man who plays in front of him, Jack McCaffrey, was more deserving of the award – which begs the question, did McMahon’s poor disciplinary record cost him the prestigious title?
Last night’s excellent documentary ‘All-Ireland Day’ on RTÉ brought his infamous incident with Kieran Donaghy back into focus, although it hadn’t been out of focus all that long. McMahon was eventually handed a one-game ban for his hand making contact with the face of the Kerryman.
That followed an alleged head-butt on O’Shea only weeks earlier, for which it was later deemed McMahon had no case to answer.
The 28-year-old is no stranger to controversy and makes no apologies for his combative on-field approach.
He has been sent off numerous times at club and county level and had a well-publicised clash with Dublin team-mate Diarmuid Connolly in a county final replay in 2013.
The POTY award is not voted for like Australia’s Bronwlow Medal, the award for the game’s best and fairest player throughout the season.
A disciplinary indiscretion which results in a player being banned for a game automatically ensures that player is ineligible for the sport’s top individual honour. Not so officially in Gaelic football, although that may be something for the powers that be to look at.
McCaffrey was excellent throughout the year and was possibly Jim Gavin’s most consistent footballer. His frightening pace from the half-back line suits the Dublin style perfectly and he is a vital cog in their breathtaking transition from defence into attack.
He is a great ambassador for the game. He is clearly an intelligent young man, as a student of medicine, with a bright future ahead of him on and off the field.
He has already captained Dublin’s Under-21s with success and could find himself in a similar role with the senior team down the line.
But to pick him as Player of the Year ahead of McMahon using solely football as the criteria, and possibly also Bernard Brogan, is hard to justify.
Brogan scored 6-22 in this year’s championship, all bar one point from play, and had his best season in a Dublin shirt since he claimed the POTY award in 2010.
Dublin were clearly the best team in the country this year. They had key contributors all over the field. But no one had a bigger impact on them re-claiming the Sam Maguire than McMahon.
Don’t be too sure… Apparently, there’s a lot of communions and confirmations down in Munster this weekend!
It’s gonna be a cracker!
Come on Leo’s Lions!
Time to stand up and fight
@John Quinn: as a leinster fan id be more worried if munster tried to play rugby, standing and fighting hasn’t done them any good for 13 years.
Is there any way of telling, before you click in on an article, that a subscription is required to read? Makes this website experience tedious
@Paul C: you know when you’re scrolling and each article has a little hastag on it (on my phone anyway) well it seems to be the ones that’s have this highlighted in blue/green/turquoise sort of colour.
@SPQH: I’m noticing now they all say “analysis”
@Paul C: The ones marked analysis in green are paywall articles. You can sign in up the top left with an email address without having to pay a subscription and see most of the articles currently. That’s what’s working for me anyway.
@SPQH: well spotted. Thanks
I think it will be a cracker and not as clear cut as some think. The fans will have a great day
@Phillip Keohane: From an entertainment perspective, i hope you’re right. I doubt it though. Leinster to win in third gear i’d say. Munster have the intensity and attitude alright but they are not at the same technical and cohesion levels as Leinster imo.
@niall kelly: Leinster need to keep the focus on the European Cup which will define their season. However it looks more like the quality of player missing from Munster due to injury makes it hard to see past Leinster. Still, it’s sport so, you never know.
Munster have nothing to lose I’ll think it will be a dog fight . A great game for the fans
Leinster were red hot favourites last year to win the Champions Cup and also lost in the URC. There are no favourites both teams will give everything. I hope Leinster win tomorrow but if Munster win I will be the first to congratulate them.
I’d be surprised that they will travel up.I hope they do,they are needed for the atmosphere, but I don’t think they believe they have a chance. It’s a pity the great games of Munster v Leinster rivalry, ROG pumping it up at the crowd, Johnny in ROg face,that real rivalry where the outcome was in doubt is gone.
Leinster are so dominant that Munster supporters won’t spend the money to see their team lose.They will come up and hope to get more joy outta supporting ROG