The GAA All Star awards always generate debate and discussion among players, fans and reporters.
There have been hard luck stories and controversial selections down through the years and this year will be no different.
With 13 players shortlisted in 2022, Ulster are certain to add another few names to the roll of honour with Derry and Armagh expected to collect at least one award each.
Read more: Who'll be in charge in 2023? We examine the managerial state of play in Ulster
Picking the best 15 on any given year is a tough ask, but what about the best 15 from the last two decades?
Ahead of the 2022 All Stars, we look back on the last two decades of the awards and select the best 15 All Stars from the province of Ulster.
Ulster's All-Star winners 2002 to 2021 inclusive:
Goalkeepers: Brendan McVeigh (Down), Paul Durcan (Donegal), Rory Beggan (Monaghan), Raymond Galligan (Cavan), Niall Morgan (Tyrone).
Defenders: Enda McNulty, Aidan O’Rourke, Kieran McGeeney (All Armagh), Kevin Cassidy (Donegal), Francie Bellew (Armagh), Cormac McAnallen, Conor Gormley, Philip Jordan (All Tyrone), Barry Owens (Fermanagh), Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone), Andy Mallon (Armagh), Karl Lacey (Donegal), Kevin McCloy (Derry), Justin McMahon (Tyrone), Davy Harte (Tyrone), Neil McGee (Donegal), Frank McGlynn (Donegal), Colin Walshe (Monaghan), Ryan McHugh (Donegal), Padraig Hampsey (Tyrone), Karl O’Connell (Monaghan), Ronan McNamee (Tyrone), Padraig Faulkner (Cavan), Conor Meyler (Tyrone), Kieran McGeary (Tyrone), Peter Harte (Tyrone).
Midfielders: Paul McGrane (Armagh), Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Marty McGrath (Fermanagh), Enda McGinley (Tyrone), Neil Gallagher (Donegal), Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone), Colm Cavanagh (Tyrone), Thomas Galligan (Cavan), Brian Kennedy (Tyrone).
Forwards: Steven McDonnell (Armagh), Oisin McConville (Armagh), Peter Canavan (Tyrone), Brian Dooher (Tyrone), Adrian Sweeney (Donegal), Enda Muldoon (Derry), Owen Mulligan (Tyrone), Stephen O’Neill (Tyrone), Ronan Clarke (Armagh), Paddy Bradley (Derry), Tomas Freeman (Monaghan), Danny Hughes (Down), Martin Clarke (Down), Benny Coulter (Down), Mark McHugh (Donegal), Michael Murphy (Donegal), Colm McFadden (Donegal), Conor McManus (Monaghan), Cathal McShane (Tyrone), Niall Sludden (Tyrone), Darren McCurry (Tyrone).
Goalkeeper
Niall Morgan (Tyrone)
Probably the toughest decision on the selection, Rory Beggan and Niall Morgan are two outstanding goalkeepers and it is a coin toss between the two.
Rory Beggan was probably ahead in the pecking order until last season when Morgan’s performances helped Tyrone win their fourth All-Ireland title.
Sean O’Shea and Rian O’Neill’s free-taking exploits in this year’s Championship were rightly applauded, but Morgan’s effort from inside his own half against Kerry in the 2021 semi-final was on a par with them.
A regular scorer from midfield for his native Edendork, Morgan has been Tyrone’s undisputed number one for over a decade now.
Defenders
Conor Gormley (Tyrone)
One of Tyrone’s greatest ever defenders, Conor Gormley is still lining out for his native Carrickmore.
Known as ‘The Block’ for his remarkable match-saving tackle on Armagh’s Steven McDonnell in the 2003 All-Ireland Final, Gormley made plenty of important interceptions down through the years.
Often tasked by Mickey Harte of marking the best forward for the opposition, Gormley had many great battles with the likes of Oisin McConville, Alan and Bernan Brogan and Colm Cooper.
Gormley was an All Star winner in each of Tyrone’s All-Ireland winning campaigns in 2003, 05 and 08.
Barry Owens (Fermanagh)
Barry Owens was an outstanding full-back before sweeper systems became fashionable again.
The Teemore ace won his maiden All Star in 2004 as Fermanagh shocked Armagh to reach the All-Ireland SFC semi-final before losing to Mayo. He followed it up with another in 2006.
His goal in the 2008 Ulster SFC semi-final win over Derry gave the Erne County the opportunity to break their duck in Ulster.
Armagh won the final after a replay and Fermanagh haven’t had another chance like it and they’ll never have another defender as good as Barry Owens.
Karl Lacey (Donegal)
After Donegal won their second All-Ireland title in 2012, Karl Lacey collected his fourth All Star award.
Lacey’s class was evident before the Jim McGuinness era and the success which followed.
A tough man-marker, the Four Masters clubman was also lethal going forward and his importance to the Donegal cause was perhaps only fully appreciated when he retired in 2017.
Collected the Footballer of the Year award in 2012 - the only player from Donegal ever to win the prestigious award.
Peter Harte (Tyrone)
It would have been an injustice had Peter Harte gone through his county career without winning a senior All-Ireland title.
The Errigal Ciaran stalwart linked up with the Tyrone squad in 2010, two years after winning a minor title with the Red Hands.
