By John Harrington
We’re quarter of the way through this Gaelic football century so it’s perhaps timely to attempt to pick a team of it so far.
The last 25 years saw the emergence of great Dublin, Tyrone, and Kerry teams as well as a host of gifted individuals from an array of other counties, so shoe-horning the best of the best into a 26-man panel was a ridiculously tough task, much less settling on a starting XV.
The competition for places was such that 10 of the 25 Footballers of the Year from 2000 to 2024 didn’t make the cut for the final 26.
Hard calls were made and some players missed out by wafer-thin margins. You might find it easy to think of a player you believe should have been included in the below list but deciding who to drop in their favour will surely give you pause for thought.
1: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)
The easiest position on the team to pick, Stephen Cluxton reimagined the position of goalkeeper to make it the most important on the pitch thanks to his laser-guided kick-outs. He has a deep catalogue of brilliant saves too and his match-winner in the 2011 All-Ireland Final will always be an iconic score.
2: Marc Ó Sé
The five-time All-Ireland winner and 2007 Footballer of the Year combined defensive grit with attacking class. He carried the ball with such style it looked like he glided across the ground.
3: Seamus Moynihan (Kerry)
Footballer of the year in 2000, Moynihan is one of the greatest ball-playing defenders in the history of the game. His athleticism, anticipation, and skill made him a joy to watch as he attacked every ball with gusto.
4: Keith Higgins (Mayo)
The four-time All-Star as the prototype of the modern corner-back thanks to his combination of tigerish defending and counter-attacking ability. He had pace, skill, and a great knack for reading the game.
