Derry retained the Anglo Celt Cup in the most dramatic of circumstances on Sunday with a thrilling penalty shootout win over Armagh in Clones.
The Oak Leafers were hugely impressive winners over Fermanagh and Monaghan earlier in the campaign, but they had to pull out all the stops against Kieran McGeeney’s men on Sunday with Odhran Lynch making three saves in the shootout.
Both Derry and Armagh will fancy their chances of progressing deep into the All-Ireland series and more accolades could follow for both counties.
Unsurprisingly, the sides dominate our 2023 Ulster Senior Football Championship selection with Derry taking nine slots, which is the same tally as last year, while Armagh have five positions on the team with one Monaghan player in the line-up.
In total, six Derry players retain their positions on the team from last season.
1. Odhran Lynch (Derry)
The toughest call on this year’s selection was the first. During extra-time in Sunday’s Ulster Final, Ethan Rafferty’s second point from play put him in pole position. However, Odhran Lynch pulled off three remarkable saves in the penalty shootout to ensure Derry retained the Anglo Celt Cup.
The Magherafelt native also scored points from play in the previous wins over Monaghan and Fermanagh and his kickouts have generally been excellent this season.
2. Chrissy McKaigue (Derry)
From the toughest call to one of the easiest. There was no way Chrissy McKaigue was going to be left out. Retains his place in the full-back line from last year after a string of solid defensive displays throughout Derry’s Ulster SFC campaign.
Took turns at marking the likes of Ultan Kelm, Jack McCarron, Conor McManus, Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt and Rian O’Neill at different times in their three wins and outstanding in each game.
3. Eoin McEvoy (Derry)
In February of last year, Eoin McEvoy lifted the MacRory Cup as captain of St Mary’s Magherafelt. On Sunday, he was full-back as Derry won their second successive Ulster title.
He impressed when marking Fermanagh’s Darragh McGurn and Monaghan’s Karl Gallagher, but was excellent on Sunday as he held Armagh’s Andrew Murnin scoreless. His seamless graduation to the senior ranks has also allowed Bredan Rogers to play a more advanced role.
4. Aidan Forker (Armagh)
Over the course of their four games in the 2023 Ulster SFC, Armagh only conceded two goals. While the Armagh defence didn’t cover themselves in glory for Rogers’s goal on Sunday, Conor Stewart’s strike for Antrim was a classy finish.
Aidan Forker was a rock at the heart of their defence and his passing ability is a huge asset for Armagh. Picked up Pat Shivers, Gearóid McKernan and Pat Havern and got the better of each. Was below par on Sunday, but still fully deserving of his place on this year’s selection.
5. Conor McCluskey (Derry)
Scored a brilliant point against Fermanagh and an even better goal against Monaghan. Held Conor McManus scoreless from play in the first half of the Ulster SFC semi-final.
Was solid again last Sunday when marking Conor Turbitt out of the game. Was also included in the 2022 selection and remains one of the best defenders in Ulster.
6. Ciaran Mackin (Armagh)
Missed a large chunk of last season with a fractured eye socket and has returned with a new role this term. The Shane O’Neill’s clubman has moved from midfield to the half-back line and has grown into an important man-marker for Kieran McGeeney’s side.
He was switched on to Brendan Rogers in the second half of Sunday’s Ulster SFC Final and also scored 1-2 during Armagh’s Championship campaign.
7. Jarly Óg Burns (Armagh)
His talent was never in doubt, but Jarly Óg Burns has taken his form to new heights in 2023. Marked Ryan Johnston out of the game in the semi-final win over Down and was one of Armagh’s best players in last Sunday’s Ulster Final loss to Derry.
Scored two points (one mark and one from play) and drew the crucial late free which brought the game to extra-time.
8. Conor Glass (Derry)
While he routinely drops back and provides extra cover for his defence, Conor Glass still managed to score in every Ulster Championship game in 2023.
Was handed the Derry captaincy after Glen’s club season finished and he seems cut from the same cloth as his predecessor Chrissy McKaigue. He certainly has led by example so far in the Championship.
9. Brendan Rogers (Derry)
One of the most complete Gaelic footballers in the business. Is also fairly handy with a hurl in his hand.
His partnership with Conor Glass at midfield has given Derry such a solid platform in 2023. Scored 1-2 from play in the Ulster Final and he was also excellent in the previous wins over Fermanagh and Monaghan.
10. Karl O’Connell (Monaghan)
The only player not from Derry or Armagh to make the final selection. Karl O’Connell turned in two superb performances in the Ulster Championship for Monaghan. He was a contender for Man-of-the-Match as the Farney turned over Tyrone in Omagh.
The Tyholland clubman then scored 1-1 as Monaghan lost out to Derry, but he was still hugely influential in both games.
11. Paul Cassidy (Derry)
Didn’t enjoy his best game in Sunday’s Ulster Final victory over Armagh as he failed to score and saw his penalty saved by Ethan Rafferty in the shootout.
However, he was brilliant in the earlier wins, scoring 1-2 against Fermanagh and 0-2 against Monaghan. Derry will need him on top form as they enter the All-Ireland series.
12. Ethan Doherty (Derry)
Like Cassidy, Ethan Doherty wasn’t as influential against Armagh as he was in previous games. However, the Glen star remains one of the best footballers in Ulster and usually ends up with more possessions than any other player on the pitch.
Had a hand in two scores on Sunday and was a contender for Man-of-the-Match against Monaghan.
13. Andrew Murnin (Armagh)
Missed the preliminary round win over Antrim before returning to action against Cavan, scoring a point. However Murnin was the best player on the pitch when the Orchard County clinched a facile 10-point win over Down as he scored 1-1 from play.
Took a knock at the end of that game and perhaps wasn’t fully recovered as he was well held by Eoin McEvoy in Sunday’s provincial decider.
14. Shane McGuigan (Derry)
Not the number for the emergency services, 9, 9, 9 were the ratings awarded to Shane McGuigan following Derry’s three Ulster Championship victories.
Three displays of sheer brilliance. Three consecutive Man-of-the-Match awards and three times the Slaughtneil clubman has finished as the game’s top scorer shooting 2-5 against Fermanagh, 0-9 against Monaghan and 0-7 against Armagh. Shane McGuigan is having one hell of a season.
15. Rian O’Neill (Armagh)
Rian O’Neill’s all-action display on Sunday ought to have been enough to get Armagh over the winning line and end their 15-year wait to lift the Anglo Celt Cup.
On another day, he’d have been Man-of-the-Match too but, as his manager said afterwards, sport can be cruel. McGeeney has a Michael Murphy-type dilemma on his hands as Rian O’Neill showed on Sunday he is as equally brilliant at midfield as he is at full-forward.
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