FIVE Donegal players made it onto the Irish News All-Stars Team of the Year for 2015.
At a function last night in the Armagh City Hotel, Paul Durcan, Neil McGee, Ryan McHugh, Neil Gallagher and Michael Murphy were confirmed as recipients of Ulster All-Stars.
While it was a surprising first award for towering midfielder Gallagher, his Glenswilly club-mate Murphy accepted a fifth Irish News All-Star following his previous accoldates in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
Picture caption: Neil Gallagher, Neil McGee, Michael Murphy and Ryan McHugh at the Irish News Ulster All-Star Awards.
Teak tough Gaoth Dobhair full-back McGee was named on the selection for a fourth time after being recognised in 2011, 2012 and 2014, while McHugh was making a second appearance having been the Irish News’ Ulster Player of the Year last year.
For Durcan, it was his second gong after being named in 2012. Now based in Dubai, Durcan had a fantastic summer, arguably his best for the county after making siperb saves in each of Donegal’s Ulster SFC matches.
McGee remains Ulster top full-back while Gallagher is unquestionably Ulster’s best midfielder with Murphy the Donegal heartbeat.
Ulster Champions Monaghan also had five recipients with Vinny Corey, Ryan Wylie, Dessie Mone and Karl O’Connell joining Conor McManus, who picked up the Player of the Year award.
There was further joy for Donegal as Termon and Donegal Ladies star Geraldine McLaughlin was presented with the Ladies Football Merit Award.
McLaughlin starred last winter as Termon won the Ulster and All-Ireland senior ladies football titles and kept up her superb scoring exploits with the county in 2015.
2015 Irish News Ulster All-Stars: Paul Durcan (Donegal); Vinny Corey (Monaghan), Neil McGee (Donegal), Ryan Wylie (Monaghan); Ryan McHugh (Donegal), Dessie Mone (Monaghan), Karl O’Connell (Monaghan); Eoin Donnelly (Fermanagh), Neil Gallagher (Donegal); Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone), Peter Harte (Tyrone), Michael Murphy (Donegal); Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Conor McManus (Monaghan), Sean Quigley (Fermanagh).
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