Ladies and gentlemen it's that time of year again when we name our team of the year. Now these may not be the best players, nor they may not even be players at all but they've been awarded a place in our team for other reasons.
Let's call these reasons 'for services to sport in 2014.'
Goalkeeper - Thomas Healy
Needs no other explanation apart from this GIF.
Right Full-back - Ciaran Lenehan
The Meath GAA star has taken a year out of inter-county football to concentrate on his pHD, getting in the Balls.ie and alternative team of the year and most all, his tweeting. The extra work is paying off.
Confusion reigns as meeting of Dublin Football backroom team mistaken for water protests... #GAA pic.twitter.com/TAJn5eY4WM
— Ciarán Lenehan (@CiaranLen) December 10, 2014
Centre-backs - The Two Buckos
At the heart of defence you need a strong pairing. Two fellas who know that they can rely on each other, and thus, we know we can rely on both of them. That's why I've gone with the two buckos for this important role. A match for any striker partnership.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb4OnoOIRPk
Left Full-back - Aidan O'Mahony
James O'Donoghue and Kieran Donaghy may have grabbed all the headlines in Kerry's run to All Ireland victory but for us, Aidan O'Mahony was the real star of the show. First off, he showed how much of a gentleman he is after giving away his championship winning boots to a young Kerry fan, and then travelling at the fan's parents' behest to London to auction off said boots for charity. O'Mahony also makes it into our team on the basis that he is undoubtedly the king of Snapchat among intercounty GAA players.
Defensive midfielder - Mick Barrett
He may have finished second in our man of the year contest but there's no denying that Mick Barrett would be a serious operator in the hole between defence and midfield. He's not afraid to get stuck in and he'll stand up to the referee if the team aren't getting their just desserts.
Right wing - Nick Cummins
Crikey, what a year it's been for the bugger. He's been busier than a one-armed builder in Baghdad this year. In 2013, alright he scored a few tries but he was all steak and no sizzle. However, over the last 12 months he's been off like a bride's nightie. Good on'um!
Centre mid - Robbie Savage
While Robbie's 'Whazaaaa' answering machine put Roy Keane off signing him, shit like that is what makes a man a certain starter in an alternative team of the year.
Here's that brilliant extract from Keane's book again:
I rang Mark Hughes. Robbie [Savage] wasn’t in the Blackburn team and I asked Mark if we could try to arrange a deal. Sparky said: ‘Yeah, yeah, he’s lost his way here but he could still do a job for you.’
Robbie’s legs were going a bit but I thought he might come up to us [at Sunderland], with his long hair, and give us a lift – the way Yorkie [Dwight Yorke] had, a big personality in the dressing room.
Sparky gave me permission to give him a call. So I got Robbie’s mobile number and rang him. It went to his voicemail: ‘Hi, it’s Robbie – whazzup!’ like the Budweiser ad. I never called him back. I thought: ‘I can’t be fucking signing that.’
Left wing - Stephen Hunt
We decided to go with Hunt for his commitment. There was a couple of GAA players in the running but we were afraid they may not have the dedication required to make it in this side.
Striker - Gary Doherty
This year we bode farewell to one of Irish soccer's biggest cult heroes. As I said earlier in the year:
I pity those poor sods who will never know what it's like to look into the eyes of defeat without fear because you know, you know that defeat fears Gary Doherty.
Rest well, old sport.
Striker - The Donegal team doctor
Kevin Moran found himself at the centre of attention during a melee between Armagh and Donegal which saw him pushed over onto his arse. The incident was pretty funny but the reaction from the Brits watching was even better.
Is this Irish Football on Sky for real? A medical staff just got floored by a player and the crowd were loving it! Are there any rules? #gaa — Jonathan (@mrmack73) August 9, 2014
Watching my first 5 minutes of Gaelic football and I've seen a full on brawl and a physio getting punched. Series link is now on.
— Sim Mahon (@SimUKCricket) August 9, 2014
