The Sunday Game named its Gaelic Football Team of the Year following the All-Ireland final between Kerry and Galway.
The team features seven players from All-Ireland champions Kerry, four from finalists Galway, two from semi-finalists Dublin, one from semi-finalists Derry, and one from quarter-finalists Armagh.
David Clifford was named Man of the Match for the All-Ireland final, and also the Sunday Game Footballer of the Year.
Sunday Game Gaelic Football Team of the Year
Goalkeeper
Shane Ryan (Kerry)
Noelle Healy: There's a lot of talk about the defensive display of Kerry this year. It's epitomised by Shane Ryan. He conceded one goal from play in the championship, two goals from play all year. He was outstanding, composed from kickouts, and under high balls as well. He's a very solid performer.
10 July 2022; Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan and Cormac Costello of Dublin during the Gaelic Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Full-back line
Liam Silke (Galway)
Colm O'Rourke: He had a good year, and a very good [final] on Seanie O'Shea.
Jason Foley (Kerry)
Colm O'Rourke: One of the unsung heroes for Kerry all year. When they were trying to get to grips with leaking goals, putting Tadhg Morley as the sweeper and Jason Foley as a man-marker has worked well.
Chrissy McKaigue (Derry)
Colm O'Rourke: He had a great year as a man-marker. The old mar-marking in the game has sort of gone out of fashion but there's still a need to have two or three players who can stick with the opposition's best forward. Chrissy McKaigue seemed to be the man to put on the best forward.
Half-back line
James McCarthy (Dublin)
Eamonn Fitzmaurice: We went with that warrior James McCarthy at right half-back. Especially for his performance against Kerry where he nearly single-handedly brought Dublin back into the game.
28 May 2022; James McCarthy of Dublin in action against Kevin O'Callaghan of Kildare during the Leinster Gaelic Football Senior Championship Final match between Dublin and Kildare at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Tadhg Morley (Kerry)
Eamonn Fitzmaurice: He's been central to Kerry's defensive structure. The leadership he's given back there...
Gavin White (Kerry)
Eamonn Fitzmaurice: He had an outstanding year from an attacking point of view, and defensively. That athleticism and pace he has is fantastic.
Midfield
Rian O'Neill (Armagh)
Colm O'Rourke: He was an automatic either for midfield or in the full-forward line. He has brought back long kicking. He's a brilliant kicker of the ball.
Cillian McDaid (Galway)
Colm O'Rourke: He has a great final, and a brilliant game against Armagh as well. He's some bonus for Galway, having come back from Australia. His athleticism and ability to get around the field, and score points from play...
24 July 2022; Cillian McDaid of Galway is tackled by Gavin White of Kerry during the Gaelic Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Kerry and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Half-forward line
Paudie Clifford (Kerry)
Oisín McConville: Probably not the most consistent season, but huge had a huge amount of big moments, and again in the final when they really needed him he popped up with a couple of very good scores.
Sean O'Shea (Kerry)
Oisín McConville: This guy was unbelievable all year.
Ciarán Kilkenny (Dublin)
Oisín McConville: He carried the fight all year - league, championship. In the second half against Kerry, he was unbelievable. We saw a clip of Jack O'Connor acknowledging that when he was going off the field [in the semi-final].
Full-forward line
David Clifford (Kerry)
Colm Cooper: Outstanding talent. We wonder how this guy can get better and better, yet he continues to do that. His temperament is probably the best thing that he has.
24 July 2022; David Clifford of Kerry in action against John Daly of Galway during the Gaelic Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Kerry and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Damien Comer (Galway)
Colm Cooper: Outstanding season for Galway. One of the big reasons why they were in the final. Had a quieter game, Jason Foley did well on him.
Shane Walsh (Galway)
Colm Cooper: The natural talent that this guy has, he glides across the ground. He caused Tom O'Sullivan a lot of problems today. Throughout the season, even when he was quiet, his free-taking was absolutely outstanding.
What do you make of The Sunday Game team of the year?#rtegaahttps://t.co/vE9aqzVA0X pic.twitter.com/MUkZEZVcMC
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 24, 2022
In Pictures: Babies, Jack O'Connor, And The Cliffords - The Kerry Celebrations