As several legends stepped away, Harte stepped up to the mark and was Tyrone’s best player during some lean years for the county.
Deservedly collected a second All Star in 2021 as Tyrone clinched their fourth senior All-Ireland.
Kieran McGeeney (Armagh)
Nevermind the best All Stars of the last 20 years, Kieran McGeeney is simply one of the greatest defenders of all-time.
A true leader of men, the Mullaghbawn man captained Armagh to their 2002 All-Ireland success and also won six Ulster titles and a League title with the Orchard County. Was a natural selection as Ireland captain in 2006.
Success has been harder to come by as Armagh manager, but there’s a sense that the current squad are on the cusp of challenging for major honours with 'Geezer' at the helm.
Philip Jordan (Tyrone)
An ever-present on Tyrone’s All-Ireland winning teams of the noughties, Philip Jordan was part of a new generation of attacking wing-backs.
Named on the All Star teams of 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2011, Jordan delivered consistently for Tyrone for more than a decade.
His role in Diarmuid Marsden’s infamous red card in the 2003 All-Ireland final is a blight in an otherwise outstanding county career.
Midfielders
Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone)
With five All Star awards, Sean Cavanagh is behind only Peter Canavan in that regard and is one of Tyrone’s most decorated senior players.
Footballer of the Year in 2008, Cavanagh also captained the Ireland International Rules team that season.
He also won an All-Ireland Intermediate Club title with The Moy in 2018 and won All Stars awards as a midfielder and a forward.
Paul McGrane (Armagh)
It is perhaps a flaw of the All Stars that a player like Paul McGrane only has two awards. The Ballyhegan native is quite possibly the most underrated player of his generation.
McGrane was very much a typical midfield player - winning possession was his bread and butter, but he was also a great reader of the game.
Was the last Armagh man to lift the Anglo Celt back in 2008 and he was forced to retire the following season with a knee injury.
Forwards
Brian Dooher (Tyrone)
Derided by RTÉ Colm O’Rourke in 2003, Brian Dooher went on to cement his place in the pantheon of Red Hand legends by winning three All-Ireland titles with Tyrone, including twice as captain.
Such was Dooher’s influence on the game in the early noughties, teams tried to mimic his number 10 role.
Yet, his game was about more than winning breaks around the middle third and his remarkable point in the 2008 All-Ireland Final against Kerry remains one of the best scores ever witnessed at Croke Park.
Oisin McConville (Armagh)
Best known these days for being one of the finest pundits in Ireland, Oisin McConville has now landed his first inter-county gig with Wicklow.
However, the Crossmaglen ace was one of the best forwards of his generation and he was vital to the success of his club and county in the late 90s and early noughties.
McConville won six All-Ireland club titles and one senior inter-county in 2002 and is the leading scorer in the history of the Ulster Senior Football Championship.
Steven McDonnell (Armagh)
On his day, Steven McDonnell was simply unmarkable and was renowned for being of the best finishers of the noughties.
Won three All Stars in 2002, 03 and 2005 and was, arguably, at his very best in 2003 when Armagh were pipped by Tyrone to the All-Ireland title.
The Killeavy star won the Player of the Year title that season and his partnership with Ronan Clarke in a two-man inside full-forward line set a template that many others tried to emulate in later years.
Michael Murphy (Donegal)
Karl Lacey might have more individual All Stars, but when Michael Murphy does retire from inter-county football, he’ll be remembered as Donegal’s best ever player.
Captain of the 2012 All-Ireland winning side, Murphy was also named Ireland captain for the 2013 International Rules series.
His influence on the Donegal team remains as strong as ever and no doubt new manager Paddy Carr will be keen on having Murphy around for another year or two.
Peter Canavan (Tyrone)
One of the best to ever play the game, Peter Canavan won six All Stars with half of them awarded between 2002 and 2005.
Despite being towards the end of a remarkable county career, Canavan was of vital importance to Tyrone's 2003 and 2005 All-Ireland victories.
He was the top scorer with five frees in the tense, low-scoring 2003 decider against Armagh before kicking the winning free against the Orchard County in the 2005 Semi-final.
Peter 'The Great' signed off in style by scoring a peach of a goal in the final against Kerry.
Stephen O’Neill (Tyrone)
Last season, having already won every other major honour as a player, Stephen O’Neill returned to action to help Tyrone win the All-Ireland Masters title. Just for good measure, they did it again this year with O’Neill again to the fore.
Footballer of the Year in 2005, a knee injury prompted O’Neill to briefly retire in 2008 before making a sensational return on the eve of their win over Kerry in that year’s All-Ireland final.
Despite injury robbing him of a few seasons when he was at his peak, O’Neill is still one of the greatest forwards Tyrone and Ulster has ever produced.
READ NEXT:
- Irish Army Battalion launch fundraiser in memory of Armagh 'super fan' Aaron O'Neill
- BBC, RTE and armchair fans the big winners as GAA announce new media rights deal
Crossmaglen ace Cian McConville warns there’s more to come from Armagh champions
Glen retain Derry SFC crown with impressive win over Slaughtneil
Ulster Club Championship 2022 draw, fixture guide, betting odds and TV information
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
