Just a handful of club teams throughout Ireland will be training through the festive period as the attention swiftly moves to the new inter-county season.
New faces and returning players will get their chance to impress during the pre-season Dr McKenna Cup which gets underway on Wednesday, January 4.
A number of players enjoyed stellar campaigns for their clubs sides in what was a brilliant Ulster Club Championship, but who could make a tangible difference to their county teams in 2023?
Read more: Dunloy defender faces anxious wait ahead of All-Ireland Club Hurling Final
We’ve selected six players who were outstanding during the club season and may be primed to make the breakthrough at county level.
Danny Tallon (Glen)
Prior to their Ulster Club SFC win over Kilcoo at the Athletic Grounds, Danny Tallon had plunder 4-20 in Glen’s journey to the provincial final.
He had Ryan McEvoy for company for the decider, but his five frees were vital in a game of fine margins.
Rory Gallagher will be looking to add strength-in-depth to his squad as they look to build on their Ulster title success last summer.
Derry’s first-choice 15 are a match for any team, but they need options off the bench, especially in attack, if they are to challenge for the ultimate prize.
Gallagher might opt to recall Tallon, who featured prominently in his first season in charge in 2020.
Alex and Jack Doherty could also join younger brother Ethan on the squad when Glen’s season draws to a conclusion either before or after the All-Ireland Club final.
The Derry and UIster champions face Moycullen of Galway in the last four on Sunday, January 8 at Croke Park.
Eoin Beacom (Enniskillen Gaels)
A big man for the big moments for Enniskillen Gaels this season, Eoin Beacom is too talented not to be playing county football for Fermanagh.
He captained his club to success in the St Paul’s Ulster Club Minor Football Tournament in 2017 and was Man-of-the-Match in the final against Ballinascreen of Derry.
Johnny Cassidy and Brandon Horan have since graduated to the Fermanagh seniors while Cian Newman and John Reihill were also part of Kieran Donnelly’s squad last season.
Callum Jones and Conor Love are others Donnelly might consider ahead of the 2023 campaign, but Beacom would provide a great option at midfield or full-forward for the Ernemen.
Showed plenty of bottle to convert a long-range free against the breeze to force extra-time against Gowna and he was also excellent in the Fermanagh semi-final win over last year’s champions Derrygonnelly.
Hit 1-3 when sprung from the bench against Kilcoo in the Ulster semi-final and a fully-fit Eoin Beacom would be a huge addition to Fermanagh in 2023.
Ruairi Canavan (Errigal Ciaran)
Might be stating the obvious a bit with this one, but Ruairi Canavan seems destined to be a star for his club and county for years to come.
The usual disclaimer applies when talking up the future prospects of someone who is still U20 next season, but Canavan has already shown enough class this year to justify the hype.
He was the Player of the Year as Tyrone clinched the U20 Championship earlier this season and his performances earned him a call-up to the Tyrone senior squad ahead of their Qualifier defeat to Armagh.
Although Canavan didn’t feature against Armagh, his displays for Errigal Ciaran in the Tyrone Championship coupled with Conor McKenna’s departure from the panel to resume his AFL career means he is likely to make his senior Tyrone debut in 2023.
Linked up superbly well with older brother Darragh as Errigal defeated Carrickmore in the Tyrone final while his point following a dummy solo past Ryan Dougan in their subsequent defeat to Glen was a thing of beauty.
Pat Shivers (Cargin)
Pat Shivers has been one of the leading players for Cargin for recent times and has won three Antrim senior titles with the Toome outfit in the last four seasons.
A series of niggling injuries has prevented him from breaking through to Antrim senior team after two years on the panel, but he made his belated senior debut in the Tailteann Cup loss to Leitrim during the summer.
Shivers was the star of the Antrim U20 team which shocked Derry in the 2020 Ulster quarter-final before narrowly losing to the semi-final Tyrone in Lavey.
The big full-forward plundered 0-5, including four from play in the county final win over Aghagallon and scored three points in the win over Naomh Conaill in the Ulster quarter-final.
With new Antrim manager Andy McEntee indicating a preference for bigger, more physical players, Shivers should see more game time for the Saffrons next season.
Cian McConville (Crossmaglen)
It can be difficult to stand out in a team featuring Rian O’Neill and Jamie Clarke. Yet, Cian McConville was the best player on the pitch as Crossmaglen won a 46th Armagh title at the expense of Granemore in October.
McConville hit 0-8 in the county final, including four points from play. Not only that, his workrate and support play was exceptional.
Limited to 0-3 in the subsequent defeat to Ballybay, but ought to get his chance to impress Kieran McGeeney in 2023.
The 22-year-old was part of the Orchard panel last year, but couldn’t break into a forward unit in top form.
A penalty shootout loss to Galway was a hugely disappointing end to a season which promised much, but McGeeney’s men proved they aren’t far off the leading counties and McConville could add another dimension to their attack next season.
Ryan McEvoy (Kilcoo)
Last season, Ryan McEvoy and Niall Kane were the only two Kilcoo men on the Down panel prior to the Ulster Championship clash with Monaghan.
McEvoy departed before the Tailteann Cup while both Jerome Johston and Ceilum Doherty declined invitations to link up with the Mournemen after Kilcoo’s All-Ireland success in February.
With Conor Laverty now at the helm, it is expected that Kilcoo’s representation on the county team will increase significantly.
Doherty and the Johnston siblings Ryan, Jerome and Shealan along with Miceal Rooney are the kind of players Down can ill-afford to be without.
McEvoy's presence at full-back would be a huge addition for the county. Down’s entire back six from the League loss to Clare to the Championship defeat to Monaghan was changed.
There were four further changes in personnel for the Tailteann Cup exit to Cavan.
Down didn’t exactly shoot the light out up front in 2022, but stability in their defence is a must and having, arguably, the best defender in the county back in the squad would help in that regard.
Read next:
Recap as Dunloy stun St Thomas’ to reach All-Ireland Club Hurling final
- Michael Murphy insists even Jim McGuinnes couldn't reverse his retirement decision
- 2023 Dr McKenna Cup draw throws up intriguing early-season fixtures
Kilcoo boss backs Paul Devlin to bounce back from Ulster Final penalty miss
Derry and Glen stars Conor Glass and Ethan Doherty reflect on dream 2022 season after Ulster double
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